Hi Jason, I can see that you like fiberglass pools a lot ! I am a poolbuilder from Holland, building pools for over 30 years now. Build more then 1200 pools. Many private but also many Hotel pools. First of all, liner pools.... Life span for the liner 5 to 10 years ??? Maybe bad quality liners, but an everage is way over 15 to 20 years ! Not to mention the reïnforced 1,5 mm liner pools, they will last over 25 years ( i have costumers with pool older then 35 years, still no leaks ! ) But we build very often a normal cheap blockwork construction ( cheap building compared to Concrete pools ! ) , then plaster the interieur and install the 1,5 mm reïnforced liner ! You can build any kind of dimension and shape you like , practicaly no restrictions ! We build these pools within 4 weeks , completely installed, from scratch ! The maintanance is very easy, smooth surface, so easy cleaning, soft surface due the undercarped we use under the liner. Beutifull colours liner available, even 3 dimension liners ! ( looks and feels exact like real mozaïk ! ) Iff we compaire this with concrete pools ; you MUST build the concrete structure already watertight ! ( and the structure must remain watertight over the total lifespan of the pools ) the finishing layer inside the pool will never make the pool watertight ! So the structure must be ( and stay ) watertight ! And dont forget, concrete will settle over the years to come, cracks in the structure are more normal then accidently after some years ! So you need high quality concrete and a lot off reïnforcement steel in the structure, that makes it expencive ! Then the finishing of this structure, Tilling is expencive but Beautifull , and will demand maintanance over the years , especialy the grouting !! ( risk off water behind the tiles, between construction and tiles, so iff you live in an area where the winters are bellow freezing point, you can have uge damage to your pool ! Construction time of this kind off pools is between 6 and 8 weeks ( and not 3 to 6 months as you mention ) So the cost for a good concreed pool is much higher the a liner pool ! ( also the maintranance ! ) Then last, the fiber glass pool, Yes the construction time is short ( i build these pools always within 2 weeks max !! Normaly its 1 week ! ) The down site is that they are only available in several dimensions and models, not to many colours available. But iff you can find the size and model you want, its a nice option to buy. But you dont mention the downsite of these prefabricated fiberglass pools ! Such as Osmoses witch is a destructive quality of fiberglass , but also decolouration of the surface or cracks in the pool due bad installation and ore settlements in the soil ! Yest these pools are easy to maintain ( its compairable with liner pools ) But more expencive then liner pools, the the expected lifespan, also compairable with good liner pools ( when we compaire with 1,5 mm reïnforced liners ) But when you have a problem with a fiberglass pool, to repair it will be expencive ! So my opinion, Concrete pool with tiles, only when you have lots of money and want a beautifull pool, Fiberglass, only when you like the size and model you can choose from, and then only iff you buy the best quality you can find ( good warranty against Osmoses and decolouration, good installation team, so only the high end quality fiberglass pools !! And so also very expencive ! ) The liner pool; for everybody that like a nice and good quality pool, realizing that after approx 25 years you must replace the liner ! Liner pool; the best valieu for money is what I always say !! Good luck and all the best Jason, Alex from Holland...
They're selling fiberglass pools with this video, so it should be very obvious to any (intelligent) consumer that the agenda is being hypercritical of what they aren't selling while avoiding the same criticality of their own product. As you say, concrete pools are built in less than 2 months, not the 3-6 this guy is quoting. No one is digging a hole and waiting months to put the rebar and gunite in there, let alone having it unfilled and popping out of the ground- that's just ridiculous. Excavation to completion is 6-8 weeks. Concrete can be much larger and deeper, as well as customized to any shape. Fiberglass pools are slippery to walk in, susceptible to significant fading, have weak lateral strength, as well as buckling, cracking and settling and are very expensive to repair. Fiberglass is arguably more susceptible to installation issues than all other pool types as well. There isn't a "wrong" decision here, but generally speaking, liners and fiberglass are for cost cutting and they look cheap (like a large plastic bathtub).
