As you’re planning your new swimming pool, one question can stop the design process in its tracks: What’s the best of the three pool materials to use? It’s a tough question to answer because the right material for one pool might be wrong for another — it all comes down to your situation and your wants.
Fortunately, once you understand which situations benefit most from certain materials, it’s a much easier choice to make. Learn about some of the most common materials pool construction services use and weigh the pros and cons so you can continue your project with confidence.
Your Options for Swimming Pool Construction Materials
You have to know what your material options are before you can make any judgments. An at-a-glance description of each material is a good place to start.
Concrete/Gunite
Many pool construction services swear by concrete — and for good reason. It’s the most popular material for building new swimming pools, thanks to its strength and longevity. Most professional contractors will recommend concrete if you’re building custom because of its unparalleled design flexibility.
Pros of Concrete
Concrete can last decades. It’s also hardy enough to withstand extreme weather conditions. High durability is the biggest reason why concrete is such a popular choice of swimming pool construction materials. Yet it’s also great for unique designs or incorporating other features because it’s easy to manipulate into virtually any style you can imagine.
Why Concrete Is Not Always Right
Concrete (gunite) pools are built to last, but only if you keep up with their maintenance requirements. The added maintenance can make concrete pools expensive in both the short and long term.
Concrete and gunite are very porous, so you’ll need to use more chemicals and filtration for the water to prevent algae buildup than with other materials.
These kinds of pools also have the longest installation time, but that’s not usually much of an issue if you’re building a custom pool; most would expect a fully custom project to take longer to execute.
Fiberglass
If you’re looking for a material that’s still durable like concrete but with less maintenance, you’ll find fiberglass ticks that box for an inground pool. Concrete is sometimes prone to cracking, but that isn’t much of a problem with fiberglass pools. The initial cost of a fiberglass pool is often comparable to concrete, but in some areas, it may be much more.
Pros of Fiberglass
While you might pay a similar amount out-of-pocket for a fiberglass and concrete pool, fiberglass doesn’t require quite as much maintenance because it naturally resists algae growth. The non-porous surface is fairly simple to clean.
Fiberglass is a more flexible material, both literally and figuratively. This means ground movement is less likely to damage it, and it’s easier to include unique design elements than with other materials.
Why Fiberglass Is Not Always Right
Even though fiberglass is more flexible in some ways, the fact that it often comes in pre-made pool shell with definitive shapes and sizes means it’s not the greatest option for custom design and pool installation.
Fiberglass is also more expensive to repair than other materials. This usually isn’t a significant drawback since it doesn’t need much maintenance. But when it does, you can expect the process to be longer and more expensive.
Vinyl Liner
Vinyl liner pools are the most budget-friendly of the three popular options. If you want a new pool with a lower initial cost, this is the material for you. It’s also a much faster installation process and usually takes only a few weeks for pool construction services to install.
Pros of Vinyl
A vinyl liner pool is much lower maintenance compared to concrete pools. It’s also more flexible with designs than fiberglass. No matter how you look at it, vinyl is easily the top pick if you want a pool for a fraction of the cost of other materials and installed at a breakneck pace.
Why Vinyl Is Not Always Right
The lower cost and fast installation of vinyl liner pools come at their own price. Most pool owners have to replace their liners once every five to ten years. The shorter lifespan means more maintenance and usually a higher overall lifetime cost.
Using vinyl can also limit how much your pool increases your home’s property value. Savvier homebuyers might see vinyl-lined pools as a liability rather than an asset.
Finally, occasional natural disasters like strong storms and hurricanes can fling debris, causing major rips and tears in vinyl. It is also not uncommon for a family pet to take a swim in a vinyl pool and rip the liner from the animal’s claws.
Which Construction Material Is Right for Your Pool?
Even with the advantages and drawbacks, it’s not necessarily clear which material is right for you. Here’s a more direct way to know if you should use a certain material to build your pool.
The Case for Concrete
Homeowners who want to build a truly customizable and unique pool should consider concrete above all else. It easily gives you the most freedom for creating phenomenal designs, especially if you want a large pool or one with a unique shape.
Concrete is also arguably the best pick for those who prioritize durability, even if it means there’s more maintenance involved or a higher cost. Concrete is the industry standard for a reason, and should be your top choice for artistic license to create a magnificent pool.
The Facts About Fiberglass
If you have a more traditional idea for your pool design and want a lower-maintenance material than concrete, you might want to go for fiberglass. However, you may end up spending more over time.
The Verdict on Vinyl
Vinyl is fine if you want a pool fast and on a budget. The flexible liners make it easier for you to choose unique shapes and sizes than if you were using fiberglass, and they will still give you the same smooth surface for more comfortable swimming. While you may have to swap your liner out after a few years, however, so be prepared to repair or replace your liner every few years.
The Right Materials and the Right Construction Materials for Long-Lasting Swimming Pools
Are you sold on the material you’ll use for your new swimming pool? Make sure it’s installed by the right hands. Call Blue Haven Pools on the Gulf to learn more about our custom pool builds and schedule a consultation with one of our contractors today.