The Pros and Cons of Concrete and Fibreglass Pools
Installing a pool is a big decision, and often the largest single expense you will encounter when landscaping your home. TDL designed & installed pools are all concrete, but it’s important our customers understand why we work that way, and whether a concrete pool or a fibreglass pool is more suitable for their home.
The pros of concrete pools
Concrete pools are highly customisable, we design and install concrete pools because we provide completely customised garden designs. Concrete pools at their best are more attractive than fibreglass, and they are long-enduring, lasting 40+ years. Concrete pools are friendlier to landscaping because their design flexibility lends itself to more creative surrounds. If you’re looking for a particularly deep pool, this type of pool is much more likely to suit your needs, and for some properties, because of size or access, concrete is the only viable option. Concrete pools can be tiled, as we usually recommend, and tiled pools are beautiful, comfortable, and add a level of appeal to landscapes that simply cannot be matched by fibreglass. Tiling also means that should you choose to update your pool or garden design over the course of its life, you have the option of re-tiling to freshen it up rather than re-installing. While having a pool isn’t guaranteed to increase your property’s value, concrete pools are much more likely to add value to a property than other types of pool, particularly if the design is well integrated with the home and landscape. If you’re coming to TDL for a pool design, well-integrated design is a given.
The cons of concrete pools
Concrete pools take longer to install, and require time to cure. It can take 3-6 months before a concrete pool is ready to use. Concrete pools tend to be more expensive to build, and the ongoing maintenance costs also tend to be higher, in part because they need re-plastering after about 15 years.
The pros of fibreglass pools
Fibreglass pools are fast to install and low maintenance. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and a comfortable underfoot.
The cons of fibreglass pools
Fibreglass pools provide limited design options, have a shorter lifespan (though high-quality fibreglass pools can still last decades). They just don’t offer anywhere near the same appeal or flexibility as concrete pools. fibreglass pool installation is also not a viable option on some properties due to the qualities of the site such as size or access.
How long does a concrete or fibreglass pool last?
The lifetime of your pool does in all cases depend on how well the pool is maintained, the quality of the original build, and the environment of the pool, but fibreglass pools are typically said to last between 15 and 20 years. Concrete pools require more maintenance, but have a much longer lifespan overall, lasting 40 years and longer.
What is the price difference of a concrete vs a fibreglass pool?
The initial cost differences of installing a fibreglass vs a concrete pool are not as significant as you might expect. Many estimates would put the cost of a fibreglass pool at around 80% of the cost of a concrete pool. It’s also not unheard of for clients to be quoted more for fibreglass than for concrete, depending on their requirements.
How much does it cost to design and install a concrete pool in Perth?
The cost of a concrete pool can vary wildly based on a huge number of factors. Installing a concrete pool can cost anywhere from the low to mid tens of thousands of dollars to the hundreds of thousands, but it is frequently less expensive than our clients expect. If you think you’d like a concrete pool but want to know more about the cost and process, contact us!