[tiger08]

My parents had one of those fiberglass pools installed by a local company here a few years back and it was complete junk! The equipment including the heater was undersized, the light was fiberoptic and very dim, and the jacuzzi was uneven. They came back and jackhammered the jacuzzi up to level it, but then the concrete never matched. The pump was 2hp but the filter was just a single small cartridge and the pressure blew it apart. By the way, I would not go with a cartridge filter setup, I converted mine over to sand and I would never change back, although most local contracters still prefer cartridge. Stick with a concrete pool with good high quality equipment and a real light so you can see at night!

[AA702]

Originally Posted by tiger08

My parents had one of those fiberglass pools installed by a local company here a few years back and it was complete junk! The equipment including the heater was undersized, the light was fiberoptic and very dim, and the jacuzzi was uneven. They came back and jackhammered the jacuzzi up to level it, but then the concrete never matched. The pump was 2hp but the filter was just a single small cartridge and the pressure blew it apart. By the way, I would not go with a cartridge filter setup, I converted mine over to sand and I would never change back, although most local contracters still prefer cartridge. Stick with a concrete pool with good high quality equipment and a real light so you can see at night!

I have seen quite a bit of pools and there are some bad jobs, but for the most part, they are all pretty good. I service about 10 fiberglass pools and they are all pretty nice. I do prefer concrete, but if fiberglass is done right, it can be just as nice. Fiberglass never needs an acid wash, and it resists scale, staining and fading better than concrete pools. They also use less chemicals and the water is easier to balance.

As for equipment, the most popular type of filtration is cartridge because the technology has come a long way. The best type of filtration is not sand, but DE. Some say DE causes cancer if you inhale it, so you have to be carefull with it.

Some new type of cartridge filters like the Pentair Quad DE, is a hybrid between cartrige and DE. basically, its 4 cartridges and you clean them by rinsing them off (no backwashing), then you add a scoop of DE. Very good filtration and the filters will last 5 years or more.

Starite system 3 is also a very good cartridge type filter. They use 2 large double sided elements that has awesome filtration. Ive seen these units last more than 5 years and the cartridges show no wear.

The most popular type is the Pentair Clean and Clear series. It is very inexpensive and easy to clean. The manifolds are a good design and they do not crack. Say away from Hayward SwimClear series because the lower manifolds are prone to cracking and the filters they come with is also prone to cracking.

Best equpiment for the money:

Pump/Motors - Pentair Intelliflo pump+motor combination is the best. Power Saving and very quiet. $200 rebate from NV Power when installed
Filtration - Starite System 3, Pentair Clean and Clear Series
Heaters Pentair/Starite Maxiterm or Max-E therm are very reliable
In-ground cleaners - Pentair Caretaker 99
Salt Water/CL generators - Zodiac or Pentair
In Ground Cleaner/Vac - Hayward Vac-Ultra

[tiger08]

Thanks for the info. I agree about D.E. I grew up with those in Southern Cal and would have used one here but had no where to backwash it. At least with the sand unit I just flush it off into our oleanders out behind the pool.

[Ghiamann2]

Please follow olecapt's advise!!! When I was contemplating a pool this thread proved invaluable!! Especially read olecapt's and Kovacs posts. They know their stuff!!!! I ended up with a traditional concrete pool and love it!! My posts list my equipment and costs.

[intrustcsllc]

Everyone is rather accurate in the benefits vs cost for either a composite (steel and concrete) or fiberglass. Composite pools offer many more options, (design, features, etc.) as I have yet to see a fiberglass pool with an in-floor cleaning system, while fiberglass is more cost efficient to purchase as it is a pre-cast design with various sizes and depths. You have to remember that it is a pre-made shell which is set into an excavated hole leveled on layered with gravel and that for every feature added means cutting into this shell. Typically they are limited to what you can add to them. There are also spas available, you can also have standard deck poured and they look quite nice. Bottom line is how much you want to spend, what you want, and drawing the line inbetween. I will also agree with AAPool on the equipment choice. The different pool companies have their own "exclusive" brands/manufacturers, so be sure to ask. Desert springs-hayward, Pools by Grube-pentair, Waters-jandy etc. To address what pool company you should use,..you get what you pay for don't expect to get a Dooney and Bourke or a Coach @ Big Lots

Composite: 70' perimeter base pool about 25K, by the time you add a spa, floor system, water feature (sheer descent), 12-15' of tiled and capped raised bond beam, a little extra deck (300 sq ft base is included) etc you're looking @ 47K.
Fiber: minimum options but your cap is approx 20K.

Originally Posted by asiablue

My husband and I are thinking about putting a pool in our backyard. I grew up with an inground cement pool but I don't know anything about the fiberglass pools. Does anyone know which is better? Are fiberglass pools more expensive than inground cement pools? It might be about a 20 by 30 feet pool. Does anyone have any idea about how much this might cost for either types of pools?

[intrustcsllc]

PS 20x30 would be 100' perimeter, base is 70 and for every foot (linear) over is approx 200.00 if it is less than 6 ft deep (any deeper and cost will be higher due to additional steel surcharge from 12 on 12 to 6 on 12, and additional concrete) Spa base is about 6K, some pool companies have a spa base of 6' round or 7' round. Extra charge is about 100.00 per linear ft. This doesn't include raised and tiled bond beam (concrete walls). Just about any pool company will give you a free quote and rough design without obligation.

[airics]

Originally Posted by sunnygirl333

Anthony & Sylvan Pools

ripoff!

[sunny2828]

Originally Posted by asiablue

Yes, fiberglass pools are put into the ground. I need to know if those are better than the cement pools.

Yes, Fiberglass pools are better and cheaper than cement pools,
cement pools crack and vinyl need replacing every 5 years, at $4,000 to $5,000. Fiberglass uses less chemicals, and less electricity, and 90% easier to clean and has 20% flexibility in cold weather which would crack cement. Guaranteed to last a long time. It cost more than vinyl pools because they are less maintenance and vinyl is a pain to clean. Make sure to get a good quality brand like San Juan Pools, or go to Swimmingpoolsnow.com, to get a good price.

[RecentlyRetired]

Originally Posted by brosati

I love my inground fiberglass pool and spa. You can learn more about the benefits of a fiberglass pool at San Juan Pools, Fiberglass In-ground Swimming Pools and Spas by Viking Pools (http://www.vikingpools.net/abcshow.php - broken link), and Fiberglass Swimming Pools by Hawaiian Figerglass Pools (http://www.hawaiianfiberglasspool.net/ - broken link).

I can't believe it posted that two years ago to the day. Now two years later, I wish I had put in a regular pool instead. The fiberglass stains easily, and I have not been able to remove them.

If I had it to do all over again, I would not install a fiberglass pool. Fiberglass pools are much more expensive to purchase, and maintenance is about the same as a regular pool; so, I really don’t see the benefit of having the fiberglass pool. It looked great when it was brand new, but not so great today.

[airics]

Originally Posted by sunny2828

Yes, Fiberglass pools are better and cheaper than cement pools,
cement pools crack and vinyl need replacing every 5 years, at $4,000 to $5,000. Fiberglass uses less chemicals, and less electricity, and 90% easier to clean and has 20% flexibility in cold weather which would crack cement. Guaranteed to last a long time. It cost more than vinyl pools because they are less maintenance and vinyl is a pain to clean. Make sure to get a good quality brand like San Juan Pools, or go to Swimmingpoolsnow.com, to get a good price.

1. you must be on the east coast, in vegas, vinyl is near nonexistant.. and no the cement, actually gunite or shotcrete does not crack every 5 years.... so in vegas, fiberglass is NOT the way to go.