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Home >> Why choose Fiberglass?
Why a Fiberglass Pool is the best choice for
your Dallas - Fort Worth area home
A better MANUFACTURING environment
The first important
feature that sets Fiberglass pools apart from either a Concrete (Gunite) pool or a Vinyl Liner
pool is the degree of quality control.
Your fiberglass pool will be manufactured in an indoor, controlled
environment with strict quality control standards. When it shows up at your house it will be a complete unit,
right down to your tile choice, that has already passed all quality
control inspections.
Since your Fiberglass
pool is manufactured indoors and OFF-SITE, it will eliminate
a lot of the ON-SITE manufacturing steps of other types of pools. For example,
if you choose a Concrete (Gunite) pool, and it rains, sleets or hails days before
or days after the concrete is blown in, you will have
jeopardized the quality of the pool itself.
With Concrete (Gunite) pools or Vinyl Lining
pools, your final pool is only as good as the installation. In
other words, both of those pools are construction projects in your
back yard, whereas a Fiberglass pool is a product that is pre-built in a factory then installed
in your back yard. The finish, structure, and shape of
your Fiberglass pool was completed, to your specifications, before it ever arrived at your home.
In the DFW
Metroplex (Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding area) there
is a particular concern about the clay that makes up your back
yard. The Fiberglass pool is a perfect choice for clay yards
since it is very strong and will flex under adverse soil
conditions. By contrast, a Concrete (Gunite) pool has a
tendecy to release pressure cracking. Results of independent
testing show that Fiberglass is approximately 17 times
more flexible and stronger than Concrete (Gunite) pools. Obviously it is also much
stronger than a Vinyl Liner pool which is built using an aluminum framework.
Below is a pool comparison chart to help you make your decision. |
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Quicker INSTALLATION
By
pre-manufacturing your Fiberglass pool to your specifications OFF-SITE,
installation time is dramatically reduced. Delays due to weather are minimized.
Under normal conditions, your pool should not take more than two
weeks to install once it has been delivered
to your house. Many times it will be completed in ten days - a stark
contrast to installing a Concrete (Gunite) pool that will have your
yard torn up for months. Your neighbors will thank you for choosing fiberglass!
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Far LESS
MAINTENANCE than Concrete pools
Cut down your pool maintenance by
90%! Fiberglass pools are the easiest
pools to maintain. Unlike rough surfaced Gunite pools, the smooth surface of the fiberglass shell
does not harbor algae or bacteria . It virtually cleans itself. It
eliminates the need for acid baths, concrete
crack repair and re-painting that you have with Gunite
pools. Spend less time cleaning and more time
swimming! Fiberglass Pools never need
resurfacing (repainting, replastering, or
remarciting), which
means far less long-term maintenance.
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CHEMICALS Savings
Due to its smooth, non pourous finish,
Fiberglass pools require far less chemicals than Concrete pools. Algae and bacteria cannot
stick to the surface of the fiberglass pool, unlike Concrete Gunite which
leaches alchali and calcium into the water, causing big swings in
pH . You will use far less chlorine, pH adjusters and other chemicals
with your fiberglass pool. This will provide a dramatic cost savings each
year.
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Fiberglass Pools are STURDIER and
STRONGER
Fiberglass Pools are also approximately
17 times more flexible and stronger than Concrete (Gunite) pools, enabling
it to withstand expanding soil conditions and pressure as a
result of changing temperatures. This allows Fiberglass Pools
to be installed in the warm Texas climates. CLOSE-BEAM
construction means your pool
is built using the strongest method possible. Vinyl
Ester resin provides the greatest impact resistance. The heart of the
Fiberglass pool is the ceramic core, sandwiched between two
protective layers of specially designed resin and
fiberglass. A strong, smooth surface means no
more abrasions, cuts or snagged bathing suits!.
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ELECTRICAL Savings
Due to its smooth, non pourous finish,
fiberglass pool pumps only need to run a few hours per
day. This can reduce your electric bill for your pool by
30% or more. In just a few hours, your pump can circulate
the water enough to keep it crystal clear and maintain a proper chemical
balance. Fiberglass pool water stays warmer longer since the
fiberglass acts as a natural insulator. This can be an amazing cost savings
over the lifetime of the pool.
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Superior to Vinyl Liner
Pools
Like Concrete pools, Vinyl
Liner pools are assembled at the job site. A sharp belt buckle
can puncture the vinyl liner. Improper chemical balance
in Vinyl Liner pools can cause the vinyl liner to become
brittle or wrinkle. Vinyl Liner pools are vulnerable to
ultraviolet degradation (from the sun) and its seams can
separate. Liner beads can come out of the track. Liners
are meant to fit tightly into the shape of the pool. If
the liner was installed slightly off center, or if the liner is
too large or too small for the pool's shape, you
might experience the bead popping out of the track. The
liners normally need to be replaced every 7 to 9 years
at a cost of about $2500 per replacement.
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Comparison of pool types
Here's a chart
comparing Fiberglass, Concrete (Gunite) and Vinyl Liner
pools. Your own investigation will prove just how much sense it makes
to choose a Fiberglass pool. We've put the data together so that
you can weigh the benefits of buying a Fiberglass pool for
yourself.
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Fiberglass
Pools
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Concrete
(Gunite) Pools
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Vinyl Liner
Pools
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Warranty
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Lifetime by the Manufacturer |
1-5 years by contractor |
Liner seams only |
Installation
Time
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5-13 days, ready for decking using few (if any) subcontractors. |
8-12 weeks using many different subcontractors. |
2-3 weeks using few subcontractors. |
Shapes of
Pools
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Limited to the models of the manufacturer. |
Unlimited. |
Limited to the models of the manufacturer. |
Price of
Pools
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Average. |
Average. |
Less expensive. |
Estimated Chemical Usage
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Surface does not alter water's chemical
balance. Substantially fewer chemicals used. |
Plaster reacts with water to raise pH
levels. Uses substantially more acid
& chlorine to counterbalance this chemical reaction. |
Surface
does not alter waters' chemical balance. Substantially
fewer chemicals used. |
Estimated
Electricity Use
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Circulate Water 4-6 hours daily. |
Circulate Water 8-10 hours daily. |
Circulate Water 5-7 hours daily. |
Surface
Texture
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Smooth, non-abrasive to skin or swim
suits, walking and seating
areas are textured for slip resistance. |
Rough, causes skin abrasions to feet, hands and swim wear. |
Slippery, easily punctured or torn by toys, pets, or surfacing rocks. |
Algae
Penetration
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Algae sweeps off with wall brush. |
Algae grows and is harbored in pores of gunite. Acid baths and scrubbing required to remove algae. |
Seams of liner harbor algae. |
Estimated Maintenance Time
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1/2
hour per week maximum |
4-5 hours per week |
2-3 hours per week |
Major Renovation
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None |
Re-marcite or re-plaster at 5-7 years.
Example |
Vinyl
Liner needs to be replaced every 7- 9 years. |
Stairs and Seating
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Built into pool shell. |
Optional & Additional Cost. |
Optional & Additional Cost. |
Quality
Control
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Manufactured in environmentally controlled
factory under stringent quality control standards. |
Manufactured on-site. No environmental
control. |
Kit
manufactured in factory. Quality of on-site
assembly varies by installer. |
Type of
Coping
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Fiberglass or concrete |
Concrete |
Aluminum (which easily corrodes) |
Loan Acceptance
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Excellent |
Good |
Fair |
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