@@sly9263 I can agree a long way with your reaction. One thing NOT ! That is that Liner pools look "cheap". Maybe you only refer to prefabricated liner that can be installed by DIY ( 0,75 to 0,85 mm thickness and NOT reïnforced ) . But we are building pools and installing almost 40 years 1,5 mm thick reïnfored Liners. And i can tell you, some pools even last already for that many years with there first liners ! Even in "hot" Afrika we install these liners now close to 20 years, and also these pools look still very good ! ( no leaks, no repairs, not visable fading of colour... ) And now, since several years, there is also available 3D liners, looks and feel like real Mozaik Tiles and granite/marble stone !! So to be honest, for me ; Liner pools are the best valeu for money ( good quality Liner material and instalment ) And these pools we can even build in 2 weeks time if needed !
There is one and only one proper standard for the construction of a swimming pool. Rebar reinforced concrete. Period. If a pool is constructed correctly (high-end), and the concrete mixed properly (critical) - the pool will last 100 years regardless of the weather. This is not debatable. Is concrete the most expensive option - yes, of course it is. However, in life we get what we pay for.
I purchased a 16' x 35' fiberglass pool 6 years ago. I do not know River Pools or anyone who works there. I do not live in the River Pools area. After 6 years of ownership I can state that everything that is claimed about fiberglass pools is true. The interior of the pool is as beautiful as the day it was installed and very little has to be done in terms of maintenance. My only caveat is to carefully evaluate the qualities of the pool installer. Knowing nothing originally about pools I was lucky. Things like what kind of base is used under the pool and whether groundwater that might get under the pool is directed away. Another issue is the decking. Mine is 4' wide concrete. There are pillars where needed if the earth around the pool isn't compacted away. There is rebar and some kind of fiberglass impregnated into the concrete to prevent cracking. There is some kind of plastic used as expansion joints and the space between the pool edge and the concrete also uses some sort of plastics. My edging is formed concrete as well. After 6 years there aren't any cracks in the concrete, the plastic remains intact. One other advantage of the fiberglass pool is that it retains heat so a smaller heater or non at all can work. But I have another strategy to share. I live in Pennsylvania - I didn't purchase a heater - and since no one but me swims into October I discovered a shorty wet suit keeps me going as long as I want :)
I think you need to take one pool size and then give the overall price say for 10 or 20 years for all 3. People know that everything goes up so they would expect it at todays prices. But, without knowing the cost, which in my mind figures in with the work, or maintenance, all of this information is actually kind of useless. Also, it seems when anyone says you are going to save in the long run, it cost a lot more up front.
I'll take a vinyl-liner pool over concrete and fiberglass pools any day of the week. Your vinyl liner will last about 14 or 15 years. . .you take out the old liner and put in the new liner and you have a like-new pool. You can't do that with a fiberglass pool. It has been my experience that the gelcoat finish on the fiberglass pool will break down appreciably after a few years and the pool looks terrible after that.
Fiberglass is the way to go....I did one myself...it is very low maintence have had it 18 years...don't put it in and pour concrete around it 2 weeks later! I installed in September and poured concrete in July following year...it will settle no matter how much you compact the backfill.
Glad you like your fiberglass pool! Settlement was always our problem too, until we switched to stone base and backfill. Haven't had any problems since we stopped using sand as backfill years ago.
River Pools maybe you can/will answer this.... how much would a 16 x 40 fiberglass pool cost installed in 2019?? I am trying to get an idea for my budget and no one will just say..... ground is level and I’ve heard salt water is est way to go......do you agree??
