If you’d love to create an outdoor living experience that includes a beautiful backyard pool but are feeling a little overwhelmed about all the choices, let me help. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right type of pool for your family and your space.
There are two types of pools of primary interest to homeowners: fiberglass and concrete. What is right for you depends on several factors: your budget, your available time for design and installation, and the aesthetic you are striving for.
Pros and Cons of Fiberglass Pools. With quick installation and very little maintenance, many homeowners choose fiberglass pools when they want an accelerated backyard project that is durable for many years. Some high-end manufacturers offer a lifetime structural warranty on fiberglass, so it may be a good choice for an active family that needs a quick turnaround but also a resilient product. Today’s pool suppliers have expanded the array of color choices, so homeowners are not limited to white or blue interiors. The biggest downside of fiberglass pools is that they are not readily customizable, although most premium producers have modern
features such as tanning ledges. Features like infinity edges are not possible or practical, but one supplier we recommend, Thursday Pools, provides a beach-entry option. Fiberglass pools are limited in size to approximately a maximum of forty feet long and sixteen feet wide since they must be moved into place by truck traveling over highways and secondary roads. They also are limited to the manufacturer’s available shapes.
Pros and Cons of Concrete Pools. When you want a fully customizable experience, a concrete pool is the way to go. Homeowners can imagine all sorts of creative shapes that we can bring to life, adding customized tile and special features such as champagne spillovers from the spa to the pool, infinity edges, and Lautner edges, where the water level is at patio height for a modern look. For homeowners who want to take their pool design to the next level, a customized concrete installation is the way to do it. The biggest downside is the higher cost of building and maintaining a concrete pool, as the plaster needs refinishing every ten years on average. This cost is offset by the range of customizations possible to tailor the pool and surrounding patio and hardscaping to a homeowner’s exact specifications.
Whether you choose a fiberglass or concrete pool, we completely automate features and maintenance through our smartphone app. Unlike others, Godfrey & Jones provides complete hardscaping, landscaping, and outdoor living services with our pool installations, and we pride ourselves on fast turnaround for project completion.
If a new pool is simply a treat for your family, a place to gather with friends, a new way to exercise, or a place for relaxation, now is the time to get started on a project that you’ll be able to enjoy by summertime.
Chris Jones is owner of GODFREY & JONES and can be reached at 919-271-1780 or GODFREYANDJONES.COM.