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Exploring Materials: Concrete, Fiberglass, & Vinyl Compared

Updated: Apr 4

In the Sunshine State, having a pool in your backyard isn't just a luxury; it's a way of life.

When considering the Floridian climate, the addition of a swimming pool to your backyard provides the opportunity for year-round entertainment, relaxation, and relief from the heat. However, when making such a decision, you may be presented with a variety of materials and construction styles, and understanding what makes the most sense for you and your loved ones can be an insurmountable challenge. The three most popular selections—concrete, fiberglass, and vinyl—each come with their unique considerations and intricacies, and can impact your backyard in a multitude of ways. Let's dive into what makes each pool type unique, keeping your Florida residence in mind, and determine which material makes the most sense for you.


Concrete Pools: Realize Every Detail of Your Dream

Perhaps the greatest advantage of concrete pool construction lies in the ability to create a completely custom shape, tailored to the unique wishes and desires of each homeowner. At A&G Concrete Pools, we believe that this is the only way to create the product our clients truly deserve, and as such, we only construct our waterscapes using a high strength gunite mixture, a particular blend of concrete that allows for a application process that is both efficient and entirely custom. Along with flexibility of design, concrete pools are renowned for their durability, far outlasting any alternative construction method, and are able to withstand even the most intense Floridian sun.


Advantages:

  • Unlimited Creativity: Design your dream waterscape without compromise, ensuring every element of your pool is brought to life exactly as you imagined.

  • Superior Durability: With proper maintenance, concrete pools have the ability to last for decades, standing up to even the harshest Florida summers.

  • Visual Flexibility: With a nearly endless selection of finishes and tiles, concrete pools offer the widest range of visual customization, allowing you to create the perfect aesthetic for your backyard.

Drawbacks:

  • Technical Installation: As a result of all elements being built on-site, the installation of a concrete pool may be considered more technical than alternative options. However, as a result of over 35 years of experience, along with an in-house team of certified professionals, A&G Concrete Pools has the experience and knowledge to create your dream waterscape with artistry, craftsmanship, and efficiency.


Fiberglass Pools: Pursuing Simplicity

Traditionally, fiberglass pools are factory-molded into one seamless piece, and then transported to and installed in your backyard. This offers a good option for those looking for a more standard shape, as well as a quick installation, at the cost of design flexibility and longevity. Particularly in the Florida sun, fiberglass pools display a tendency to have coating cracks, and in more limited cases, delamination, a process by which pieces of pool shell detach, leaving strands of fiberglass within the pool waters.


Advantages:

  • Quick Installation: As a result of a fabrication process that takes place off site, the shell of a fiberglass pool can be installed rather quickly.

  • Simplified Design Process: With a limited number of shapes and sizes, some may consider the selection process of a fiberglass pool to be more streamlined than a more customized alternative.

  • Smooth Gelcoat Surface: Offering an incredibly smooth feel, fiberglass pool shells are a good choice for those wanting an sleek surface in their pool.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Customization: As the shapes and sizes of a fiberglass pool are pre-determined by molds, creating a waterscape that is unique to you and your loved ones is a rather difficult.

  • Bulging & Coating Cracks: Two of the more commonly sited issues that arise with fiberglass pools, bulging can occur when a fiberglass pool is backfilled improperly, causing an imbalance in the pressure placed against the exterior of the pool shell. Coating cracks, often a result of excessive sun exposure, appear as hairline cracks in the finish of a fiberglass pool, and will need to be resurfaced to prevent further deterioration.


Vinyl Pools: The Cost-Effective Choice

Vinyl liner pools are built with a sheet of vinyl between the water and the pool structure. They offer an economical upfront cost and come in various shapes and sizes, though there is a limit in design flexibility as a result of pool wall construction methods.


Advantages:

  • Upfront Cost: Generally, initial costs of vinyl pools place them as the most affordable in-ground pool option.

  • Customizable Shapes: While not as flexible as concrete pool construction, there is still some ability to create a uniquely shaped pool shell.

  • Soft Surface: Vinyl liner is smooth to the touch, providing a comfortable swimming experience for swimmers of all ages.

Drawbacks:

  • Decreased Lifespan: Vinyl liners typically need to be replaced every 5 to 9 years, depending on care and sun exposure. Given the intensity of the sun in Florida, this timeline often falls around every 5 years, creating an expensive maintenance cycle for long term pool owners.

  • Material Vulnerability: Unlike concrete or fiberglass, the vinyl liner of a pool can be susceptible to punctures or tears from pets, toys, or storm debris, a consideration homeowners must take given hurricane season.


Making the Right Choice for Your Florida Residence


While fiberglass and vinyl pools offer their respective advantages, particularly in terms of installation time and initial costs, concrete pools stand resolute as the premier option for pool construction, providing unlimited design customization and unmatched durability.


Especially in Florida, where the climate allows for year-round pool use, investing in a concrete pool can enhance not only your property value, but your quality of life as well, providing you and your loved ones with a fully bespoke oasis, designed to meet your every need and specification.


To begin your luxury pool journey, contact us using the button below, or speak with an A&G representative at

(772) 878-7752.






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