Fiberglass Swimming Pools: What You Need to Know
By David Lucas
High atop the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, guests enjoy a dip in a swimming pool with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city skyline. While this major metropolitan hotel selected fiberglass for its high-rise swimming pool, many homeowners shopping for a swimming pool closer to the ground rarely think about the kinds of materials that go into the construction of their water wonderlands. To the untrained eye, the finished product—whether the pool is constructed of concrete, vinyl or fiberglass—looks about the same.
When planning to build an inground or aboveground swimming pool, or the increasingly popular swim spa, more and more homeowners are considering fiberglass.
What Is Fiberglass?
Fiberglass swimming pools and swim spas are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic molded into a basin shape.
As the name suggests, fiberglass is a material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. As early as 1870, glass strands were mass-produced using a steam jet process. In 1880, a patent was awarded for a type of fiberglass cloth that was both durable and flame-retardant.
The first glass fibers for the type of fiberglass that we use today were made in 1938 at Corning Glass when a jet of compressed air accidentally hit a stream of the molten glass and created a shower of glass fibers. Owens Corning began marketing the material under the trademark name Fiberglas®.
In the early 1940s, fiberglass was used in airplane parts for the war effort and even as a composite material in boats. In 1953, Owens Corning and General Motors astonished the automotive world by producing the first automobile to be made entirely of Fiberglas® reinforced plastic, the Chevrolet Corvette.
Fiberglass is lightweight, strong and durable, making it ideal for use in vehicles, shelters and household goods, such as shower stalls, bathtubs, wall insulation, and, of course, swimming pools.
Ease of Maintenance
Most swimming pool buyers would prefer to relax by their pools, rather than work at maintaining them, so they often select fiberglass swimming pools for their ease of maintenance. The smooth, nonporous surface of fiberglass is inhospitable to algae and requires less brushing than that of a plaster-finished pool. Since fiberglass swimming pools feature molded one-piece construction, they can be installed in less time than it takes to construct their concrete counterparts. Typical fiberglass swimming pools can be up and running within two weeks of arrival at a home's site.
Kirk Sullivan, president of San Juan Products, a fiberglass pool builder, says "I used to assume that homeowners chose fiberglass over other materials because fiberglass swimming pools can be installed quickly and in time for the swimming season. However, the fact that fiberglass requires less maintenance is now the number one reason for choosing fiberglass."
"Fiberglass swimming pools are generally five percent to 20 percent more expensive to purchase than other types of pools (depending on location), but they can save users money over the life of the pool," says Alan Stahl, president of Viking Pools. Stahl notes that fiberglass swimming pools use less electricity and do not need replastering or vinyl liner replacement. Industry estimates show that concrete pool finishes need resurfacing approximately every 13 years while vinyl liners need replacing about every 10 years. In addition, fiberglass swimming pools use fewer chemicals since algae do not adhere to its smooth surface.
Fiberglass swimming pools typically last 40 years or more, even though, after about 20 years, they can become stained or develop hairline cracks. These problems are nearly always limited to the top two layers of gelcoat. With the new gelcoat refurbishing products that are made specifically for fiberglass swimming pools today, this is not a concern.
Besides the initial installation price, fiberglass swimming pools have other limitations. Because there are a finite number of fiberglass molds to choose from, design options are somewhat limited.
Fiberglass swimming pools tend to have similar appearances upon leaving the manufacturing site. So if pool buyers make the decision to go with fiberglass, their satisfaction with the final product largely rests with the contractor's creativity and customizing skills.
Swim Spas for Fitness
Swim spas are becoming increasing popular because these counter-current swimming and exercise pools do not take up a lot of space. They are compact enough to fit inside a home or in a small backyard. Swim spas can be manufactured from a number of materials, including stainless steel, aluminum and thermoplastic; however, the strength, durability and flexibility of fiberglass makes it an ideal choice for many manufacturers.
"Fiberglass is very resilient and tends to require a lot less maintenance," explains Steve DaSilva, president of SwimEx®, Inc., a Warren, RI, swim spa manufacturer and distributor. "Our product has unique features in its paddlewheel design, and fiberglass is the only option because of its strength." DaSilva adds that indoor pools require insulation to save on heating costs, and that fiberglass construction comprises 2 to 3-inch layers of foam and balsa wood that serve as built-in insulation to combat heat loss.
Fiberglass products tend to be more popular in the Northeast and cold weather climates. DaSilva continues: "A typical user would be a homeowner who recognizes the benefits of exercising in the water and who wants year-round use of a swimming pool."
A new fiberglass pool or swim spa is designed to stand up to the elements for decades of use - whether it is tucked away in a home in chilly Boston or located atop a high-rise hotel enduring the sweltering summer heat of Las Vegas.