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Is A Fiberglass Pool Worth It?

Chad Maag • May 3, 2022

You’ve decided to treat your family to a beautiful, spacious inground fiberglass pool. You can’t wait to make timeless memories splashing around and having fun. You’ve strongly considered pool materials such as concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass, and you keep coming back to fiberglass. You’re not totally sold though. Is a fiberglass pool worth it?

Fiberglass pools are more than worth it! Here are the top perks of investing in this particular pool material:

Fast and easy installation
Less maintenance
No need for liner replacement
Feels great
Durability
Requires fewer chemicals
Doesn’t need as much energy for heating
Often includes a lifetime warranty
Repairs may be covered under insurance
Can increase curb appeal

Are Fiberglass pools really that advantageous? You bet! Keep reading for more information on the above perks so you can decide whether this swimming pool material is the right option for you and your family.

Fast and Easy Installation

Who wants to wait weeks or even months for their swimming pool installation to wrap up? Certainly not you, that’s for sure. If you select a fiberglass swimming pool, you won’t have to worry about such delays. The length of time to install this type of pool can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Compare that to other pool materials such as vinyl, which can take weeks to months for installation to be complete. Of course, the above timeline does assume that nothing hampers the installation process such as permitting issues or inclement weather.

Less Maintenance

For as much fun as an inground swimming pool is, it still requires plenty of maintenance. No pool material is completely maintenance-free yet, but certain materials require a lot more of your time and effort than others.

Fiberglass isn’t very porous, and it has a smooth texture which makes it harder for dirt and grime to lodge inside. The result is less time spent vigorously scrubbing your pool. Plus, the smoothness is more likely to resist algae compared to other materials, especially if it includes a gel coating.

No Need for a Liner Replacement

A swimming pool liner lasts for a long time, but not forever. After about 15 years, the liner can begin to come up in corners, creating wrinkles that don’t feel good to step on. The wrinkles also look most unappealing. In other cases, vinyl liners can rip, exposing the concrete base of your pool underneath (assuming that your pool is made of concrete, that is).

A fiberglass pool is comprised of a single shell. The fiberglass is smooth enough that your pool doesn’t require a liner so you won't have to worry about replacing it years down the line. Plus, you’ll be saving quite a bit in the process, according to Homeguide.com.

Feels Great

Some pool materials look nice from over the surface of the water. Then, as soon as you enter the pool, the material feels bumpy and scratchy. You don’t want to put your feet on the floor, and you certainly don’t want to lean your body against the pool either.

Fiberglass has a smooth texture that won’t irritate your skin. You won’t have to worry about scrapes or abrasions when you and the kids play and splash around. Go ahead then and let them have some fun!

Durable

Although concrete seems like the most durable pool material, sometimes the opposite holds true. If the ground naturally shifts, concrete can crack. Existing cracks can spread, necessitating expensive repairs if yours is a concrete pool.

Fiberglass is not impenetrable, of course. It can crack. However, many fiberglass pools are finished with a coating that increases durability and protects against hairline cracks that then grow in size.

Needs Fewer Chemicals

If you’ve ever swam in a pool that has too much chlorine in it, you know how uncomfortable that can be. Your eyes burn and your skin feels irritated. The last thing you want to do is expose your child to that sort of thing. You’d also like to avoid it for yourself. All swimming pools need some chemicals regardless of the material, but with a fiberglass pool, you'll use fewer chemicals.

Why is that? It all goes back to the fiberglass surface, which is considered inert. A concrete pool, on the other hand, is alkaline. This means the concrete will always subtly raise the pH of your pool water. You’ll need more chemicals to balance out your pool. Fiberglass won’t impact the water chemistry either way. You’ll be able to swim in a pool with fewer chemicals.

Doesn’t Require as Much Energy for Heating

Most people close their pools down in September. The days are colder, shorter, and darker, which is not conducive to swimming. Others stretch out the season as long as possible. For those people, adequate pool heating is a must.

Fiberglass is an insulator, so it traps heat in colder areas. The amount of heat retention means that you won’t have to use your pool heater for as long as you would with a vinyl or concrete pool. You can also extend the life of your pool heater, as it won’t need to run as long.

Often Include a Lifetime Warranty

When making a large investment such as purchasing a pool, it's good to know you're protected with a warranty. A fiberglass pool warranty can last for decades, sometimes 25 years! That practically covers the life of the pool.

Repairs May Be Covered Under Homeowners Insurance

Did a terrible storm roll in and leave your fiberglass pool in less than desirable shape? Many storms count as a covered peril if you have homeowners insurance. Thus, depending on your policy, you might be able to get your fiberglass pool repaired at no cost to you.

According to insurance resource Travelers, covered perils include lightning, hail, and windstorms. Even vandalism is considered a covered peril. In other instances, including the purchase of a pool, you may want to research purchasing an umbrella policy to protect against any additional damages.

Can Increase Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important to today's homeowners, even if you don't plan on moving anytime soon.

A fiberglass pool is one way to raise the value of your home. Since a fiberglass pool requires less maintenance than one made of vinyl or concrete, it's a major selling point to potential homebuyers.

Conclusion

Deciding which swimming pool material to select for your in-ground pool is a choice that will impact your pool care and maintenance routine over the next several decades. A fiberglass pool is worth it for so many reasons. The smooth material is easy to maintain and is never abrasive on the skin.

You won’t have to worry about the liner ripping or fiberglass changing the pool chemistry either. No pool material is perfect, and that includes fiberglass as well. Its lifetime value is so exceptional that fiberglass should absolutely be a strong contender for your inground pool material.