If you are thinking of adding an in-ground swimming pool to your home, then you have three options to choose from. You can either have a concrete, vinyl, or a fiberglass pool.
Among the three, the concrete is the most popular since it is durable and can be styled the way you want it. Depending on the materials used, you can customize it to your heart’s content and integrate various materials to your liking. It is by far the most luxurious and costly of the three.
As for the remaining two options— fiberglass pool vs vinyl liner pool,— these two are considered the budget-friendly alternatives of the concrete pool. Both of which are economical but in different aspects.
If you’re considering getting a cost-efficient swimming pool, vinyl liner and fiberglass are great choices. Read on below to know more about which pool is best for you.
Read more: Buyer’s Guide For The Best Above Ground PoolFiberglass Pool Vs. Vinyl Liner Pool
Fiberglass pools are completed in two stages. The first stage is the manufacturing process in which the fiberglass pool is constructed in the factory beforehand. The second stage involves the installation process wherein the fiberglass pool is set-up in your home.
The vinyl liner swimming pool, on the other hand, has custom-made vinyl sheets in basically most parts of the pool, specifically the pool walls and floor. Underneath the vinyl liner is either a cementitious floor or sand.
To know which type of pool is best, here are the things that you need to consider:
Maintenance
You’d be happy to know that fiberglass pool requires little maintenance. Since fiberglass pool has a gel layer on top, the surface really is nonporous. Because of its non-porous layer, algae and other organisms have a hard time developing in the water, thus less chemicals are used to clean the water.
The opposite can be said to vinyl liner pool This type of pool needs constant maintenance and replacement since the liner itself can be easily damaged.
The Verdict: Therefore, the fiberglass pool is the clear winner in terms of maintenance.
More Built-in Features
Since fiberglass pools are manufactured beforehand, you can actually requests steps and seating to be included without additional costs.
Same goes to vinyl liner pools. You can personalize your vinyl pool’s interior with benches, steps, and sun ledges. You can also choose the patterns that you want for the floors and walls.
The Verdict: Vinyl pool is the best option if you want more features included, as there are a lot of shapes, sizes and interiors to choose from.
Material
Both Vinyl and Fiberglass pools have non-abrasive surface. Thus, they don’t cause cuts and punctures on your toes.
The Verdict: It’s a tie. Both have a smooth interior and are sleek to touch.
Electricity Consumption
Water in fiberglass pools only needs approximately 4-6 hours of circulation every day as compared to 6-8 hours in vinyl pools.
The Verdict: No doubt, fiberglass pools are the better energy-saver.
Installation Cost
The fiberglass pool shell itself is already constructed. The installation only required digging and polishing the edges; thus, the process is a lot quicker. The initial cost is also reasonable.
Meanwhile, the initial cost of vinyl pools is lesser as compared to fiberglass pools. However, they don’t last that long and need constant liner replacement. So, in the long run, you need to shell out more cash for the maintenance.
The Verdict: We’d say the fiberglass pool is the most economical option here.
Conclusion
Overall, the advantages of the fiberglass pool outweighed that of the vinyl liner pools. So, to answer the questions, “Which type of pool is best? Vinyl liner pool vs. fiberglass pool?” We pick the fiberglass pool as the best between the two. It requires less maintenance, has built-in features, and has lower costs in the long run.
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