Fiberglass Swimming Pools

In my last post about Above and Inground Swimming Pools and Supplies, I discussed swimming pool covers. While covers are important, it is also important to choose the type of material that the pool will be made of. If you are thinking about an inground swimming pool, there are many options here, including concrete, vinyl and fiberglass. I will discuss fiberglass swimming pools in this post.

Fiberglass, as the name implies, are tiny fibers of glass that serve as a fortifying agent for a polymer resulting in a composite material. Because it is made of tiny fibers, fiberglass can be sprayed into any application and hardened into any shape. It can be smoothed, resists fading and is inert to algae formation. It is a very strong substance, must stronger than concrete or vinyl. Because of its properties, it is ideally suited for the application of fiberglass swimming pools.

Fiberglass Swimming Pools vs. Concrete Swimming Pools
Concrete can crack and eventually requires resurfacing, repainting or sealing. These issues are completely avoided with fiberglass. And because of how fiberglass is manufactured, it is much easier to create odd shapes and additional features, such as steps and benches. Concrete also can have a rough or pitted surface where as fiberglass is completely smooth. Do you want your family scratching their feet, legs and arms every time they jump in or scrape on the bottom? Concrete can even buckle or split in cold weather climates. The strength of fiberglass can resist these soil forces. Because of this, they are ideal in seasonal climates.

Fiberglass Swimming Pools vs. Vinyl Swimming Pools
Vinyl looses its elasticity, eventually cracking or tearing. Vinyl also is susceptible to sun rays which penetrate and fade, often within the first year. You can expect a vinyl liner to require replacement every 6-7 years at an expense of $3k-$5k. Fiberglass swimming pools are a solid single unit. They don’t fade, crack or tear. Because of this, they are ideal in extremely sunny climates.

One other point is for the maintenance of the swimming pool. Because fiberglass swimming pools are much smoother than concrete or vinyl, they require a lower chemical level to remove dirt, debris and algae. This saves money on the length of time required to run your pump, the amount of chemicals you use and even how long it takes to vacuum. And because fiberglass is a better insulator than concrete or vinyl, it will save you money on heating your pool

Well, that is all for now. I hope you found my post on fiberglass swimming pools informative and see you around the pool!