What is the fberglass pools?
The main structure of a fiberglass pool is a single one-piece structure (the pool shell) made entirely of fiberglass material.
A vinyl liner pool uses plastic or metal wall panels for side-wall support, a grout or vermiculite bottom for floor stability, and a vinyl liner laid over the walls and floors and vacuum-formed to create a seal. Concrete pools are typically formed from an outer cage of steel bars (rebar) on the walls and floor of the pool structure. This rebar is then encased in sprayed concrete, which will be covered in plaster once the concrete dries for durability and aesthetics.
Pre-engineered fiberglass swimming pools are in-mold, handcrafted pools that arrive at your home ready to be installed in your yard. The fiberglass is created from millions of interwoven glass threads covered with a polyester resin. It’s an incredibly sturdy material that’s ideal for an in-ground pool.
It’s time for a little honest talk about fiberglass pools.
First and foremost, fiberglass pools are not for everyone! You’re probably thinking why would a fiberglass pool builder tell anyone that fiberglass pools aren’t for everybody? Well, because it’s the truth. I don’t sugar coat anything about the pool industry. There are definite drawbacks to fiberglass pools, but there are many more reasons why they can suit anybody. Let’s get the disadvantages out of the way so we can focus on why you should have a fiberglass pool.
DISADVANTAGES
1: SIZES. The biggest drawback of fiberglass pools is that we are limited by the DOT to pools that are only 16’ wide. This can be a significant drawback if you are looking for a large and wide pool.
2: CUSTOM DESIGNS: Fiberglass pools are limited to the models and the molds the manufacturer has. These molds can be customized slightly but generally speaking, what you see is what you get with a fiberglass pool
ADVANTAGES
1: Fiberglass Pools are up to 17 times stronger than concrete pools
2: Fiberglass pools can flex up to 12” without any structural damage.
3: Smooth interior surface. 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: Lowest long term cost of ownership. 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. 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.
5: Quickest to complete the installation. Typically 2-3 weeks from start to finish
6: If you move you can bring your pool with you? Yes, we can remove your fiberglass pool shell and move it to your new home.
7: Easiest pool to maintain. 10 – 15 minutes per week to maintain your fiberglass pool.
8: Weather Resistance. You won’t be hindered by weather fluctuations with these pools. They are well suited to areas with cold weather seasons because the flexural strength of fiberglass prevents cracking during freezing-thawing cycles.
9: 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.
As you can see Fiberglass Pools have their drawbacks but when compared with the advantages fiberglass pools are the better pool and it’s overtaking the in-ground pool market. From a 5 percent market share in 2008 to an 18% market share in 2017, fiberglass pool sales have more than tripled in just under 10 years.
