Is A Fiberglass Pool Right For Your Home?

Posted on: 9 August 2022

Anybody looking into building a backyard swimming pool is well aware of the different materials that it can be made out of. If you are trying to narrow down your decision between fiberglass, vinyl, and concrete, you'll want to know more about each of these materials before you make any sort of decision.

Here are the key things you need to know about fiberglass pools so you can determine if they are right for you. 

Design 

One of the main things that set fiberglass apart from all of the other materials is when it comes to the design of the pool. While concrete and vinyl can be made into any shape that you can think of, the same is not true for fiberglass. The fiberglass shells are manufactured off-site, and you pick the design of the pool out of a catalog. Thankfully, there are plenty of designs to pick from. You'll be sure to find one that meets your needs, even if you cannot customize it to exact specifications.

Size

Be aware that a fiberglass pool is limited in size. Since the pool has to be shipped to you in one solid piece, it means that the pool needs to be transported on a truck. This will limit the size of a fiberglass pool to what can be transported. You are not going to be able to get a very large square-shaped pool, since fiberglass pools tend to be more rectangular. You are also limited to how deep a fiberglass pool can be. If you wanted to have a diving board, you won't be able to find one that is deep enough for diving.  

Maintenance

A huge benefit of fiberglass pools is the maintenance that is involved over time. When you compare the three main construction materials, fiberglass requires the least amount of maintenance out of all of them. 

Fiberglass pools have a gel coat applied to the surface, which is incredibly smooth and prevents algae growth from happening on the shell. While it won't eliminate algae completely, it's much better than other materials. When cleaning the shell of a fiberglass pool, you need to be careful not to damage the gel coat with harsh brushes. Be prepared to be very gentle when it comes to scrubbing.

Installation

Using a shell that is made off-site is also going to greatly speed up the installation time for a fiberglass pool. There is no waiting for concrete to cure, which means you can be swimming in your fiberglass swimming pool soon after it is placed in the ground. 

For more information, contact a pool contractor near you.  

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