There aren’t many downsides to having a fiberglass pool installed on your property, but if I were going to pick out one thing customers wish for, it would be more customization options.

Unfortunately, customizing your fiberglass pool isn’t usually feasible. Because fiberglass itself is an incredibly strong and light material – our manufacturers also use it for high-end racing yachts – it has to be produced in a very precise way. It’s not like concrete you can just pour into a shape. Your pool will be made using advanced molds and casts that need to be measured and used again and again. 

What all of this means to you, as a homeowner, is that fiberglass pools are available in a set range of shapes, sizes, and depths. You won’t be able to stray from those, particularly if you want one from a quality supplier.

Obviously, that can introduce restrictions into the patio design process. That leads me very naturally to a question that comes up a lot during initial consultations: do you really need a custom pool?

Before you give yourself an answer, let me give you a few thoughts from both sides of the question.

 

Popular Fiberglass Pool Styles are Popular for a Reason

Given that they can’t produce everything at scale, fiberglass pool manufacturers tend to focus on the most popular shapes and configurations. In other words, they see what people have bought in the past and fit the pools and their catalogs to fit those specifications.

Since all of this is based on popularity with buyers, it only makes sense that the best-selling swimming pools are appropriate for most homes and customers. That’s what made homeowners choose them in the first place.

In my experience, around 90% of all customers can find exactly what they are looking for in a pre-manufactured fiberglass pool. Another handful come into the process thinking of one shape or design and actually find something that works better for them. 

What about the small percentage of customers who want something they can’t get in a fiberglass pool? I’ll come back to in just a moment. First, there is something bigger I have to mention.

 

Most Customers Need Unique Patios, Not Custom Pools

I always like to remind visitors to my website that every property and customer are different. Wouldn’t it make sense, then, that every pool should be different, too?

Not really. As I’ve mentioned, nearly every homeowner can find what they’re looking for a fiberglass swimming pool. What tends to vary more often is the setup of a patio rather than the pool.

Imagine a backyard that features a pool with the slide, a surrounding seating area, and grill to the side. Now imagine another with a pool with some seating under a pergola and an outdoor kitchen. Or, a pool that’s enclosed by a deck and features a long walkway that leads to a tennis court.

Each of these is a very different design. But they all might have the same swimming pool. The inclusion of a pool, and everything that goes around it, is more important than the dimensions of the pool itself.

 

There are Unusual Cases Where Custom Makes Sense

Now that I’ve given you all the reasons why custom swimming pool constructions are usually unnecessary, let me point out that there are exceptions.

Recently, we quoted project for a customer who wanted some unusual swimming pool dimensions for a form of volleyball. He couldn’t get that from a fiberglass model. Another buyer had her heart set on an infinity edge. Every once in a while we come across homeowners who want pools that extend beyond 40 feet, or need more than a seven-foot swimming pool depth because they like to dive.

Each of these would call for custom gunite (i.e. concrete) swimming pool construction. Fiberglass may be beautiful and durable, but it doesn’t meet every need. Although it’s more rare than people tend to think, there are times when a custom pool is the best or only option.

Even then, though, there are details to consider.

 

The Balance Between Schedules, Budgets, and Priorities

The more customized elements you have within a swimming pool the higher your commitment of time and money is going to be. In other words, installing a custom swimming pool takes longer and costs more to build. Sometimes the schedules and budgets can get pushed quite dramatically. It’s always worth considering the benefits and drawbacks before you sign on the dotted line.

In addition to the added expenses, custom swimming pools tend to have value to a smaller number of people. Unless you find another buyer who also loves your specific type of volleyball (as an example), a pool with strange depth measurements isn’t going to improve your property value all that much. In fact, it could even make your home harder to move if someone thinks they’ll have to renovate or remove your “upgrade.”

In the end, only you can decide whether the trade-off to a custom swimming pool is worth it. For me, the key is to make an informed choice.

 

So, Do You Need a Custom Fiberglass Swimming Pool?

Hopefully, what I’ve shared from 20+ years in the patio renovation business can help lead you to an answer about whether you need a custom swimming pool or not. However, the best way to find out isn’t to read what I think, or even to ask your neighbors. Instead, it’s to see the options for yourself.

At my company, Stefano’s Landscaping, we begin every project with a free consultation that takes place at the customer’s home. That gives us a chance to survey the property and find out about their needs and priorities. It also gives them the opportunity to ask us questions, see a portfolio of our completed projects, and even to get quotes for various options and choices.

Usually, it will be at some point in these meetings when a customer will realize that they either do or don’t want a custom swimming pool. Most will opt for fiberglass, but some go in a different direction.

 

The takeaway isn’t that one is better or worse, but that you should be making informed choices based on designs that fit your property. Why not contact us today and let us show you some choices for your backyard?