Fiberglass Pool Growth Explodes

In the past, concrete and vinyl liner pools have been the staple of the swimming pool industry throughout the world. Recently though, there has been a major shift with the rising popularity of fiberglass pool installations.

Just to give an example of this growth, in 1994, 61,540 fiberglass pools were installed in the United States. In 2005, over 283,000 fiberglass units were installed. Neither concrete nor vinyl experienced even close to such growth during this time period.

In fact, Australia, the same country that started using salt water systems long before they arrived to the US market (over 90% of all pool in Australia are on salt), now shows that fiberglass pools make up one out of every two new pool installations in the country.

So what are the reasons for such a drastic shift in the pool industry? Why do so many pool owners find fiberglass to be their pool style of choice? 

In the beginning of the fiberglass pool era, there were very few pool designs and white was the only available color. When these pools were installed, most were done without a concrete coping edge (aka cantilevered or bullnose), therefore leaving a fiberglass lip exposed on the deck. Needless to say, the aesthetics of these early projects were not the most attractive, which can attribute to some people's belief that fiberglass pools look like a "bathtub." Times have changed though, and such stigmas have practically been eliminated with the introduction of so many new features.

To combat this "bathtub" perception, manufacturers are rolling out a variety of alternative finishes. For example, our pool manufacturer, CPC, has 3 granite style colors available: crystite blue, sandstone, and charcoal respectively. These colored finishes make up over 80% of all of the pools we install, and cost much less to add to a standard pool compared to colored Pebble Tec finishes with concrete installations. Some other features we see more and more of are: waterline tile, mosaic inlays, fiber optic lighting, water features, swim/therapy jets, and spill-over spas. These features, in conjunction with cantilevered concrete (which is a standard on all of our pools to hide the fiberglass lip) can certainly create an impressive back-yard feature, not just a swimming pool. With regards to the concrete, we find over 50% of our customers get some type of decorative design, not just regular broom finish. Stamp concrete and pavers are becoming extremely popular in this area, adding a much more luxurious or natural look to the poolscape.

Although these aesthetic improvements have made a major impact on fiberglass growth, there are two other main factors which have led to their strong presence. Because the fiberglass surface is non-porous and has no seams, unlike concrete and vinyl, it is much harder for algae to grow. This leads to less brushing, cleaning, and chemical use, which in turn saves on time and money. This smooth surface will also not be abrasive to feet, which can be a major draw back to plaster finishes in concrete pools. The second factor leading to this growth is the durability of fiberglass. With its high tensile strength and ability to move with shrink/swell soil, there is no soil incompatible to a fiberglass pool. This also allows for exceptional warranties. For example, Leisure Pools carries a 35 year structure warranty, and a 15 year finish warranty on their pool shells. This feature allows homeowners to enjoy their pools for many years without the worry of major repairs, such as replasterings and liner replacements.

Aesthetics, longevity, and low-maintenance—these are the features pool owners want, and this is what they get with fiberglass. Times have changed, and with its stigmas having been virtually removed with the help of technology, the future looks extremely bright for the fiberglass pool industry