@@tommylarson7219 I dont like fibreglass most likely to pop out of the ground if you remove water.I like you tube videos gerry wilson build a swimming pool thats a concrete one and tim crabtree homebuilt liner pool.I know you have to be careful with removal of water on all pools ,.of course the easiest is a intex pool or next easiest a metal sided doughboy above ground
I’ve never found anyone that drains and acid washes heir pool every three years I’ve never replaced a liner less then 10 years old These are not real numbers I like fiberglass pools but the only way they appear to be sold is buy creating a false narrative and creating a fear of the other products If they only talked about their product truthfully And stop creating a fake story this wouldn’t be so offensive
They're expensive and limited in size and depth. For example in CT where I live they can only be 16 ft wide and 7 or 8 feet deep and 40ft max length. Other states may vary. They also are not perfect out of the mold there, manufacturers give about a half inch tolerance in a pool. For example a toe ledge on both sides one side can have anywhere from zero to half and inch difference in hight. This goes for any benches stairs or other features in the pool. Overall fiberglass are the best pools to get right now because they don't leak, have low maintenance costs and last a long time without needing renovations so long as you can afford the upfront cost.
Non structural They can’t be drained thus not repaired or renovated below the waterline They are narrow They are over excavatied thus the deck will settle and have issues They are built offsite with no consideration of the yard they are placed They don’t have a main drain on the floor of the pool a huge maintenance issue The skimmers are screwed on creating a weak spot Not invirometally friendly because at the end of its lifespan (15) years it can’t be recycled unlike concrete at the end of its lifespan(60 +years) is one of the most recycled materials on the planet Fiberglass is almost impossible to set level that’s why the tile is placed after installation to give the appearance of a level concrete pool If only the concrete pool could be installed in 2 days it would be perfect
I've been in the swimming pool construction business since 1982.I build Vinyl Liner*Concrete wall/Concrete bottom*Pools, and Gunite Pools...The average lifespan of our Liners is 10~12 years, and in many cases much longer.Your correct about Gunite/Concrete pools but way off on Vinyl liner pool knowledge...You must be a fiberglass pool guy??
Totally agree. Plus we do salt water pools with metals walls all the time. It's a misconception that the salt in the water is corrosive, it's not as long as it stays below 9000 parts per million. The corrosion occurs when the osmosis from the salt cell attacks the metal wall. Good bonding and a sacrificial abode will protect it just fine
Hi robert hobaica! We are indeed FG guys! BUT long before we dedicated our efforts to FG exclusively we installed vinyl liner pools and made repairs on all types of pools. YOU ARE RIGHT! Liners can last 10-12 years. What we're reporting on is the average lifespan we've seen over the years. Many, many vinyl liner owners did not provide diligent care to their pool and often the liner needed to be replaced far sooner than the 10 year mark.
Hi Justin Reimold! Thanks for watching and weighing in. Again, we're speaking from experience, as are you. Often homeowners do not maintain their pools chemistry "to a T". And since water does get behind the liner, if salt is above prescribed ppm mark (and it often is) it will have an adverse affect on metal walls. With diligent care and proper maintenance, all pools can last FAR longer than the typical lifespan, and reach their capable lifespan.
Judging from youtube videos, in USA people only use plaster or pebble as finishes, I've seen some videos of really expensive pools, like multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars, still with plaster or pebbles. In my country, you would normally see either glass mosaic, or concrete painted with pool paint, which also ends up being quite smooth. I've also seen some older, usually bigger pools, covered with ceramic tiles.
Why not build a concrete pool in any shape you want, then instead of using plaster for the finishing coat use a gelcoat, then you can get the best of both worlds.
@@scottydntno Gelcoat straight to concrete would not be ideal. You would need to use fiberglass reinforced resin to build out the smooth finish, sanding in between layers. The final layer before gelcoat should be vinyl ester resin. This layer prevents osmotic blisters from forming.
There are many colors to choose from, and there are ways to add "designs" to it. BUT the one downside to fiberglass is that the shape cannot be changed.
We love our concrete pool but I agree with the maintenance side and all the chemicals we pay for. We just had ours re done and it was pricey we went with pebble tech 36k
My liner pool is more than 30 years... Not leaking, no problems... Yeah the colour is not new anymore but everything is still ok. Summer and winter full with water. From -10°C till +35°C....
