As one of the leading patio contractors in Northeast Massachusetts, I get lots of questions about concrete versus fiberglass pools. Homeowners want to know whether they should go for one material versus another, if the choice is going to affect their patio renovation budget, and if there are bigger questions they should be asking.
In this brief guide I’m going to try to cover it all – the pros and cons of fiberglass swimming pools, longer-term considerations, and even the steps you can take to find the right fiberglass pool installer for the job. That’s because 20+ years in this industry has taught me that homeowners don’t always know who to turn to for honest answers. In some cases they might not know the best questions to ask in the first place.
Before we get into the details, though, I should point out that both types of pools have their uses. In fact, any pool or patio upgrade can feel life-changing. When you have the kind of backyard that allows you to feel as if you’re on vacation without having to deal with the hassles of travel, it can do wonders for your stress level. It’s also great to be able to have friends and family gather around your deck pool and have a great time on a hot summer day. And, a quality swimming pool can only mean good things for the value of your property.
But, as excited as I get when thinking about patio renovation projects, you probably knew all of that already. Otherwise you wouldn’t have found your way to this page. So, let’s get down to what you really want to know. This is my ultimate fiberglass pool guide.
It begins with the first question you might have had on your mind.
What Makes Fiberglass Pools Different From Concrete Swimming Pools?
Swimming pools can be made from a variety of materials. However, most of the residential pools you’re going to come across in Massachusetts are going to be constructed from concrete (actually gunite) or fiberglass.
Gunite is a type of concrete and it’s generally referred to by that name because it’s the way most people understand the look and feel. So, for the purposes of this guide I will also refer to them as concrete pools. Occasionally they may also be referred to as traditional swimming pools because they have been around for longer and used to be more common.
Fiberglass swimming pools, on the other hand, are made from composite materials. Basically, manufacturers take the same kind of material that makes up drinking glasses, melt it down, and mix it with materials that can be put into pliable material that can be shaped as it cools. The result is something that is incredibly light and tough.
Fiberglass has a lot of uses out in the world. One manufacturer we work with supplies high-end sailing yachts in addition to swimming pools. That can tell you quite a bit about the strength, versatility, and durability of the material.
Because fiberglass is quite a bit newer than concrete – both as a technology, and as a material for swimming pool construction – not as many people are familiar with it. However, I should point out that fiberglass pools have been around for decades. So, even though they might be less traditional than concrete pools, the materials have been well-tested for a long time.
The advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass pools stem from the material itself. In other words, fiberglass and concrete pools essentially do the same thing, but are manufactured much differently.
Let’s explore some of those positives and negatives.
The Advantages of Choosing a Fiberglass Swimming Pool
A lot of fiberglass pool installers will tell you that the material is just better. I tend to agree with them most of the time, but with the caveat that every homeowner and situation are different. It is the case that most of our customers will opt for a fiberglass swimming pool. After reading through the advantages, you’ll probably understand why.
The first benefit is a powerful one. Fiberglass swimming pools don’t take nearly as long as concrete swimming pools to install and enjoy.
Installing a concrete pool means digging out your backyard, pouring the foundation, waiting for it to settle before you can make adjustments, and so on. This process can take months, particularly if you want a custom shape or design. It’s a lot of fun dreaming about a swimming pool in your backyard. It’s less enjoyable watching a team of contractors dig into and measure giant holes for weeks on end without much visible progress.
Fiberglass swimming pools are manufactured ahead of time. That means an experienced team of installers can come by, make measurements, and do the excavation quickly. Then they can simply install the right parts and start building any other elements (like decks and patios) immediately after. For this reason, we can install a fiberglass swimming pool in a fraction of the time that it would take us to complete a concrete construction – a couple of weeks instead of a few months.
Some homeowners, having the swimming pool installed quickly, or in time for a party or event, can be enough of a deciding factor on its own. The benefits of going to fiberglass actually increase over time. That’s because they can save you a lot of time and money for each year that you own them.
One way you save is with decreased maintenance. Concrete swimming pools have rough edges (at least at the microscopic level) that allow things like algae to take hold easily. That’s why concrete pools require so much chemical treatment and ongoing cleaning. Otherwise they would become disgusting and unusable very quickly.
Fiberglass pools, conversely, are made from strong composite material with a gel coating. They don’t have surfaces that microbes can attach to or flourish on. So, the need to constantly clean and treat is greatly reduced. That means less time adding chemical mixtures to your pool if you are doing it on your own, and fewer costly visits if you’re paying someone else.
