Custom Pool & Spa Packages to Suit Your Lifestyle
Feb 25, 2024
Having a swimming pool in your backyard transforms your home and your lifestyle. From swimming laps to hosting parties, a swimming pool will quickly become the centre of your home – especially on hot days during summer months.
There are various types of swimming pools, including fibreglass and concrete varieties. Each have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to know the differences and choose one that’s right for your home and lifestyle.
If you’re unsure of the difference read on as we break down what you need to know, as well as the pros and cons of each option.
A fibreglass swimming pool is basically a manufactured fibreglass shell that can be installed in an in-ground or above ground (free standing) fashion in your backyard. Fibreglass comes in a variety of colours and styles, giving you lots of great options when deciding on the style of pool for your backyard oasis.
The pros of fibreglass include:
There are a few cons to fibreglass as well. These include shape and size limitations. Because fibreglass pools are pre-fabricated and need to be shipped intact to the install location, the size of the pool is slightly limited in nature.
The cost, in comparison to concrete, is the most striking difference between the two. Fibreglass pools cost approximately 20% less to install than concrete. Ongoing costs are also lower due to less maintenance, less chemical requirements, and lower energy consumption.
Fibreglass installation requires on-site excavation of the area, insertion of the pool shell, and connecting the filtration systems, heating, lighting, etc. Because fibreglass comes pre-fabricated, it will have to be delivered on a truck and usually requires a crane to lift the pool into place. While it sounds like a big production, fibreglass swimming pool installations are relatively quick.
Fibreglass pools are smooth surfaces, meaning they are non-abrasive and softer on your feet. They’re also not as rock-hard as their concrete counterparts. The material also acts as a natural insulator, holding heat for longer. The gel coating is smooth and non-porous, which keeps mould and algae at bay. That means there’s less cleaning, less chemicals and less energy consumption, so there’s a smaller carbon footprint.
There are a variety of colours and designs available, although its pre-fabricated nature isn’t as flexible as concrete, which can be moulded to accommodate any shape or size.
Fibreglass and concrete are both hard-wearing, long-lasting materials. Narellan Pools offers a reliable product with a structural warranty against structural defects. Fibreglass is a super-tough material that’s generally more resistant to everyday wear than concrete.
A concrete swimming pool is a pool constructed of concrete. It’s an attractive option due to its extremely flexible design options.
The pros of having a concrete pool include:
As with fibreglass, there are drawbacks, including:
Building a concrete pool will cost more than a fibreglass swimming pool as it takes a lot longer to construct. This means you have trades working onsite for longer.
Long-term maintenance costs are typically higher for concrete as well. Concrete pools tend to be more prone to issues such as algae, as their surfaces are more porous. This means they will require more regular cleaning and chemical treatment. Concrete can also wear faster, so they can require more regular repair work.
A concrete pool is built from scratch on-site, first by constructing a metal lattice framework and then spraying layers of concrete onto it. It must be left to set before adding the finishing coating of tiles or plaster. The more involved process means concrete swimming pools will take longer to install.
The potential of a concrete pool is limited only by your imagination. A concrete pool can be custom made to be any size or shape. The finishings can come in a variety of textures and colours as well. Everything about a concrete pool is custom, as opposed to a fibreglass pool, which is pre-fabricated.
Both concrete and fibreglass are durable materials and will last for years to come. Concrete, however, may require repair work at some point in its life span due to natural wear and tear. It will also require surfacing every 15 years.
Are you interested in adding a pool into your back yard? Speak to the team at Narellan Pools today to learn more about our large range of fibreglass swimming pools and plunge pools.