Hi Michael Biggins! First of all THANK YOU for watching and for your meticulous attention. When we educate on the differences between different pool types we often cut to the simplest form of explanation. While both gel coat and plaster finish are technically porous (water can pass through both), gel coat is far LESS porous, to the point where algae cannot easily grow and "take hold". We often refer to it as a non-porous finish, when we should be taking a few moments to go a bit deeper in the explanation to point out the differences. The bottom line is, that gel coat is an incredibly smooth finish compared to plaster, making it more pleasant swim experience and easier to maintain.
Algae doesn’t need pores to grow Ever leave a stainless steel dog bowl out in the rain ? Or a glass of water ? It’s a false narrative Used to create fear of the other products available It’s like saying fiberglass is easier to maintain yet You can’t refinish it ! You can’t drain it ! Michael Is becoming aware Glad I could help !
Hi Christina! Great question...the answer, Not at all. In fact a salt water system works incredibly well with fiberglass pools. All of our clients receive a salt water system with their pool as part of the base package. Here's a link to an article about saltwater...www.riverpoolsandspas.com/blog/should-i-get-a-salt-water-generator-for-my-pool Thank for watching!
Thats not one and only standard ! Maybe when money is not an issue. Every ientcan have a different standard. If you want to enjoy poolfun for a limited periid of time, say 5 or 10 years, then a pool system with prefabricated liner could be the best option. For other clients it dan be completely different.... so its depending on the client's wishes and pockets...
Denisse Diaz, Glad to help! Please check out our website riverpoolsandspas.com for more content and also find a local dealer to get you the pool of your dreams. Thanks for watching!!
Helina, we only use clean crushed stone to backfill all pools. Check out this video explaining why..ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ob4NBnBUmAc.html
Our first vinyl liner lasted 25 years and was still fine. On our second since 1989. We just wanted a new look/pattern. The key was spending a bit more upfront for a thicker vinyl. I still think vinyl liner looks great on a custom shape pool with a stone deck and feels better to walk on than concrete or fibreglass. If I was deciding only between concrete or fibreglass, I’d choose fibreglass.
Hi Tommie Caine! That's the problem with the pool build industry. It's full of rumors, unfortunately. Truth is, any pool can pop out of the ground. But the conditions for that to happen need to be catastrophic. If a fiberglass pool is installed properly...heck, if ANY type of pool is installed properly, it will not pop out of the ground. We'd love fiberglass pools...would love for you to choose to have one of ours installed. BUT, more than anything, want you to have the correct information so you can make the right decision for you and your family...even if that means not buying one of our pools 👍
Our concrete pool needs resurfacing. We’d love to have a vinyl pool instead. Never thought about fiberglass. Can we fit a fiberglass pool into the same spot as our existing in-ground concrete pool? If we have a 10-20K gallon pool, how much might that cost us vs. resurfacing it?
Hello again Jason! No doubt, resurfacing would be less expensive than replacing the pool. HOWEVER, to give you an idea on the cost of a new FG pool here is a pricing tool we built to help give folks a ballpark idea for pricing. 👉hubs.ly/H0kcv6p0 The existing hole could certainly be used, however without seeing your property first hand we think it would be best to remove the old pool.
Sure “low cost over the life of the pool”, aka, fibre glass pools are extremely expensive upfront, funny how he neglects to mention that yet goes over all the cons in details of the other kinds. Also her didn’t cover ICF pool which have great advantages too
hi & thinks for answering my question 😊 ! I was thinkn about changing from fiber glass to concrete ...So my next question...i have a fiberglass pool & I want to knw how much it is to get it repaired or replaced....my mother- in-law, let the water out & it cracked at the bottom...also around the pool may need to be resurfaced as well !
Hi Jason Mudd! The Florida market simply has focused on concrete pools for so long that it's the "norm". Both FG and fiberglass would do well in backyards. We believe that folks in the sunshine state are beginning to think differently and the market is in the early stages of a shift. Great questions. Thanks for watching!
