Lower cost – depending on your preference for shape and size, fiberglass pools inclusive of equipment can range from $55k-$70k. This is often a lower cost option compared with a custom gunite pool.
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.
While gunite pools vary widely in cost, you can expect to pay significantly more for a gunite pool than you would for a vinyl liner pool.
Concrete. Concrete pools are the most popular—and most expensive—type of pool. They're often called Gunite or Shotcrete pools; that's because builders pump wet concrete through a hose and shoot it from a gun onto steel-reinforced walls.
The cons associated with fiberglass pools are primarily related to cost and installation issues. Contrary to popular belief, fiberglass pools aren't cheaper than traditional options like concrete (we'll provide more details in the “Costs” section later on).
Lower cost – depending on your preference for shape and size, fiberglass pools inclusive of equipment can range from $55k-$70k. This is often a lower cost option compared with a custom gunite pool.
Fiberglass pools are durable
Both the structure and the surface of a high-quality fiberglass pool can last as long as you want them to, provided you take good care of it. A well-made fiberglass pool can last at least 50 years, with less maintenance required to keep it useful and enjoyable decade after decade.
A fiberglass pool typically has the highest upfront cost but the lowest maintenance cost. They are quick to install, but because they're built from a mold the shape is not customizable (and they can't be wider than 16 feet). A vinyl pool has the lowest installation cost and can be built to any size and shape.
How much value does a pool add to a home? The experts are a split on how much a pool can contribute to a home's value. One HouseLogic study suggests an increase of 7 percent, at most, under ideal conditions, while HGTV reports that the average inground pool can up your property's value by 5 to 8 percent.
Gunite pools are among the longest-lasting pools on the market. When gunite pools are properly installed they could potentially last 100+ years. They are extremely durable and totally customizable.
Custom Gunite pools are very durable. Among the different types of in-ground pools available today, Gunite pools last the longest and have the best warranties. This should be taken into account when considering the higher cost of Gunite pools. You'll get many more years of use from a Gunite swimming pool.
But a properly built Gunite pool can and should last for 100 years or more, with no risk of cracking whatsoever. We've been building Gunite pools for more than 40 years (more than 4000 swimming pools), and we've never had one crack yet.
Gunite pools are incredibly durable and do not require a liner. This allows the pool to look better and retain its shape over time. One of the main disadvantages of a gunite pool is the time it takes to install the pool from start to finish.
You could refer to gunite as concrete's cousin because they are both in the same family, but have their differences. Gunite is the dry mixed form of sprayed concrete. Gunite typically only contains fine particles in its mix while concrete contains both large and small particles.
Gunite generally lasts longer and maintains a higher quality than shotcrete. For instance, gunite tends to dry faster than shotcrete, leading to a much smoother surface and avoiding significant cracks from shrinking. Gunite can also withstand up to 9500 psi, a much higher psi than shotcrete.
For either a custom-built pool or a prebuilt liner shape, the most affordable inground pools are those with the least-interesting shape—those with a rectangle or an oval shape will generally be the most inexpensive.
A fiberglass pool is not prone to growing algae, which is one of the main reasons why this pool is easier to maintain. Anyone who is looking for a pool that doesn't require a lot of maintenance may want to consider going with a fiberglass pool.
Fiberglass pools need the least maintenance, and they cost the least ($3,750 over 10 years).
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.
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.
Fiberglass pools can craze or check crack from imprecise manufacturing or when the surface is not fully supported, like under the steps or areas where the backfill is eroded. Gelcoat can also crack during transport and installation if it gets bumped around too much.