CONCRETE VS. FIBERGLASS VS. VINYL LINER - EXPLAINED

Deciding which type of pool to install is your first step in your pool ownership journey.

Making any other decision is easier once you've made that one. But trying to find unbiased information is a challenge! This is because most pool companies only install one type of pool. Here at Browning, we design and build inground swimming pools - concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass pools, and have done so for over eighty years. So it’s safe to say that we are not biased against any particular type of pool.

We want you to have a backyard swimming pool that fits your specific wants, needs, and budget, regardless of the type. However, we have learned that there are applications where one type of pool is better than another, because not all backyards are created equal.

Challenging terrain, steep slopes, septic tanks  and reserve areas, power lines in close proximity to the home, site access challenges, etc. But no worries, this is where our expertise comes into play.

For now, to help you on your path to pool ownership, we will present the pros and cons of each type of swimming pool so that you can decide what's best for your situation. Keep in mind that different companies build things differently. Here, we are describing our best practices. There is a reason we have been in business for over eighty years.

Quality is the priority and the foundation for everything we do.

Concrete Pools

The first step in building a concrete pool is site preparation and excavation of the shape and dimensions of the pool. Then, the sides and bottom are framed with steel rebar, as well as steps and interior features, and can be sculpted into nearly any shape. After all of the rebar is placed, gunite, which is a form of concrete, is applied to the surface pneumatically (using compressed air). The formula for concrete in a gunite application has a higher percentage of cement and a lower percentage of water than that of a "cast-in-place" or "shotcrete" concrete enabling it to be applied extremely dry, which allows the cement to bind with the aggregate with greater strength resulting in the strongest installation available. The gunite serves as a base after which an interior finish of quartz or an exposed aggregate that contains small pebbles, stone, or glass is applied. With the money you're spending, you don't want to cut corners to save a few bucks in the short term. Many companies will offer a plaster finish but with only a lifespan of 5-7 years; plaster is not an interior we recommend.

Concrete Pool PROS

The main benefit of concrete pools is that they are entirely customizable. The only limit is your imagination! Length, width, shape, depth, it's all possible. Some options include beach entry, a sun shelf, benches, seats, a vanishing edge, an overflow or built-in spa, custom steps, mosaics, grottos, multi-levels, and pretty much any customization you dream up are all possible. Concrete is a great solution for difficult sites, especially where slopes are an issue, or difficult to access backyards.

The interior finishes we install will typically last 15+ years for quartz while our other exposed aggregates have a typical lifespan of 20+ years.

Concrete Pool CONS

Concrete pools are not cheap or easy to build, so they will most likely cost the most and take the longest to build. The length of time is largely due to the cure times of the concrete shell, the pool tile, as well as the coping. The size and complexity of the project also plays a big part . During the construction process, be prepared for large equipment, material stockpiles, and a disturbance to grass & landscaping, it’s all temporary until site remediation and yard restoration but, unti then, expect a construction site. 

As with any pool, the water chemistry must be closely monitored and kept chemically balanced, and weekly pool cleaning is important.

Fiberglass Pools

A fiberglass pool is manufactured offsite as a giant fiberglass pool shell. The shell is delivered to your home in one piece and dropped into a prepared hole. For larger fiberglass pool sizes, a crane delivery may be needed.

Fiberglass Pool Pros

A fiberglass pool comes prefabricated, which makes the installation process much faster. The pool can be installed, leveled, and backfilled in just a couple of days, although it will be about four weeks before you can take your first swim. The prefabrication includes steps, seats, and ledges, and many models also offer tanning ledges and wading areas. Fiberglass pools have a gel coat finish, which is non-porous and makes it more difficult for algae to attach to, and with this smooth texture, weekly pool cleaning will take less time and be less labor intensive. However, every pool needs chemically balanced water and weekly cleaning, beware of anyone who says that fiberglass pools are no maintenance. There is no such thing as a no maintenance pool. It’s worth noting here that although the process of installation is the fastest, there is a leadtime once the model that you choose has been selected and ordered. You can expect to wait anywhere from 6-12 weeks for the fiberglass shell, once the shell is on site, excavation can begin.   