Hi Moses...some do. If you see one that has a crack, you'll know it was poorly made. Check out our manufacturing process to see how fiberglass pools should be made. 🌊🇺🇸
Why is nobody mentioning glass mosaic as the pool finish? It is more costly, but eliminates a lot of the problems with concrete pools that this guy's talking about.
WHAT?! You should watch for how long you can keep it going....you're coming up on the potential opportunity to break some sort of record! 🤠 we'd say, as long as it's holding water, and you're happy...keep on keepin' on!
Right!? I know we patched a few places during the initial 20 years. I learned that the vinyl isn't as long lasting as before bc the regulations on the chemicals in the vinyl. But we just had the current liner patched in a couple places so time is coming.
Which is best? A pool builder with experience and some kind of training! The authorized dealer in our area only training IS WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS!! A friend and I both have terrible messes in our backyards! My husband left a message for you and you just had the problem dealer call us back! We are almost 3 months in since our pool arrived and digging began!
@snomars1 We see all of your comments on several videos and want to speak asap to help bring resolution to your situation asap. Please email us at urgent@riverpoolsandspas.com with the best phone number to reach you on this evening.
A couple more benefits of concrete: it can be a DIY project, but a TON of research should be done. It’s not like DIYing a bedroom dresser. Also, if a concrete pool shell cracked…. Which I’ve never seen happen, it can be patched. Vinyl & fiberglass need to be gutted & replaced. Incidentally, location matters. In northern States, gunite/concrete is really the only freeze-safe option.
Helo good day to you Sir Jason from River Pools. This video is so informative and would really help me a lot since i'm planning to have a pool. I'm from Philippines , i'm planning to have a simple 8x5 swimming pool for business. accomodating for minor events like birthday and reunions. But i really dont know how much it will cost. Thank you sir. More informative videos sir.
Hello Mars Tacbabes, Thanks for watching. Here's another video that might help you answer some questions about smaller pools. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-86hiqbxwUNE.html Good luck with your upcoming pool project.
Hi Julio Rivera! Great question. In climates like yours, the ability to withstand freeze/thaw cycles is important. While we'd love to say that FG is the only option...it's actually tied with vinyl liner pools. Both have the ability to flex and move with freeze/thaw cycles. Concrete pools can flex some, but far less so than fg and vinyl. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
I love your video very clear the way you said things about pros and cons on each. Thank you. Oh by the way I'm on the process to see which pool was better too. I'm glad I click on your video.
But he didn't tell you any cons about a fiberglass. One being that they only go so deep. The deepest I've seen is 6 feet. We wanted 8 feet so we did a concrete pool. No slides or diving boards at 5 feet.
Yep! Check out our website and when you're ready for a quote, just hit the button and our magical and mystical digital minions will swiftly carry your info by hand virtually to the nearest authorized builder serving your area🤠
I'm replacing my first vinyl liner after 7 years. It's about $4k for a 20x40 pool, so it's not a cheap thing to do. Overall we've been happy with the pool, but we do have clay soil and and relatively high water table so the liner can "float" from time to time. I good sump pump has helped immensely with that, but there are times when storms knock out power and the pump is useless until it comes back on; and so the liner floats. I'm investing in a "liner-lock" bead to be installed with the new liner to keep it from coming out of the the track. I'm hoping that will help keep things in place even when it does float. I really like the attention to detail and drive to improve that your company displays and it's making me want to replace my liner pool with a fiberglass. :)
@@RiverPools 18 years in the business. I know Florida. Everything about fiberglass pools is wrong. Fittings leak. Pools get a few years old and can't be fixed. Most install with a trip hazard deck connection. Few know how to even try to fix them. Sides have too much slope. Once they crack they can't be fixed. Companies that sell them are never in business long enough to cover the warranty. Ugly and can't be changed. Best off if you just sell your pool and don't show your butt trying to run concrete pools down.
