What Are the Main Problems with Fiberglass Pools?

What Are the Main Problems with Fiberglass Pools?

While fiberglass pools are elegant, have loads of built-in features, and are the lowest maintenance option available among pool types, we recognize why some may still ask, “what are the main problems with fiberglass pools?”. An inground pool is a significant investment of time and money, and potential pool buyers want to know if they will be happy they chose a fiberglass pool in the end. 

Searching for possible negative aspects will bring perspective and prepare you to be a better pool owner for these three reasons:

1. It helps dispel common misperceptions of fiberglass pools.
2. It clarifies the type of care and quality you should expect from your manufacturer and installers.
3. It sets realistic expectations for annual and ongoing maintenance. 

Let’s review the commonly discussed problems with fiberglass pools and look at them in terms of perceptions, care, and handling, including installation and ongoing maintenance. Here we go! 

Perceptions 

Is a fiberglass pool worth the money? This question often comes from a place of subjective perception. The top three perceptions we hear are:

1. The perception that a fiberglass pool is thin and flimsy and will crack easily. 
2. Another one we have heard is that a fiberglass pool is prone to separating from its deck, bulging, or even popping out of the ground. 
3. Last, the belief that there are few options with fiberglass pools.

The first perception is related to time. Some buyers may still hold an outdated or less-informed view of fiberglass pools’ durability. Not everyone is familiar with the advances in fiberglass pool manufacturing and installation that make fiberglass pools incredibly durable and increase their life span exponentially. . If you’re new to modern fiberglass pools, it’s worth your time to investigate the construction and design innovation that’s helped lead fiberglass to its growing popularity. 

The second perception is a case of the exception obscuring the rule. Yes, incorrectly installed fiberglass pools (or any pool type) can succumb to hydrostatic pressure and come out of the ground. Thursday Pools’ independent dealers have resources and training available to make sure this doesn’t happen to them. Additionally, we offer a Geo-Anchoring Pool System to anchor the walls to the earth, so they resist movement or bulging.

The third perception usually comes from either first-time pool buyers or those with fiberglass experiences from decades ago when in-ground fiberglass pool design options were far more limited than today. The fiberglass pool industry has flourished with accessible and affordable innovations and designs like tanning ledges, beach entries, and wraparound bench seating and swim-outs. These allow the current crop of fiberglass pools to provide a custom look and feel without the custom cash outlay. If you imagined an oval or rectangular bowl with a metal ladder hanging over one end, you’d be blown away by the shapes and options available with fiberglass.   

Care

Will my inground fiberglass pool come with built-in issues? Any pool can develop leaks, warping, or premature aging in the wrong hands. It’s why expertise is so vital at the manufacture, transport, and installation stages. Much of the maintenance might be in your hands when you own a pool. However, before you have the opportunity to take your first dip, your pool is in the hands of others.

 Of course, you want to know that you can trust those hands. You’ll be comforted if the manufacturer uses the most durable materials and technologically-advanced methods for pool shell manufacturing. And it’s definitely in your interest if they subscribe to industry-recognized standards, like ISO 9001, for quality and safety. 

Before installation, you can and should create a calendar with your dealer. It’s a great way to build anticipation for your opening day. After all, with a fiberglass pool, it could be as little as three weeks from the kickoff date! However, there are potential landmines – even with a fiberglass pool – that can impact your timing. If you’re waiting on inspections, bureaucratic red tape may cause a delay. Add in a mechanical failure or a previously unknown buried object in the backyard -you can see where we’re going here-you should expect the unexpected during installation. Supply issues may also be a problem for pool shell manufacturers, as can be found in many industries. Thursday Pools has spent the last several years reinvesting in expanding our capabilities to build more pools, helping our turnaround times stay reasonable..

You should expect that when a licensed and insured installer finishes installing your fiberglass pool, all the precautions, local knowledge, technology, and best practices are in place, and you are ready to go. No matter how good a job they’ve done cleaning up, you still might have loose dirt or silt near the pool decking, which you’ll have to manage while you regrow grass. However, those are issues that can arise with any pool type.

Maintenance

Can you repair a fiberglass pool? Yes, you can, but it’s not recommended that you do it yourself. And, the more significant point to remember is that it’s rare that you should need to if you properly maintain your new fiberglass pool. Fiberglass pools are incredibly durable and are known for being low maintenance with a life expectancy of 50 years or more. There is some maintenance involved in owning a fiberglass pool. Proactive maintenance of proper water levels and chemical balance, clean filters, and basic upkeep prevents potential problems. Regular maintenance keeps your inground fiberglass pool performing as the star of your backyard oasis.