The Truth About Fiberglass Pools

While fiberglass pools have been around for years, there are still many people who have questions about them, and we want to get the true answers out. Taken from Marcus Sheridan, owner of River Pools, one of America's top fiberglass pool dealers, here are answers to some of the most common questions about fiberglass pools. The highly educated staff at Leisure Fun Pools are also a great source of information on fiberglass pools, so do not hesitate to contact them with your questions.

FAQ #1: Will my fiberglass pool 'float' or 'pop up'?

This is one of the most amusing, and most common, of all misconceptions regarding fiberglass pools. If anyone (especially another pool dealer) tells you that fiberglass pools pop out of the ground, then they are simply being dishonest and trying to use fear as a means of motivating you to get another type of pool. This is because not only are the pools always full of water, but the concrete deck engulfs the pool's outer lip, making it impossible for the pool to move unless the concrete deck moves with it.

FAQ #2: I've heard fiberglass pools look cheap.

Had someone said this 15 years ago, we would have agreed with such a statement. But times have changed in the fiberglass industry, especially with the introduction of cantilever concrete coping, colored pool finishes, waterline ceramic tile, mosaic inlay tile, fiber-optic lighting, water features, etc, etc. With so many options and features to choose from, homes of all value ranges can easily find a pool that corresponds aesthetically with their appearance. Fiberglass pools are now very beautiful and permanent looking. This is also why customers of all economic classes are going with the fiberglass advantage.

FAQ #3: Is a fiberglass pool safe in our climate? Could it freeze and crack?

It is an accepted fact in the swimming pool industry that fiberglass has the ability to "flex" due to its incredible tensile strength, much more so than any other type of permanent pool (i.e. concrete). When people are concerned about freeze conditions having an adverse affect on fiberglass, they are forgetting that the water in a pool, when it freezes, expands in an upward direction (where there are no barriers).

FAQ#4: Do fiberglass pools cost a lot more than others?

The answer to this one is a little tricky, but hopefully I'll explain myself clearly here. Typically, if someone is comparing a fiberglass pool to a liner pool, apples to apples, features with features, they will find that a fiberglass unit typically runs 5-10k more initially. I say initially because when someone is considering the cost of a pool, there are two different ways to arrive at the number. The first way is by solely looking at the initial cost of the project. The second, unlike the first method, takes the initial price but also adds the expenses of the pool over the course of its lifetime. For example, let's say you spend $25,000 initially for a vinyl-lined pool. Considering the liner will typically last 8 years on average (this number can be more or less depending on a variety of factors) before it has to be replaced, and the average cost of a liner replacement is usually between 3-5k, a pool owner could easily spend 8-12k on liner replacements alone during the first 20 years of the pool. The same principle is applicable to concrete pools who have to be replastered (every 8-12 years), where the average cost for this service is well over 5k. This is one of the great beauties of a fiberglass pool. There are almost never large expenses down the road for a homeowner to worry about. When a potential pool buyer figures in the cost of these long term repairs/expenses, as well as the year to year savings on chemicals, it is no wonder why so many consumers are willing to pay more initially for a fiberglass pool in order to pay less and have less headache in the long run.

FAQ #5: What kind of warranty does Leisure Fun Pools have?

Leisure Pools, our manufacturer of fiberglass pools has a 35 Year Warranty on its fiberglass pools shells, making it one of the most impressive warranty on the market today.

FAQ #6: How long does installation take?

Your fiberglass swimming pool comes direct from the Leisure Pools manufacturing facility, pre-made and ready to install. In fact, you can be swimming in as little as four days. Compare that to a concrete pool that can take months to complete and during that time your backyard looks a mess.