@@donhuffer4637 You know? You're right. There are fiberglass pools that have those issues. And those are the pools and installation methods that led us to decide to make them better...the way we had always wanted them to be, and install them so those issues don't occur. We're not trying to "run concrete pools down". In fact we'll recommend them to someone if fiberglass isn't right for them. As for the quality of our product, check out our manufacturing videos and our installation videos. We'll take you behind the scenes and show you everything, except our bu...
Concrete pools do not cost more to maintain then fiberglass Concrete pools have a main drain on the BOTTOM of the deep end that removes the sinking debris Fiberglass pools have the drain on the lower part of the deep end wall River pools has a 15 year warranty and in that time you are not allowed to let the water level go below the returns These pools are non structural You can’t drain them so you can’t renovate them ....this is important They are a temporary way to swim like an intex pool from Walmart River pools is good at that southern charm as they create a false narrative of offering a superior product to the classic concrete pool Concrete pools require more energy ??? People eat this stuff up The pores and the algae hides yet algae doesn’t need a surf as to hide in to bloom all false all lies Instead of creating a narrative of fear surrounding a concrete pool try this Just talk about your own product (it’s the law in Europe) It’s much less offensive to the educated listener
Hi David! You should hop in front the camera and help educate folks. The pool industry could use more educators focused on helping home owners make a well informed decision. 🌊🇺🇸
I have owned a vinyl liner pool for about 25 years, I am on my 3rd liner. Liners run anywhere between 2500 to 3000 installed. The pool is a 18 x 36 with a deep end of about 8 ft and holds about 26,000 gallons of water. I didn't know much about pools when I was sold this one. The main draw back is something they didn't mention. If you are in a area where there is a lot of rain and ground water it will seep into your pool and bulge out your liner. My understanding is they are designed to let water in because there is no concrete on the bottom. I have spoke to some other owners of liner pools and they don't have that problem for the most part. I do and it is a pain. I have learned the hard way but I put a small hose behind the liner and I use a small sump pump and slowly pull the water out, the liner then slowly goes back against the wall for the most part without wrinkles and no I would not recommend a liner pool....:P
There are pros and cons for each type of pool. This is one of the potential issues with a vinyl liner pool. Sounds like you have found a solution, however. While we are fiberglass pool specialists, our effort is to help those in the market for a pool to make the most informed decision about which type they buy. Thanks for weighing in and sharing your experience.
How ever long it takes to put in a swimming pool should never be an issue ... ever . We have had our in ground swimming pool installed in Oct. 1997. My grandpa had a in ground pool and it did crack here and there , that is why I decided to go with the liner inside . Our town did have a flood in 1994 and we had heard of some people with liner pool and metal walls were floating out but not enough that it stopped people from going with liners. We also heard about fiberglass dry rotting again not enough to stop them either, more time will tell since they haven't been used as long as liners and concrete. We went with concrete walls and steps and a liner dropped in . I would do it again the same way. By the way the second liner is still good. When someone is selling you say something like an in ground pool you should just stick with the facts each pool will sell itself. We have not had all those issue that the sales man from River pools talked about . The liner. pool pump and Polaris pump have only been changed in 21 years.
Great question Destiny! I can tell you that at River Pools, of the hundreds of pools we've installed over the past 10 years, we've never had one crack or structurally fail.
You gave all the cons of a concrete pool and all the pros to to owning a fiber glass. Can you tell us the pros to concrete and the cons to fiberglass so we can make an informed decision?
Hi Cheryl D! Good question...We made the switch away from sand a long time ago, as it only leads to problems. Here's a link to a video explaining our install process and why stone backfill is so important. 👉ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ob4NBnBUmAc.html
@@RiverPools There is one thing. Does it matter what state (weather) sand is being poured? I know elements do different things to sand and fiberglass. If it is wet down will it still cause problems? thank you! Great videos :)
@@dearbelovedcheryl Wetting the sand down is a pretty common technique to "wash it" into place. The problem with sand is later down the road when ground water is introduced over and over again, through storms and such. When sand is wet, but moves and shifts. Sand will not fully settle into place during install even when washed. Eventually it will move. And most likely problems will arise.
