Fiberglass Pools VS Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Kits

designer | February 12, 2016

Fiberglass Pools VS Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Kits

Pool Warehouse has been selling Fiberglass and Vinyl in-ground pool kits online for over 18 years and we are often asked which type of pool kit is the best. So we’ve put together this list showing once and for all which option is the better choice, Fiberglass Pools VS Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Kits

  1. Variety of Shapes & Sizes
    • Vinyl liner inground pool kits offer a variety of shapes and the sizes. You can even customize them to exact shape, size and or design.
    • Fiberglass pools are formed to a mold, the available sizes, depths, are per-determined and limited – customization is not possible.
  2. Variety of Finishes
    • Fiberglass pools are typically available in either a white or blue finish or color. Some manufacturers are experimenting with more elaborate color choices and finishes and starting to offer more choices. Be mindful that if you choose one of these “new” colors, you will have difficulty making repairs to the surface finish that match the original color from the manufacturer. For this reason, a standard blue or white finish is the way to go. Remember if a fiberglass pool wall is damaged you will need to use epoxy’s that usually don’t match to try and patch your fiberglass pool wall.
    • Vinyl lined inground pool kits on the other hand offer a vast variety of liner patterns and colors available to better suit the look of your back yard environment desires. If your liner is every damaged you simply replace the liner, it’s usually less than $1,000.00 for a new vinyl liner.
  3. Flexibility
    • Vinyl lined pool kits offer the ability to change the color of your pool simply by replacing the liner. Maybe you just re-painted your house or want to freshen up the look of your backyard, some pool owners have been known to change the liner every 5 years just to give there backyard a new look.
    • Fiberglass pool kits can not be updated or freshened up, what you see is what you get.
  4. Structural Integrity
    • Vinyl liner pool walls come with a Lifetime Warranty. If installed properly they will last forever with no fear of cracking, discoloration, or blistering of the finish.
    • Fiberglass pool kits do not come with a Lifetime Warranty. The major reason for not offering the warranty is cracking and blistering. Fiberglass pools can crack and blister over time and this is related to the top gel coat finish. This top coat is particularly vulnerable during the transportation of the pool to the job site. Should the pool be bounced around, bumped, hair line cracks can develop and spread over time. Although these cracks to the gel coat don’t necessarily mean that the integrity of the structure has been comprised, they are unsightly and difficult at best to repair in the field. Fiberglass pool kits are known to be made of a flexible material. What this means is that if there are changes in pressure on either sides of the pool wall, the walls can bow and flex. This condition can lend itself to further cracking of the gel coat finish and even more distressing is plumbing connections being threatened and thus the possibility of underground leaks. It is critical that a fiberglass pool remain filled with water and back filled with ¾” or smaller clean, gravel to help maintain this equal pressure ratio. Because of its settling characteristics and the added pressure when saturated with water, avoid sand (commonly used and recommended) as a back fill material.

    Fiberglass Pools Crack & Fade Over Time

Fiberglass Pool Cracks And Fading
Fading and Cracking are the two main reasons most homeowners buy a steel wall or polymer wall pool kit over a fiberglass shell. Steel Wall & Polymer Wall Pool Kits Have A Lifetime Warranty!

Fiberglass Pools Bubble, Buckle & Deform Over Time

 

  • Accessibility To The Construction Site
    • Vinyl liner pool kits consist of manageable components that create the size and shape of the pool, these components can be easily transported to the construction site for installation. Typically all you will need is a passage way as wide as a 53″ wide pallets to move materials to your back yard. You can expect about 3 pallets. No cranes needed.
    • Fiberglass pool kits require a crane to remove the pool from the track and then to set the pool in your backyard.
  • Cost of Product
    • Depending on where a fiberglass pool is manufactured, shipping and delivery charges often can be more than the cost of the pool kit itself. Also remember you will need a crane to unload the fiberglass pool kit.
    • Because of the component nature of vinyl liner pools, shipping and delivery costs are minimal by comparison. All pool kits are delivered LTL and come with free curb side delivery.
  • Customer Satisfaction
    • Over the last 18 years of selling inground pool kits online (both vinyl lined and fiberglass) Pool Warehouse has found the 90% of customers are more satisfied with a vinyl lined pool over a fiberglass pool.
    • How do you know that? We have customers call back 5, 10 or 15 years later with questions on how to fix, repair of more often how to replace their fiberglass pool kit with a vinyl lined pool. So with that in mind Pool Warehouse always recommends going with a vinyl liner in-ground pool kit the first time. If you have questions about Fiberglass Pools VS Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Kits please don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Fiberglass Pools VS Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Kits
Easily Add An Automatic Swimming Pool Cover To Any Vinyl Lined Inground Pool Kit!

All Images & Content © PoolWarehouse.com

Jones
Pool Kit Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 800-515-1747
www.poolwarehouse.com

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