The Swimming Pool – An Overview:
Every man’s dream house has to have a swimming pool that would use significant space in their backyard. A swimming pool in your backyard will definitely change your lifestyle & your home. The swimming pool adds a different sense of luxury in your home in swimming laps anytime in your family’s privacy and while hosting parties.
There are many types of swimming pools ranging from the original concrete varieties to vinyl to the synthetic Fibreglass types. It is very important to know the advantage & disadvantages of these pools before selecting the type of pool required in your backyard. Let us chalk out the differences between the concrete pool & the Fibreglass swimming pool before choosing:
Fibreglass Swimming Pool:
This is a manufactured Fibreglass shell which can be installed in the ground or even above ground in a standing fashion in your backyard. Fibreglass pools come in a variety of colorful options & the desired shape, too, in adorning your backyard with style.
Advantages:
- They are easy to install & require very basic maintenance.
- The finish of the Fibreglass pool requires moderate care post-installation.
- Fibreglass pools are extremely tough & durable.
- Fibreglass pools withhold the water heat much longer than a concrete pool.
The Fibreglass pool’s size is somewhat limited as they are prefabricated & transported intact to the locations for installation.
Fibreglass Pool Cost:
Fibreglass pools cost around 20% less when compared to installing a concrete pool. The cost of maintaining a Fibreglass pool is also less with less chemical requirements in keeping the pool clean. It also has lower power consumption as it retains heat much better than a concrete pool.
Installation:
The prefabricated Fibreglass pools are delivered through trucks & usually require a crane to put the pool into the designated place. The Fibreglass pool is installed post-site-excavation of the area by placing the pool shell & joining the filtration unit, heating, lighting, etc. of the pool. Fibreglass installations are quite easy to handle & trouble-free.
Fibreglass pools have a soft feel & are soft on your feet due to their smooth surface, unlike concrete pools. The synthetic Fibreglass being natural insulators holds heat longer in the pool and keeps algae at bay due to the non-porous & smooth gel coating. This leads to minimal cleaning, very low chemical & power consumption in a Fibreglass pool as compared to a concrete pool.
Concrete Swimming Pool:
This is the conventional swimming pool constructed of concrete. The concrete pools have variable design options with excellent flexibility in size, unlike Fibreglass pools.
Advantages:
- Various finishes are possible in concrete pools along with its looks & feel.
- Concrete pools can be made in any size & shape.
- Concrete pools can be designed & made colorful as per one’s choice.
Concrete pools can be constructed as per your requirements & have the choice of either to add or not alcoves, ledges, swim-outs, etc., not possible in Fibreglass pools.
Disadvantages as against Fibreglass Pools:
- Installation takes a longer time.
- Expensive installation cost.
- Higher maintenance cost & resurfacing required in & around every 15 years.
- Do not have the heat retaining properties similar to Fibreglass pools.
Concrete Pool Cost:
Concrete pools take a longer time to construct, therefore more expensive & could turn your backyard into a workshop yard due to onsite traffic for some period. Concrete pools get worn down faster needing repair work over a period. They also attract algae due to its porous surface requiring regular cleaning & chemical treatment, leading to long term maintenance expenses.
Installation:
The installation of a concrete pool is a process of onsite building by filling a metal grid framework with concrete paste mix & allowing it to set. Plaster coating or tile finish is done on the set surface to complete the concrete pool, all these procedures taking time, adding to the expenditure.
Both concrete & Fibreglass pools are hard & durable materials made to last over the years except that concrete pools get worn down faster, needing repairs sometimes & also surfacing possibly in every 15 years.
This surely indicates that if you are planning to install a swimming pool in your backyard, then the Fibreglass pool is the best option. They are less expensive to install, maintain & takes very less time compared to installing a concrete pool.
The Life Expectancy of a Fibreglass Pool:
Fibreglass is a very durable material & a good quality Fibreglass pool can last for over 50 years, depending on the manufacturer & quality installation. The manufacturer should ensure that the pool shell is made from good quality material & inspected properly before shipping. Utmost precision & technic should be applied while installing the pool to avoid any damage leading to spider cracks & other future problems.
Maintaining Your Fibreglass Pool:
The better you take care of your Fibreglass pool the longer it will last. Maintaining the chemical balance of the Fibreglass pool is very important. The pH level of your pool should be maintained around 7 on the pH scale. Any higher or lower pH levels could create a chemical imbalance, causing damage to the pool’s cleaning equipment & the Fibreglass pool itself. Make sure to check the pH levels regularly & try maintaining it. No unstated or harsh chemicals should be used in this process, which might weaken the Gelcoat, shortening the pool’s surface’s lifespan. Give the Fibreglass pool the required one circulation per day run of the pool filter in keeping the pool clean. Preferably always keep the water level of the pool halfway on the skimmer level in maintaining proper balance.
Comparing Fibreglass with other types of pools:
Concrete pools require professionals to clean & take care of it and need to be resurfaced every 10-15 years. Added costs also come in for chemicals required to control algae, acid washes every 3-5 years & resurfacing every 10-15 years. This adds up to a hefty sum spent on maintaining your concrete pool.
In the case of a vinyl pool, the vinyl lining alone adds up to the cost as it is expensive & has to be replaced every 5-9 years. There are additional costs to that of chemicals, electricity & other expenditures which total to a heavy sum spent on maintenance of your vinyl pool.
On the other hand, Fibreglass pools require only chemicals & electricity amounting to negligible expenditure on maintenance compared to other pools. The Fibreglass pools cost much cheaper & are very easy to maintain.
Do Fibreglass Pool need to be re-surfaced:
A Fibreglass pool has to be resurfaced only after 20-30 years, unlike other pools that have to be resurfaced at a much shorter duration, adding to the maintenance cost.
The important notes to take in preserving & extending the life of a Fibreglass Pool:
- Never use any un-notified or unwanted harsh chemicals on the Fibreglass pools.
- Use a pool cover in keeping the pool clean.
- Check & use chemicals responsibly while using it at the pool.
- Use the pool filter in cleansing the pool as per the required one cycle per day required for a Fibreglass pool.
- Keep the water level of your pool midway up the skimmer.
- Never completely drain Fibreglass pools.
A Fibreglass pool is the best option for you if you are looking to add a swimming pool in your backyard. A Fibreglass swimming pool is durable & equivalent to a concrete swimming pool in all its functions but with low maintenance and minimal lifetime costs.
If you are planning to install a swimming pool in your backyard, do not forget to look for manufacturers of Fibreglass pools that are durable and with minimal maintenance costs.