Fiberglass Pool Cons

The biggest drawback of a fiberglass pool is the limitations created by delivering the pool in one piece. Fiberglass pool shells are transported by truck, so the maximum size is 16 feet wide and about 40 feet long, which in itself is huge. In addition, where the pool is to be placed is also a significant consideration, as access to the backyard can be problematic, resulting in the need for a crane delivery which will incur additional costs (sometimes these additional costs are significant.) The size of fiberglass pools are hard to imagine until you see one hovering and swaying overhead, they are extremely large and there is an element of danger when manuevering them from the truck to the backyard.

Also, the design options are limited. This is a prefabricated pool, not a custom pool, so you get exactly what the manufacturers are selling. That being said, there are many manufacturers and many styles to choose from, so beyond the size limitation, you do have a lot of options.

Fiberglass pools are made with a gel coating. Although the gel coating is listed in the pros, it can also be a con. The gel coating is pretty sturdy, but every pool needs resurfacing or repairs at some point, and if it cracks or needs repairs, it can be challenging to match the color of the rest of the pool. The most significant factor determining how long your gel coat will hold up will be how well the water chemistry is maintained and balanced. Poor chemistry will create problems for every pool type, but we’ve seen fiberglass pools that have become faded and discolored showing damage to the gel coat in just two seasons due to poor water chemistry.

Vinyl Liner Pools

Vinyl Liner refers to the interior surface of the pool. Here at Browning, we often refer to our vinyl pools as hybrid vinyl pools. Because although a vinyl liner pool has a vinyl liner as the pool's interior, there is still a lot of concrete that goes into the construction. There are numerous sizes and shapes of vinyl liner pools to choose from, as well as different patterns to customize your look.  Installing a vinyl liner pool begins with site preparation and excavation of the pool's size and shape. Vinyl liner pools show up to the backyard in the form of a kit that consists of steel panels and galvanized steel braces that provide a solid support for pool walls. Concrete is used for the floor, and a concrete footer is poured to re-enforce and lock the wall structure in place.

Vinyl Liner Pros

Innovative construction techniques and considerable technological improvements have made it possible to customize a vinyl liner pool to include many of the features that, at one time, you could only achieve with concrete. As we mentioned above, we pour a concrete floor. There are many companies that use sand, but a concrete floor and a concrete footer makes a much more durable framework. With the vinyl pool being delivered as a kit, it is ideal for tighter spaces and smaller backyards where access may be a challenge. The texture of a vinyl liner pool is a favorite quality among owners as its smooth and slick, feeling very soft on the feet. It too has a non-porous surface, so it's less labor intensive when it comes to weekly maintenance, but as with every pool type, weekly maintenance is still necessary. You can expect a typical lifespan of 10-12 years before needing to have the liner replaced.

Vinyl Liner Cons

Vinyl Liners are susceptible to punctures; however, we only install a 27 mil "all over" vinyl liner, which is the  thickest and most durable vinyl liner available. Nonetheless, precautions should be taken to avoid potential punctures or tears. Vinyl liners will also show discoloration as they age, and are also the fastest to show discoloration if the water chemistry is not maintained. A new liner will cost about $9-$11,000 to replace after about 10-12 years. It’s a 1-2 day job, but afterward, you have a brand new pool again!

Deciding to design and build a swimming pool is exciting! It’s also a significant investment; with any investment, it's not a one-time-only purchase. You may have noticed a trend in all of the different pool type’s “con” sections. That’s right,

maintaining the water chemistry, and the necessity of weekly maintenance. Every single pool needs this, and it is by far one of the top things that are least talked about when it comes to buying a pool.

This is where being a full-service pool company allows us to shine. We want to be there for every phase of pool ownership, and we will be here to guide you every step of the way. And hey, if weekly chemical balancing and clean-up is not your thing, we have pool service packages where our professional pool technicians will take care of it for you.

Questions? Call us! 301-972-3800. Or send us a message.