If you've been researching pool construction, you may have come across the term Permacrete. And if you haven't, you should — because the material your pool is built with has a profound impact on how long it lasts, how well it holds up to our climate, and how much maintenance it requires over its lifetime. At Arthur Edwards Pool & Spa Centre, we use Permacrete because we believe in building pools that stand the test of time, not just look good for a few years.
The Problem With Traditional Pool Construction
Standard concrete pools, while popular, come with some well-known long-term challenges. Traditional concrete is porous, meaning it absorbs water, chemicals, and contaminants over time. It can crack as the ground shifts and settles. It's susceptible to the freeze-thaw cycles that are a reality in much of the country — water gets into tiny pores, freezes, expands, and gradually breaks down the structure. Owners of older concrete pools know this story well: resurface, patch, resurface again.
This isn't a failure of the pool owner — it's a limitation of the material.
Enter Permacrete
Permacrete is an advanced construction material engineered specifically for pool shells. It's denser, stronger, and significantly less porous than traditional concrete mixes, which changes the performance equation in several important ways.
Because Permacrete is less porous, it doesn't absorb water and chemicals the way standard concrete does. This means the structure itself stays cleaner, holds its integrity longer, and resists the kind of internal breakdown that plagues older pools. The result is a pool shell that maintains its strength and shape over decades of use — not one that needs constant attention and resurfacing.
Built for Our Climate
Here in the US, pools face real seasonal stress. Summer heat, winter cold, and everything in between puts tremendous pressure on pool structures year after year. Permacrete's density and reduced porosity make it exceptionally well-suited to these conditions. It handles temperature swings better, resists freeze-thaw damage more effectively, and holds up to the chemical environment of a well-maintained pool without degrading.
For homeowners who want to build once and build right, this matters enormously.
What It Means for You Long-Term
The practical benefits of a Permacrete pool come down to three things: lower maintenance costs, fewer repairs over the life of the pool, and greater long-term value. You're not just buying a pool — you're buying peace of mind that the structure underneath your beautiful finish will remain solid for decades.
When we build a pool at Arthur Edwards, we're thinking about how it will perform not just this summer, but ten, fifteen, and twenty years from now. Permacrete is one of the ways we make that long-term commitment to quality a reality.
The Arthur Edwards Difference
Choosing the right builder is just as important as choosing the right material. Our team has the expertise to work with Permacrete correctly — proper mixing, placement, and curing — because even the best material performs only as well as the craftsmanship behind it. We've seen what corners cut during construction look like years down the line, and we refuse to let that be the story of any pool we build.
If you're considering a new pool and want to understand more about Permacrete and why we build with it, we'd love to talk. Visit aepools.com or stop in to see us at Arthur Edwards Pool & Spa Centre. Build it right the first time — and enjoy it for a lifetime.
