If you are looking to install a fiberglass pool for the lowest time, both the fall and winter are the best times to achieve this. Most people want a pool installed in the spring or early summer months so they can use it right away and receive fast gratification.
Fiberglass Pools in Cold Climates
Freezing and thawing won't strain or crack a fiberglass pool like it might with a concrete pool, so you shouldn't have to worry as much about your pool cracking or breaking.
The short answer: Yes, you can build a swimming pool in the winter. The long answer: There may be some limitations depending on the area, weather, and the type of pool you're building. If you live in a temperate climate zone with mild winters, you can probably install a pool almost any time of year.
The most significant disadvantage of a fiberglass pool is the limitation on pool shapes and sizes. If you are looking for a large pool with multiple bodies of water or want a swim-up bar with bar stools built into the structure, then the fiberglass pool may not be the right choice for you.
Fiberglass pools have a gel coating that can develop hairline cracks over time. These cracks typically only penetrate the gel coat and do not affect the pool's structural integrity, nor do they indicate leaks. If you see blisters as well as cracks, this is a sign that the gel coating was applied too thinly.
Fiberglass pools are extremely easy to maintain, can be installed quickly, are very durable, and can be beautifully designed. However, their initial cost can be higher than vinyl liner pools, and the shapes and sizes are not as customizable.
Yes, they can freeze solid. If temperatures reach below zero, swimming pools that are not circulating can freeze solid within a few days. If those low temperatures continue for several days, the ice sheet can increase in thickness by up to ¼” per day.
In contrast to vinyl and concrete pools, which have little to no ability to retain warmth, fiberglass is an insulator so it holds heat in your pool. Fiberglass pools heat up much faster than other kinds of pools and hold onto that heat for much longer.
When the pool surface freezes solid, it won't weigh any more than the water that it is displacing. But if your pool cover is not pumped off, and the ice starts spilling over the top rail of your aboveground pool, that could cause some problems! Be sure to keep your pool cover clean and mostly pumped off during winter.
Swimming pool – If your doctor recommended you swim regularly for treatment or your health in general, and you install a pool on your property, you can write off the expense on your return.
Due to the decreased demand for materials in winter months, swimming pool companies often lessen their building costs. The offseason of pool building is the time for deals and cheaper prices, and you will be able to build an inground pool for a cheaper price in the winter as opposed to building one in the summer.
Fiberglass Pools Are Inert
This means that the material itself is not reactive to other substances. So, if you live in a rainy climate or an area with other harsh environmental factors, a fiberglass pool is a top choice. The material stands up incredibly well to humidity, salt, chemicals, and ultraviolet light.
This autumn, consider pool maintenance to make sure that your pool tile will be safe from freezing temperatures. This way, when swimmers return, the pool will be ready to go. Pool tiles can crack during wintertime. Cracked pool tiles can result from pressure caused by incorrect water levels.
You should have a freeze protection device that will automatically turn the pump on when the temperature drops to around 34 degrees. A freeze protector will keep your pool running as long as the temperature remains close to freezing.
Most fiberglass pools are known to last 25-30 years, but we take that to the next level. Our manufacturer, Narellan Pools, makes the best fiberglass pools around. Their unique fiberglass formula results in a pool that can last as long as 50 years! Plus, these pools are notoriously easy to maintain.
While they are easier to install, fiberglass pools are nowhere near as durable as a gunite inground pool. The inside surface of this type pool is a gel coat on which the fiberglass has been laminated. The walls of the pool are only ½ to ⅜ inch thick compared to the 8 to 10 inch thickness of a gunite pool.
A Common Gripe About Fiberglass Pools
One of the biggest gripes that we see have to do with the slippery surface of a fiberglass pool. The fact is, this material can be so slick that pool users can actually slip and fall. This can be a real problem for pool steps, where a slip-and-fall accident can be dangerous.
The harsh weather conditions throughout the winter season can create potential damage to more than just the pipes. What happens when you don't winterize your pool is that the water could turn green with algae. If the chlorine system stops functioning, you'll say adieu to the beautiful blue pool you know and love.
If you don't trust your well, it will cost about $400 to fill a 20,000 gallon pool using a good water company that will deliver drinking water. Be careful, some water delivery people will back up to a local pond to fill up.
Some of the most common include that this pool type floats or pops up, that they look cheap, that they only work in warm climates, that they are are lot more expensive than vinyl liner pools, and that they cannot be customized. Unfortunately, many people shy away from fiberglass pools because they believe these myths.
Fiberglass swimming pools are very compatible with salt water systems. If you are using a vinyl liner pool, you must be careful as those pools tend to have metal parts or connections which salt will eat through and corrode.