Summer Splash: The Pros and Cons of Concrete Vs Fibreglass Pools

Image Source | Dezeen
With the weather finally warming up and those summer rays starting to make an appearance, it’s the perfect time of year to start thinking about your backyard plans. If you don’t already have a beautiful water-filled paradise on your property, there’s still time to get started. With plenty of pool designs available, the style possibilities are endless. The only question is, will you make a splash with concrete or fibreglass?
Get Creative With Concrete

Image Source | Sara & Rich Combs
If your dream pool is a stylish piece unlike any other, concrete is your calling. The fluidity of the material makes anything possible during construction. Limitless sizes and shapes (think clouds, hexagons, and anything else that comes to mind) can be carved into your landscape, and filled with cool blue serenity. If you’re looking for some modern inspiration, make sure you check out Pinterest, and of course get a vision board going!

Image Source | Annabell Kutucu
The other great thing about concrete pools is that your landscape doesn’t have to be perfectly primed for pool installation. Even in relatively inaccessible areas, excavation can be easily arranged, giving you more ways to maximise your space. From there, you’ll have a great range of styling options to choose from. Tile selection, patterns, and colours are all on the menu, giving you complete control over the way your pool looks.
Concrete Cons

Image Source | Alexia Roux
While concrete pools are a great option for a unique look, customisation comes at a cost. Design and installation of a concrete pool can be much steeper in costs than other options, particularly because of the time-frame it takes for the work to be completed. Keep in mind that installing a concrete feature can take from 3 to 6 months, and the work doesn’t stop there.

Image Source | Lex Flint
As a porous material, concrete is prone to algae and concrete rot. It needs constant maintenance, which brings running costs up high. You’ll need to call in the experts every three to five years for an acid wash to make sure the surface stays clean and healthy, and there’s also a need for resurfacing every fifteen to twenty years.
For the health-conscious, the extra chemicals and the added maintenance of concrete pools might just overpower their stylishness - but if beauty trumps, these cool pools take the cake.
Fibreglass Pools Are Full Of Goodness

Image Source | Krista Collard
For those who shy away from the high maintenance of concrete pools, fibreglass is a friend. These pools come ready-made, in prefabricated designs that go straight from store to setting. It takes about three to six weeks for your dream pool to come to life, and once it does, you can dip right into balmy waters.

Design: Egue y Seta | Photo: Vicugo Studio
Unlike concrete pools, this water doesn’t need a high chemical content. Fibreglass has plenty of magnesium in it, which is full of good things for your skin and body. Additionally, there’s nowhere for nasty algae to cling to on the smooth shell of a fibreglass pool. You could even choose a mineral-enriched solution for more beneficial bathing.

Image Source | Desjoy