Why we stopped offering Fiberglass Pools
(The truth from a Former Fiberglass Salesman & Installer)
Backstory
At one point, we sold and installed fiberglass pools.
We believed in them because that’s what we were taught to believe. They’re marketed well, they install fast, and on paper, they check a lot of boxes.
But over time, working with them in real backyards, we started to see where they fall short… especially for the type of spaces we’re trying to create.
So we made a decision.
We stopped installing fiberglass pools.
Appearance Matters More Than People Think
Fiberglass pools have a clean look at first.
But the finish can feel a little manufactured. It’s smooth on the walls, but it lacks that soft, high-end, natural water feel that really makes a backyard stand out. The floors are gritty and less comfortable.
Over time, that difference becomes more noticeable.
This 3 year old pool needed drained for a “common” issue, and extensive repair. This is also one of the highest rated manufacturers in the industry.
Longevity Isn’t What It’s Sold To Be
This was a turning point for us.
Fiberglass pools rely on a gelcoat finish that’s sprayed into a mold under perfect factory conditions… controlled temperature, humidity, and no dust.
That’s how they look great on day one.
But as the pool ages, that gelcoat starts to haze and fade.
And here’s the reality most people aren’t told:
A 10 to 12 year old fiberglass pool looks like a 10 to 12 year old pool.
There’s no true way to bring it back to that original finish. Re-coating it in the field just doesn’t produce the same result.
Vinyl pools “need” new liners in 10 years because they look faded, they still hold water just like faded fiberglass will. They just aren’t as welcoming as they once were, so we get to make them feel new again with a brand new interior finish (aka liner).
You don’t have to take my word for it, the stories are out there. (Both of these screenshots are from the same pool. Post from 4/10/26.)
Structure Depends Heavily on Installation
Fiberglass pools aren’t structural on their own.
They act more like a barrier between the ground and the water, which means everything depends on what’s underneath and around them.
If there’s any settling or shifting, the pool can move with it. (This can cause catastrophic failure.)
That’s why proper installation is critical… often involving stone backfill, retaining walls, and careful site prep to avoid issues down the road.
Ground water is also a much scarier issue, a fiberglass pool becomes a boat if groundwater builds up around it. Once it lifts it is a total loss, all of the underground plumbing is destroyed as well as shell damage in most cases. Proper drainage is key but a clogged drainage system and cause another example of catastrophic failre.
We know about this because we are called to “repair” these situations, but often the only solution is a new pool for both scenarios.
pools shouldn’t float
We prefer putting floats in the pool rather than pools floating!
When groundwater builds up around a fiberglass pool it becomes a powerful boat. Meaning if the water builds up too high in the ground, the hydrostatic pressure makes the shell aggressively buoyant and will sheer off all of the plumbing while lifting and destroying the deck and likely cracking the shell.
This is another reason that the installers on site themselves are critical for these pools. If they skip a step this becomes very likely.
I installed a vinyl liner pool directly next door to a fiberglass that had lifted and the entire patio, pool, and backyard had to be placed and redone. It was a nightmare for the family. It was also installed by one of the highest volume pool dealers in the Pittsburgh. Just proving that it can happen to anyone.
If the same scenario happened to a vinyl liner pool what would happen? The liner would float. Once the ground water receded the liner would settle back down and possibly have some wrinkles. This isn’t ideal but we can drain, reset, and refill if that happens and the pool is good to go. That a nice bit of peace of mind!
(To be fair, this is not a common problem. Installers and builders like us do take measures to prevent these scenarios from happening, but a drain can clog, a pump can malfunction, there are real life scenarios that cause these issues sometimes.)
Why Installers Love Them
This is the part most people don’t hear.
Fiberglass pools are simple to install.
They go in fast, require less on-site craftsmanship, and allow builders to complete more projects in less time.
From a business standpoint, that’s attractive.
But a lot of those advantages benefit the installer more than the client.
We realized that didn’t align with how we want to build.
This is also one of the dangers. Many of the installers were landscapers just a few years ago and because pools make projects so much nicer, they naturally jumped into the opportunity to put in “easy pools.” Not understanding the structural, maintenance, or even proper installation of plumbing and equipment is causing hardship for many new pools owners that call us to re-do some of the work.
Customization Still Matters
Every backyard is different.
And every family uses their space differently.
Fiberglass limits that flexibility. You’re working within a set of pre-designed shapes and features, which makes it harder to truly dial in the layout, flow, and feel of the space.
We believe your pool should feel like it was designed specifically for your yard… not selected from a catalog.
Size matters too. With a 16’ fiberglass pool only having a waterline of less than 15’ wide, and a much narrower floor than that, often times the “bigger” fiberglass pools just feel small. Every family has different needs and space constraints, but we love the ability to give MUCH MORE POOL for LESS.
Maintenance… Let’s Be Honest
Fiberglass and vinyl liner pools are very comparable when it comes to maintenance.
That’s not theory for us, that’s real data.
We run full weekly service routes and take care of a large number of pools. We see how different pool types perform week in and week out.
And the truth is, fiberglass is no easier to maintain than vinyl. In fact, certain problems like alkalinity staining and white water mold seem to haunt some fiberglass pools more than any vinyl we service.
Water is water. Both surfaces are very resistant to algae and debris clinging. Concrete pools are the only ones that seem much different from a maintenance perspective (much higher maintenance.)
The Ability to Refresh Matters
Backyards evolve.
Styles change. Families grow. The way you use your space shifts over time.
With a vinyl liner pool, you can update the liner every 8 to 10 years and give the entire pool a fresh, updated look.
It feels like a brand new pool without starting over.
With fiberglass, what you install is what you live with.
Why We Moved On
This wasn’t a quick decision.
But over time, it became clear that fiberglass didn’t allow us to deliver the level of product we expect from ourselves.
So we focused fully on building custom vinyl liner pools.
We really did believe in fiberglass pools during our time installing them, and they’ve brought our clients tons of joy and memories… it just didn’t fully meet the standard we aim to deliver over the long run.
It gives us the ability to design without limits, create a softer and more natural look (and feel!) in the water, and build something that can evolve with our clients over time.
The Bottom Line
Fiberglass pools aren’t “bad.”
They’re just built around a different set of priorities.
If you want something fast and simple, they can make sense.
But if you’re looking for a backyard that feels intentional, high-end, and built specifically for how you want to live… all without blowing the budget…that’s where we’ve chosen to focus.
And here’s the part most people don’t expect:
In many cases, the better option (vinyl) ends up costing you less.
If you want more detail, evidence, or even more reasons, I’ve got ‘em just ask about in our consultation, but this post is already long enough.
This post isn’t going to make everyone in the industry happy, but you deserve to the know the answer to one of the questions I am asked the most. People are often surprised to learn my take on it because the fiberglass sales training is good. Companies also love building more pools a year -for more money- with less labor. We aren’t in this to build the most pools for the most money, we are in the business of building experiences and relationships to last a lifetime.
Just for fun:
I made this video with my kids back when we installed fiberglass!
