Start shopping for a home swimming pool and you’ll have to wait all of eleven seconds before the question “fiberglass or vinyl” is raised.

What do you want from a swimming pool? There are any number of ways to answer this question. Folks in the market for a swimming pool have a number of options when it comes to shape and size of the pool and the material used to construct the pool.

One major decision will be choosing fiberglass or vinyl for your pool.

Fiberglass pools have been around awhile. Their popularity dates back to the 1950’s. Fiberglass tends to be the more expensive of the two options. Fiberglass pool shells are built from an existing mold. Once ordered, the shells are cast and delivered. The pools are built off-site so there is not a lot of installation time once the pool shell arrives at the home.

Many fiberglass pools have steps and seats molded right into the shell. There is a gel coating added to the surface that can prevent algae growth. The gel coating does require weekly cleanings.

Since fiberglass pools are built off-site and shipped to a home, the pools are usually limited to 16 feet in width.

Vinyl pools are pools that feature vinyl liners. The vinyl liner is placed over a steel or polymer pool frame. This allows for head-free installation and also allows for customization.

Vinyl pools initially cost less than fiberglass pools. However, at some point in time, the vinyl lining of the pool will need to be replaced. Choosing the right pool liner can be a great way to prevent against early liner replacement. There may also be more maintenance involved, since vinyl liners can be a little more sensitive to the environment.

Talk to a team of pool experts and decide what swimming pool option works best for you and your family.