Pool question...gunite vs fiberglass

[jaspermac]

We are looking at the pool possibility. While I mostly see gunite, we have some friends that have a fiberglass and I was impressed. Does anyone have a newer fiberglass pool that they care to comment about?

Thanks

[Saddle Tramp]

I am no longer in the pool game so I make no money on my opinion. However remember water pipes viberate and fiberglass wears quickly. We did a lot of leak repairs on them. We were a gunite builder.
Make sure you years of repair coverage from your installer and check with insurance company for coverage of cost of repairs.

[mjhaverkamp]

I would check into a vinyl liner pool before a fiberglass pool, gunite is by far the best but more expensive.

[jaspermac]

Thanks for the input. Not sure vinyl is an option but I'll check it out

[Colton]

I work gunite 5-6 days a week. From what I hear from builders, it is by far the superior product

[bphillips]

I am no longer in the pool game so I make no money on my opinion. However remember water pipes viberate and fiberglass wears quickly. We did a lot of leak repairs on them. We were a gunite builder.
Make sure you years of repair coverage from your installer and check with insurance company for coverage of cost of repairs.

I dont recall which one but one I talked to offered lifetime warranty on their fiberglass pools. You can't really do custom though

[Saddle Tramp]

Not saying anything wrong but read the fine print. Lifetime coverage of what? And all pools can float, yes float. Without proper drainage and the lighter the pool the more likely to float.
The % of profit in a pool is very very high, talk your best deal then go lower. If you ever plan on moving ask a real estate person the difference in value of different pools. Buy in the winter when things a slow, takes a little more time but can save thousands. Depending on size up grades like 1/2" instead of 3/8" rebar are not needed.
It is a high pressure sale take your time.

[bphillips]

Not saying anything wrong but read the fine print. Lifetime coverage of what? And all pools can float, yes float. Without proper drainage and the lighter the pool the more likely to float.
The % of profit in a pool is very very high, talk your best deal then go lower. If you ever plan on moving ask a real estate person the difference in value of different pools. Buy in the winter when things a slow, takes a little more time but can save thousands. Depending on size up grades like 1/2" instead of 3/8" rebar are not needed.
It is a high pressure sale take your time.

Haven't read anymore than its a "structural" and "structural osmosis" lifetime warranty. Its not time for us to decide yet so haven't got too far in

[mjhaverkamp]

Not saying anything wrong but read the fine print. Lifetime coverage of what? And all pools can float, yes float. Without proper drainage and the lighter the pool the more likely to float.
The % of profit in a pool is very very high, talk your best deal then go lower. If you ever plan on moving ask a real estate person the difference in value of different pools. Buy in the winter when things a slow, takes a little more time but can save thousands. Depending on size up grades like 1/2" instead of 3/8" rebar are not needed.
It is a high pressure sale take your time.

Going to have to disagree with you a little bit, the profit on a pool ( at least around here ) is not all that high, maybe 20 %, going from number 3 to number 4 rebar is also not that much more expensive and well worth it, as far as pools floating, none can float if they are full of water, if they are empty then the hydrostat in the main drain will keep them from floating, also the weep holes that are left in a unite pool will prevent floating as well, I have worked on several thousand pools, I have only witnessed a hand full of pools that have floated.

[tps7742]

We have had three gunite pools over the last 35 yrs when I lived in the Houston area. On the second pool we receivedd a bid in July from multiple pool builders. Anthony-Sylvan called back in October (1997) and told me to make them an offer so I lowered their original bid by 25%. The next day they called back and excepted it with everything we wanted at the time. We did get a better price in this scenario. But in the big scheme of things this company did a very poor job that I had allot of headaches with prior to completion. I am not sure it was such a good deal after all on this specific one. The other two were a walk in the park.
On fiberglass I have talked to one guy in the area we are having a house built now but I am having reservations about it. We will probably go gunite again.

[Todd-ty729]

Going to have to disagree with you a little bit, the profit on a pool ( at least around here ) is not all that high, maybe 20 %, going from number 3 to number 4 rebar is also not that much more expensive and well worth it, as far as pools floating, none can float if they are full of water, if they are empty then the hydrostat in the main drain will keep them from floating, also the weep holes that are left in a unite pool will prevent floating as well, I have worked on several thousand pools, I have only witnessed a hand full of pools that have floated.

Listen to this man. He knows his stuff.

[Saddle Tramp]

As said earlier I am not downing pool companies, if 20% is the norm in your area fine. When we were building it was much higher. Also when we started there were4 companies when we sold out there was 17 in town. Subs were shared by many companies and we dug for other companies. And I have seen and fixed a FEW that floated in heavy black dirt areas east of Austin. Just giving the man the same info I would give friends or family thinking of buying. Most people who have never had a pool don't know what to ask. Some a very few salesman I have known would try to make higher overage money on say rebar up grades just because some people don't have the knowledge to know better. The op ask so just my 2cents as an ex pool builder.

[Knot at work]

If your looking for a pool that will last 30 to 40 years go Gunite. Stay on top of chemicals like a hawk.