For similar reasons, concrete pools require you to use freshwater that is heavily treated. However, fiberglass pools can hold saltwater without becoming corroded. Saltwater requires less maintenance. Some homeowners also consider it to be a healthier, more natural option for swimming. With the right kind of swimming pool, you can make the choice on your own.
I have already touched on the cost savings, but it’s worth pointing out here that you’ll spend less over the long run by choosing to install a fiberglass pool. With fiberglass you can go without many of the chemicals and water treatment that you would need with a concrete pool. It’s also the case that concrete pools need to be acid washed and replastered over the years. And finally, fiberglass isn’t prone to the kind of cracking and degradation that concrete is.
It’s no secret that concrete shrinks and expands with the climate. That’s why you see roads and sidewalks being repaired every spring. A good patio renovation company will do everything they can to make your concrete pool durable, but it’s only a matter of time until some of the elements have to be touched up.
Fiberglass pools just don’t require the same kinds of ongoing work. They can be installed in a few weeks and then last many decades without any issues.
That brings me to the biggest cost savings of them all. Even a well-designed and well-built concrete pool will eventually need to be replaced. But a fiberglass pool from a quality manufacturer will come with a warranty that covers the lifetime of your home. You can buy it once and never have to worry about making the same purchase again. On its own, that could make an enormous financial difference.
I should point out that some fiberglass pools can be more expensive than concrete pools in terms of upfront costs (although much depends on the size and configuration of your property). However, it’s almost never possible to make a concrete pool less expensive over time. The ongoing expenses are just too substantial.
There is one last benefit of fiberglass pools worth mentioning. A lot of homeowners think they look better than concrete pools do. There’s something about the modern, sleek aesthetic that gives them a premium feel. And, they can be available in more colors than traditional concrete pools, making it easier to match a given tone or feel.
Having pointed out all the reasons that homeowners and patio installers love fiberglass swimming pools, it’s only fair that I present you with the drawbacks. There aren’t many, but they could make a difference in your specific circumstances.
So, let’s look at the reasons you might not choose a fiberglass swimming pool for your property.
The Limitations of Fiberglass Pools
Although we obviously love fiberglass pools, it wouldn’t be fair to say that they are right for every homeowner. Like any product, they come with a few drawbacks that could be deal breakers for some.
The first “negative” for fiberglass pools is that they aren’t concrete. That sounds obvious, so let me explain: There is a certain nostalgia to concrete swimming pools, particularly if you grew up with them. Although the majority of people we work with prefer the look and feel of fiberglass, some still like the traditional designs and materials. If you want a swimming pool that reminds you of your childhood summers, then you might be more inclined to go with something that feels familiar.
Another drawback to fiberglass pools is that they aren’t nearly as customizable as concrete pools are. With a bit of imagination and the right patio renovation crew, you can shape the traditional pool into almost any form you’d like. You can have it wider, shallower, deeper, or so that it looks like your favorite animal from above. As long as you have right budget and space in your backyard, you are limited only by what you can dream up.
Fiberglass pools are pre-molded by manufacturers before they are shipped to you. That means they only come in certain standard configurations and colors. You will only have the most popular length, width, and depth choices available.
If you are looking at the bright side, you’ll find that all the best-selling options are ready to be installed very quickly. Fiberglass pool manufacturers produce the shapes, colors, and sizes they do because they know what sells well. So you’re guaranteed to have popular choices available. But the downside is that you can’t simply design anything you want.
It’s worth noting, however, that while the pools themselves might not be customizable, the accessories are. You have a lot of choices to work with when it comes to decks, slides, steps, lighting, and dozens of other features. Two different homeowners can buy the same fiberglass pool and have them look very different once they’ve been placed on their property.
Another downside to fiberglass pools has to do with expectations. I’ve already pointed out that they tend to be low maintenance. That’s not the same as no maintenance, though. If you don’t maintain the right water levels and chemical balances, you can wear away the gel coating in your pool over the course of decades and have to deal with the chalky residue. This is rare and can be corrected, but you do still have to pay a little bit of attention to your pool after it has been installed.
I have already mentioned costs, but in some cases fiberglass pools can be slightly more expensive than their concrete counterparts. They will essentially always be less expensive to own and maintain in the long run, but the initial quote could be higher.
