Concrete vs. Fiberglass Pools:
Although the decision to install an in-ground swimming pool may be a no-brainer in most areas of Texas, the details of that are anything but cut and dried. Gunite seems to be the favored, “go-to, tried and true” pool material for Texans, but when you take a closer look at fiberglass composite, you may decide that “just because it’s always been done that way” doesn’t make Gunite the best choice.
By weighing and comparing all the facts about costs, installation, durability and features for both Gunite and fiberglass pools, Texas homeowners can make logical and informed decisions that are right for their families. Let’s start with an overview of these two pool options.
Concrete, often referred to as Gunite, as a pool building material has been a popular choice in Texas until recent years. Gunite is a mixture of sand and concrete that is sprayed onto surfaces at high velocity. It is helpful to understand the steps for installing a concrete/Gunite pool as part of the decision-making process:
Fiberglass is a type of sturdy, resin mix that is reinforced with composite glass fibers. It is an ideal material for swimming pools because it is smooth, non-porous, strong and flexible. Fiberglass Composite pools are precision-made by applying resin, fiberglass and other composite strengtheners in layers to a prefabricated mold. As an example, one of the leading manufacturers of fiberglass swimming pools, creates its pools using a 10-stage process that layers fiberglass multiple times with Vinyl Ester Resin (for durability and strength), a sturdy core of ceramic, carbon fibers or more fiberglass (for added strength), and embedded vertical support beams (for structure, strength and ease in lifting). The finished pools are shipped in one piece to the installation site.
A quick overview of their installation reveals both similarities and differences between fiberglass and Gunite pools: