Fiberglass Pool Information | Installation & Construction
How long does it take to install a pool? Now, that depends on what type of pool we’re talking. Doing a search for “how long does it take to install an inground pool from start to finish” will likely yield some wide ranges of answers if you don’t specify which type of inground pool. A little fun fact about us (or maybe a big one): we at River Pools manufacture inground fiberglass pools, but our time in the pool industry has helped us learn tons about inground pool types far and wide.
So that brings us to the main focus of today’s article and let me say it’s one of the most mistaken and sometimes misunderstood parts of having a fiberglass inground pool installed in your backyard. Though fiberglass is where our expertise lies, we’ll also briefly go over some facts for concrete (gunite) and vinyl liner pools, just so you have all your options laid out in front of you.
Let’s start with the ever-familiar concrete pools. These bad boys are built from scratch in your backyard, so they can be practically any shape and size you dream of (folks dreaming about a never-before-seen pool shape – we’re talking to you). With the excavating, rebar placement, plumbing, concrete-shooting, curing, coping and plastering, installing an inground concrete pool may take three to six months on average.
Vinyl liner pools, also often referred to as just “liner” pools, also offer customization options and can be appealing due to their lower upfront costs and smooth texture. Keep in mind that the more custom the design, the more money you’ll likely have to pay. This goes for concrete, as well. These pools also require excavation, along with lining with metal wall panels, plumbing, creating the pool base/floor (this is often done with vermiculite or grout) and installing the liner itself. This process can take six to eight weeks on average.
I find it a little funny when I look online and I see companies with the headline ‘We will install your pool in one day!’. Actually, I’m a little bothered by these statements because the task of installing a fiberglass pool in one day is nearly impossible. Why? Well here are the different phases of an actual complete installation:
- Permit application
- Permit Approval
- Excavation
- Setting, Plumbing, Water Filling, and Backfilling of Pool
- Electrical Hook Up
- Forming for Concrete
- Pouring Concrete
- Removing Concrete Forms/Patching/Etc
- Cleaning of Pool
- Grading of Yard
- Final Cleaning of Pool
- Cover Installation if Necessary
Now, some of you may be thinking that you saw on TV where a fiberglass pool construction start to finish was completed in 48 hours. Well, this is feasible, but keep in mind that it requires major man power, no inspections, and everything must fall into place just perfectly.
The truth of the matter is that most jobs will average this timeframe (not including any down-time):
- Permit: 1–10 weeks, depending on the county
- Excavation, Dig, Set, Backfill, Forming: 2–3 days
- Concrete Pour and Form Removal: 2–3 days (possibly longer for stamped concrete)
- Cleaning/Grading/Covering: 2–4 days
Another huge factor that one must account for is weather. One good day of rain can literally delay a job for 2 weeks, especially if the site is a difficult one and does not drain well. This goes for all inground pool types (albeit some more than others): the best time to build a pool is when it’s sunny, dry and the weather is on your side. Keep in mind the potential delays with equipment as well as an extreme demand in the industry can lead to further delays.
At River Pools and Spas, we tell our customers they can expect most jobs to fall in the 3–5 week range (not including permitting) when one actually considers all that is involved as well as potential variables that can arise. However, the project could take from two to six weeks on average.
Have we done some jobs completely in 4 days? Yes, that’s true, but we’ve also had jobs that took longer than 5 weeks to wrap up. Frankly, sometimes it’s just tough to tell until construction starts.
So consider these factors when your installer gives you job timeframe expectations. Remember that just setting and filling a pool does not mean that it is "installed."
In the end, regardless of what pool type you choose, we at River Pools want your pool to be a place to spend time with your loved ones and bring everyone together for summer fun. We hope this article helped you answer the question “how long does it take to install a pool” and gave you a better direction for your future pool project. As always, we invite anyone with questions or comments to leave your thoughts below.
If you’re still not sure which type of inground pool is best for you, give our pool type quiz a go! Thinking about getting a fiberglass pool for your home? Feel free to browse our gallery. Wondering “how much does an inground pool cost”? Request custom pricing, or try out our free pool cost calculator below!
Want to see about how much that cost will be with all your favorite pool accessories?
Use our Design and Price Tool to walk through your options and approximate price!
Up Next:
Pool Construction: Comparing Concrete, Vinyl Liner, and Fiberglass Installations
Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Liner vs. Concrete Pools: An Honest Comparison
25 Small Inground Pool Ideas for All Budgets
Note: This blog was updated 7/13/22.