10 Reasons Why Fiberglass Pools Are Better Than Concrete

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Yes, that’s right, fiberglass pools are better than concrete (gunite) pools, at least in most applications. Are there exceptions? Sure, no doubt, fiberglass pools are not for everyone due to some of their size and shape limitations, but the fact that they are exploding in popularity all over the world, especially in the US and Canada, one must no longer see fiberglass as a distant 3^rd to concrete and vinyl in the swimming pool industry. But the main question is why? Why so much growth in popularity? Here’s the short answer:

10 reasons why fiberglass pools are quickly becoming more popular than concrete pools in the US

1. Less Maintenance

This is an accepted fact and no longer up for debate. Fiberglass pools (FP) have reinvented the paradigm that ‘pools are a lot of work’. In fact, most FP owners spend less than 30 minutes a week in total maintenance.

2. Work Great with Salt

As anyone who understands science will tell you, Salt Chlorinated water, for all its wonders, is abrasive to concrete surfaces. What’s this mean to you? Well, it simply means you’re going to have to resurface your concrete pool much sooner. But as for a FP, salt is not a deterrent on the surface.

3. Less Cost

Yes, fiberglass and concrete may cost the same initially, but long term, due to the chemical and maintenance/resurfacing differences, a FP is much less.

4. Quicker Install

Who wants a pool guy in their yard for months? Answer: Nobody. In fact, fiberglass pools are often completed, including decking, in 2-3 weeks time. This means less stress for homeowners, neighbors, pets, etc.

5. Much Easier on the Feet

Believe it or not, this is a big deal. Kids can play in a FP for hours without getting their feet torn apart by the rough surface. At River Pools, we’ve had many customers who owned a concrete pool in the past and bought fiberglass specifically for this reason.

6. More Appealing to Potential Home Buyer

Now that so many people understand the low maintenance and longevity benefits of a FP, the real estate market has become very attracted to these types of pools because potential home buyers don’t see them as a lot of work in the future.

7. Much Harder for Algae to Grow

Algae is the bane of a pool owner’s existence, and fiberglass pools have become well known to combat ‘the green monster’ due to their non-porous surface.

8. Seating is Included

These days, every FP includes built-in steps and benches and many also include tanning ledges, a popular feature that always costs more with other types of pools.

9. The Green Advantage

With all the talk of the environment today, anything that uses less chemicals is a good thing. And when it comes to concrete vs. fiberglass, there’s no question which one uses less.

10. Sound Structure, Built to Last

No matter what your soil conditions are, fiberglass is the ideal suitor because it’s flexible enough to bend with shrink/swell, but strong enough to deal with the constant elements over the years.

Learn why we expanded to manufacturing fiberglass pools and how our methods revolutionized the industry.

So that’s it, folks: 10 reasons why fiberglass pools are taking over the concrete pool market throughout North America.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to add your thoughts below.

At River Pools, we manufacture world-class fiberglass pools for customers across North America. If you're interested in a fiberglass swimming pool for your home, feel free to browse our catalog of models, try out our pool pricing calculator, request custom pricing, or download our ebook below.

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Editor's note (5/16/24):
This article was originally written by Marcus Sheridan, (Partner, River Pools Virginia). Any opinions expressed are those of the author. Any prices referenced were based on information that was readily available at the time.

River Pools is a brand of inground fiberglass pools produced via the River Pools division of the manufacturing facility in Fortville, IN. While our expertise is in fiberglass pool manufacturing, we have a network of expertise relating to all things inground pools. Our own collective experience from over the years spans manufacturing, project design, installation, and pool service. We often tap into this knowledge base and share information freely with homeowners, just like you, who are considering having a swimming pool installed in your backyard.