Lucas Firmin Blog

Editor's note: This post was originally published on April 12, 2016, and has been updated for accuracy and relevance. 

Louisiana summers make a private pool especially appealing. If you are ready to build an in-ground pool, one of the first decisions is choosing the right material.

For most homeowners, the choice comes down to gunite versus fiberglass. Both have benefits, but their installation process, maintenance needs, design flexibility, and long-term durability differ.

Pool maintenance often appears straightforward on the surface. Skimming debris, adding chemicals, and occasionally cleaning the filter may seem manageable for many homeowners at first. However, when pool maintenance becomes inconsistent, small issues can quickly escalate into larger, more expensive problems.

If you own a home in Baton Rouge's Garden District, Mid-City, or another established neighborhood, you may have assumed your backyard is simply too small for a pool.

South Louisiana's high water table creates unique challenges for pool construction, but it does not mean you cannot build the pool you want. It simply means your builder must understand how groundwater behaves and have the experience to manage it correctly.

Maintaining balanced pool water is one of the most important parts of keeping a swimming pool clean, safe, and operating properly. In Louisiana, where pools are exposed to high temperatures, heavy rainfall, humidity, and long swimming seasons, water chemistry can change quickly.