Disadvantages of a Fiberglass Pool
December 11, 2009 – 5:28 amIn another article I have talked about the advantages of fiberglass swimming pools—in this article I want to look more into the negatives of such pools, and do so not with the intent of telling you not to purchase a fiberglass inground pool, but to help you to see both sides and make the best decision for yourself (i.e. not to be influenced to greatly by some salesman of a fiberglass pool manufacturer).
So, here are some of the basic disadvantages associated with pools made out of fiberglass:
Fiberglass pool kits are one size fits all
Of course, this fact can be both an advantage and disadvantage, but I put it in the disadvantages for a reason—you are never hurt by having more options, and with fiberglass kits you just can’t do everything. Of course fiberglass pool manufactures offer many different shapes of pools (much more now than what use to be offered), and those shapes will probably be good for the vast majority of people. However, if you are one of those people who wants to have a custom pool that has curves and looks like a desert oasis, then you are out of luck.
Fiberglass Pool Cost
One might think that because of the lack of customization that fiberglass pool prices would be much cheaper than concrete pools. However, the opposite is true—you will pay more up front. However, you will see savings in lower chemical costs and so you should take both costs into consideration when choosing your pool.
In terms of fiberglass pool repair costs—those may or may not be higher, depending on the issue at hand.
Problems with emptying
While I should mention that many pools may have issues when being emptied completely, this is especially an issue with a fiberglass made pool. These pools must be filled at all times to keep proper pressure on the pool and prevent the pool from becoming damaged, especially in areas were the ground water levels are higher than your pool’s water level.
Potential To Shift Over Time
Fiberglass swimming pools are usually installed over sand. Over time, there is the potential for the land/sand to move, which would also cause the pool to move. This will make it so you pool has to be reset, which will obviously be costly and time consuming.
Summary
In summary, a fiberglass pool has many advantages, but you need to be aware of the disadvantages as well before you make your decision. A good pool salesman should be able to help you understand these issues better. If they don’t, then you should talk to someone else.
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