Concrete Pools vs Fiberglass Pools; An Honest Comparison

Are you considering a pool for your backyard and wondering about the comparisons between concrete pools vs fiberglass pools? In this video we'll compare the two across a number of topics, and we'll answer common questions like...
How much do concrete pools cost?
How much do fiberglass pools cost?
Are concrete pools more expensive than fiberglass pools?
Are fiberglass pools more expensive than concrete pools?
Can concrete pools be customized?
Can fiberglass pools be customized?
Can all pools be customized?
How long does it take to build a pool?
How long does it take to have a pool installed?
Are fiberglass pools faster to install than concrete?
Which is faster, concrete or fiberglass pools?
Are fiberglass pools smooth?
Are fiberglass pools textured?
Are concrete pools smooth?
How rough are concrete pools?
Can concrete pools be smooth?
How hard is it to maintain concrete pools?
How hard is it to maintain a fiberglass pool?
Are concrete pools hard to maintain?
Are fiberglass pools hard to maintain?
Which is easier to maintain concrete or fiberglass pools?
Are concrete or fiberglass pools easier to maintain?
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00:00 Introduction
01:23 Cost Comparison
02:32 Customization
03:03 Installation Timeline
03:53 Surface & Durability
04:56 Maintenance Comparison
05:43 Good fit for Concrete?
06:18 Good fit for Fiberglass?
River Pools® is a division of Thursday Pools, LLC. River Pools fiberglass pools are only installed by independent installers.

[@AlMai222]

Good job at trying to create a “unbiased” look into the 2 options. Extra credit for finding the roughest concrete pool finish I’ve personally ever seen in my life

[@corinthianpools598]

Concrete cancer is something extremely rare. In fact, I’ve been in business for 15 years and last year was the first year ever even heard of this most stems from material shortages during Covid and substituting materials so this really is not something that’s even on the radar. Also if you’re gonna compare the two, just compare the two honestly.

[@banbo8627]

How about longevity?

[@onebridge7231]

Concrete pools are susceptible to ‘Concrete Cancer’ which is a big problem in Texas.

[@nolefan91]

Need an unbiased opinion please not a sales pitch for fiberglass pools.

[@RiverPools]

Yep, no hiding the fact that we are a fiberglass pool brand. While we'd love to sell everyone one of the pools we make, the reality is that fiberglass isn't the best fit for everyone. Hopefully this video, and others we produce will help folks determine which type is the best fit for them.

[@apluspooldesigninc6122]

Oh yea this was COMPLETELY a honest review. Get the hell out of here. You really want an honest opinion go find a pool service guy who’s been doing it for 30 years and ask him what he’s seen.

[@RiverPools]

We assume that's you, with 30 years of experience? What would you say the pros and cons are of each? We produced this video with the help of at least a dozen independent builders, many who have build experience with vinyl, concrete, and fiberglass. That's in addition to our team which has collective experience in designing, building, manufacturing, and service of inground pools. Even though we focus exclusively on fiberglass pools we want to educate, even if that means helping someone decide to not purchase a fiberglass pool.

[@apluspooldesigninc6122]

@@RiverPools You’d be correct. 3rd generation in the industry. I’ll try to keep it simple, otherwise I would be here a long time with a response. Fiberglass pro- speed of install. That’s where it stops. Fiberglass pools like Gunite pools ware out. Trying to find someone to re-gelcoat a fiberglass pool is damn near impossible and when you do and the pool starts cobalting they’re no where to be found again. A fiberglass pool has a life span of about 25 years. Gunite life span is never ending. If you don’t like the shape of a Gunite pool it can be changed. You want to add a sun shelf or bench. Not a problem with Gunite. Can’t be done with a fiberglass pool. As for the example of the pool finish you so greatly displayed in your video (which was Marcite and hasn’t been used in a very long time) was just laughable. Believe it or not we actually have a finish that is just as smooth as fiberglass. Guess what , when it wares out in 15 years we can redo it. So I stand by my original comment your video was not bias in anyway. I wouldn’t expect it to be considering you’re a manufacturer of fiberglass pools.

[@RiverPools]

Thanks for weighing in and sharing your thoughts...Our goal is to give information that helps homeowners decide what is best for them...We'll address the cobalt issue you raised by saying this; it was a problem, along with blistering, but those issues have been eliminated with advancements in materials and manufacturing processes. As for the other comparisons you mention, there are many more things homeowners will want to consider along with that information...cost being a major factor there, especially around customization and renovation. So, we'll simply encourage folks to seek addtional information (our site is a great resource, but not the only one) on all types of pools, including more pros and cons, pricing, etc. We'll also provide them with a link to an industry article specifically about common fiberglass pool problems of the past...That article can be found here 👉 www.aquamagazine.com/retail/article/15120192/5-common-fiberglass-concerns-addressed