A Look at Pool Construction for Fiberglass Vs. Concrete Pools
If you're getting a new pool for your yard, you're probably anxious to get it built and start swimming. However, it takes time to build a concrete pool since there are several steps. If you're getting a fiberglass pool, you can be swimming much sooner since the shell is already formed and ready to drop in the ground. Here's a look at how fiberglass and concrete pool construction compare.
Installation Time
Depending on the season and your contractor, a fiberglass pool will probably be ready in a matter of weeks, while the construction of a concrete pool will usually take months. No matter what type of pool you want, it's a good idea to start the pool construction process early so your pool will be ready by the time summer arrives.
Pool Installation Cost
Pool construction for a concrete pool is much more involved than it is for a fiberglass pool, yet the price of pool construction is about the same for each. Of course, the cost of installation varies according to the size and type of pool you get, but comparable vinyl and concrete pools cost about the same.
Construction
Both types of pools have to be hooked up to electricity and plumbing, so those aspects are quite similar. The major differences come down to the way the pools are put in the ground. A fiberglass pool is delivered to your yard in a single piece. It's lifted by heavy equipment into a hole that was previously excavated to the precise dimensions for the fiberglass shell.
It may take several tries to get the pool shell level, and once it is, the process of backfilling the hole begins. The contractor puts gravel or sand in the hole around the pool and fills water inside the pool to the same height. This process is repeated by adding sand on one side and water on the other until the level of lights and plumbing are reached. After the lights and plumbing are connected, sand is backfilled and water is added to the top of the pool.
Concrete pool construction also begins with excavating a hole of the proper dimensions for your pool. Then, the steel supports can be added along the bottom and sides of the hole, and plans can be made for the location of plumbing and electricity.
Next, concrete is added to the hole. One major difference between constructing a fiberglass and concrete pool is that concrete can be made in any shape you want and be customized to include tanning shelves and other features since these are created when the concrete is added to the pool. Once the concrete is in, it has to dry before work begins again.
Tiles are added if you want them to give your pool a decorative look, and a coating is applied over the concrete to give your pool a smoother finish, color, and pattern of your choice.
The final step in pool construction is adding the deck, which may be made of concrete or pavers. You might also want to add landscaping to create shade or to turn your pool into a tropical retreat.