Why Fiberglass?
Fiberglass Pools
Like anything else, every pool type has its own pros and cons. As a future pool owner, you must consider what’s important to you and what your budget will allow.
Fiberglass pools are a viable choice because they allow many options and your not stuck waiting months to swim as you would for a concrete pool.
Top Five Benefits of Fiberglass Pools
1. Weather Resistance
You won’t be hindered by weather fluctuations with these pools. According to Latham, “Fiberglass swimming pools are one-piece shells that can be ‘dropped in’ to your yard in a very short period of time – just 3 to 5 days in most cases. They are well suited to areas with cold weather seasons because the flexural strength of fiberglass prevents cracking during freezing-thawing cycles.”
Vinyl liner pools require that the ambient temperature be at a particular degree range during installation, so the liner doesn’t wrinkle when it’s laid in. Concrete is also rather fickle as the rain and extreme temps can cause complications.
With fiberglass, unless your yard is under seven feet of snow or you’ve got a hurricane headed your way, there’s not much that will impede its installation.
2. Durability and Longevity
Unlike the eventual repairs and replacement demanded by concrete and vinyl-lined pools, fiberglass pool shells can last a lifetime. They just need the same TLC as anything else. The regular maintenance on fiberglass pools is extremely easy to perform and takes probably less than one hour per week. You just need to brush it gently and watch that water chemistry. The non-porous gel coat requires less frequent cleaning than its pool surface counterparts. Just skim the top to keep it free from leaves and twigs and be sure to maintain the water level so it stays around the center of the skimmer plate to keep all the components running optimally.
3. Comfort
Concrete pools can be notorious for their rough surfaces that can be hard on your feet if you use your pool to play games like volleyball. The smoother surface of fiberglass is gentler on your skin. A huge plus is also that the silkier surface hinders the growth of algae that tends to collect in the minute crevices of a concrete installation.
4. Compatibility with Saltwater Systems
Today, many homeowners are turning to saltwater pools versus chlorine. The saltwater pools are designed to create their own chlorine using salt. It’s a process known as “electrolysis,” and it negates the need to manually introduce chlorine.
However, while fiberglass surfaces are very tolerant of salt, many concrete pool builders do not allow for salt chlorinators because of its inclination to damage the plaster finish more readily.
5. Cost and Turnaround Time
The pricing is a great alternative to the costs of custom concrete pool construction. With manufacturers offering a deep inventory of “pre-fab” pool solutions, you can still devise modifications that allow you to “make it your own.” And since time is precious, you will spend more of it “in” your pool and not working “on” it.
Another important distinction is the turnaround from when you sign the contract to when your new pool is dropped into the ground. This pool solution offers more instant gratification than the alternatives. You’ll be swimming sooner!
Different pool types meet different standards. Bottom line, having choices is a good thing when it comes to giving your family the best gift ever.