It’s very rare for the limitations of fiberglass pools to outweigh the benefits. That’s why most of the homeowners we work with opt for the more durable, cost-effective choice.
Before you make that decision for yourself, though, I want you to take a step back and ask yourself something bigger. How will you be using your backyard? And what does your dream for that space look like?
Designing a Patio and Backyard for Your Lifestyle
When we start working with a homeowner on a patio renovation project, we ask questions like:
- What are you hoping to get from your outdoor space?
- What does your dream day in your backyard look like?
- Who will be enjoying the space? Who is the most important to you?
- What have you seen that you loved (or didn’t like) in other backyards?
- Will you be using the space every day, every hour, and every season?
- What kinds of budgets and constraints are you working with?
- Are you hoping to complete your patio renovation all at once, or in stages?
These are just sample questions, but they get to the heart of something bigger. We don’t want to start drawing designs or making suggestions until we know what a homeowner’s dream outcome looks like. Then, the issues of what kind of pool to install – or whether a pool even makes sense in the first place – come to light very easily.
That isn’t to say that you couldn’t be drawn to the idea of having a fiberglass swimming pool. Instead, I just want to suggest that you envision your entire patio first, deciding what the centerpiece and must-haves are before filling in the rest of the landscape. Then, you can find a patio contracting company that can help you bring these ideas to life.
Remember that a good landscaper or patio renovation team will put your wishes first. They’ll take the time to hear you out, understand what you really want from your outdoor space, and then help you bring the project to life.
But how do you find a company like that?
How to Find the Right Fiberglass Pool Installers
When choosing a pool installation company to work with, it’s important to remember a couple of things. The first is that they should help you form and fill in a vision for your outdoor space. The second is that they need to have the experience and technical competence to see the job through from start to finish.
Even with advanced composite materials available, it’s important that you choose the right fiberglass pool installer to work with. Otherwise panels can crack, warp, or become bent on uneven ground. That’s not specific to this type of pool, of course, but it’s worth mentioning because homeowners don’t always realize how important site preparation is to this entire process.
I’m going to tell you how you can find someone who will do the job with the right amount of care and attention to detail.
The first thing you should be looking for is experience. That means (hopefully) several years in this business. However, simply putting time into the job isn’t enough. You also want them to be able to demonstrate that they can manage projects and details.
You can get some of that information by looking at portfolios, which are just selected photos of finished landscaping and pool installation projects. Even if some of the work they have done doesn’t match your vision exactly, it should look neat, tidy, and well thought out.
Another good way to investigate a fiberglass pool installer is to talk to some of their recent customers. You might even visit one or two if they are close by. Then you can not only see the finished product for yourself, but also get a sense (from the homeowner) of what the company was like to work with.
- Did they provide reasonable quotes compared to the competition?
- Did they deliver on promises and timelines?
- Was there good service after the installation?
- Would the homeowner recommend the company to others?
You might have other questions to add to the list, but you get the idea. You want to find out whether or not the company made good on their promises. And, you want to make sure that they took their time to measure, dig, and install equipment the right way. This is one of those areas in life where it makes a lot of sense to focus on small things because they can make a huge difference in the way you feel about your finished pool.
If you pay attention to what people tell you, then you won’t really have to be an expert in landscaping, pools, or materials. You’ll get a sense of whether other customers were satisfied with the work they received. Those impressions will tell you whether to move forward with a proposal or not.
Of course, you’ll want to find the best fiberglass pool installer near you. If you live in the Northeast, we might be able to help.
Need to find Fiberglass Pool Installers in the Saugus, Massachusetts, and North Shore Area?
By sharing this guide, I hope I’ve been able to shed some light on the advantages and drawbacks of fiberglass swimming pools. And, I hope I’ve helped you think about a few details that might not have come up in your initial research.
If you have followed with me to the end, then you probably have a good idea of whether a fiberglass pool is right for you or not. Now you might want to make some notes or talk with a patio designer in your area.
However, if your home is located in or around the Saugus, Massachusetts, area then I would invite you to contact the Stefano’s team of fiberglass pool installers today. We have 20+ years of experience installing and renovating patios throughout the region. We’ve got dozens of completed portfolio pieces – along with five-star reviews from your neighbors – that prove we do business the right way.
Every project starts with a free design consultation at your home. That means you can meet with a member of our team and get great ideas for your backyard, answers to your most pressing questions, and a no-obligation quote for an hour of your time.
Get in touch today to talk about your project and or download our complimentary guide below!
