Fibreglass Inground Pool Designs: Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages Of Fibreglass Inground Pool Designs

One of the biggest advantages of fibreglass pools is that they are much more durable than other materials such as concrete or gunite (which is a lightweight form of concrete).

Low Maintenance

This means that with a fibreglass pool, you do not need to mix acid and base chemicals together, as you do with other sorts of pools. You will also spend far less time keeping your fibreglass pool clean.

Will Not Crack

Another advantage of a fibreglass inground pool is that it will not crack in cold winters. Concrete and gunite pools will crack if the temperature drops too low. Vinyl pool liners can rip after a few years of use. But many fibreglass inground pools have a lifetime guarantee or warranty against cracking.

Disadvantages Of Fibreglass Inground Pool Designs

No Custom Shapes

On the other hand, one of the disadvantages of fibreglass pools is that you cannot alter their shape – you are limited to the pool shapes offered by the various manufacturers.

With concrete, gunite or vinyl-lined pools, you can have a custom pool designed just for you, or use pool design software to come up with your own custom pool design.

However, bear in mind that there are an increasingly wide range of fibreglass pools to choose from. Unless you are a designer, you are sure to find one you like in the pool manufacturers' catalogs.

Limited Color Selection

Another disadvantage of fibreglass pools is that you generally only have a limited selection of colors to choose from. This is because fibreglass pools fade in the sunlight over time, and certain colors have been found to last longer than others.

Industry Secrets For Choosing A Fibreglass Inground Pool Design

Diving Boards Are Expensive

Diving boards are usually quite expensive, not because of the cost of the diving board itself, but because pools with diving boards have to be deeper, requiring additional excavation (the most expensive part of any pool installation).

Inground Pools Cost More, But Add More Residual Value

Inground pools are more expensive than above ground pools, but they will add far more to the value of your home should you need to sell it.

Classic Mediterranean Style

The "Mediterranean" or "Roman" styles of pool are classic and sure to stay in vogue for many years to come. These styles of pool are rectangular, but with a slight curve to the two short ends.

"Coral Lock" Decking

My favorite type of decking is the "Coral Lock", which is a classic speckled gray stone. I personally like to have the coping (the border of the pool) in the same material as its decking. Thus I have “Coral Lock” for both decking and coping.

Fiber Optic Perimeter Lights

My favorite type of in-ground pool lighting system is one that uses fiber optic perimeter lights.

This is because these kinds of lighting systems: a) can be multicolored, producing spectacular underwater effects for night parties by the pool; b) the lights only need changing after 50, 000 hours.