Trying to decide between a vinyl and fiberglass pool. Please help

[kboater]

Thanks for this great forum everyone! I've been researching and reading and still can't decide.
I've ruled out a concrete/gunite pool due to cost and time. This leaves me with vinyl or fiberglass. The cost between the two in my area is about $20,000 difference. My question is should I get a 20x40 vinyl pool? Or a 16x40 fiberglass pool for about $20,000 more?
It will primarily be used as a family pool with my kids friends coming over too. I doubt any dogs will be getting in the pool so not really worried about nails on vinyl. I understand the pros and cons. I think. Vinyl is easier to damage and will need to be replaced approximately every 8 to 12 years at a cost of four $5,000. I also understand this can be an opportunity to have a new looking pool every 10 years too. The most of the builders in my area do fiberglass and vinyl. They're recommending fiberglass because they say they are the" better" Cool and will look a lot nicer. We live in a relatively high-end neighborhood with mostly concrete pools. There's only one vinyl pool in their neighborhood and while it does look beautiful, I am concerned that if we ever go sell the house, people will think of it as a negative rather than a positive having a vinyl pool.

So, in a higher end neighborhood, but not wanting to spend the price and time on a concrete pool. Would you guys recommend a 20x40 vinyl pool? Or a 16x40 fiberglass pool?
Fiberglass pool downsides are $20,000 more and 4 ft less of width. But supposedly lower maintenance, longer longevity, and more of a high-end look compared to vinyl....


Please help. Thank you

 

[duraleigh]

Almost no one regrets getting a pool too big. People often regret a pool too small.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Hey i was in a same boat as you few years ago. Living in NY our Pool season is short. My kids are little older so i decided to go with vinyl and i am very happy with my decision. However you said there is a 20k difference, what about the equipment ? sometimes equipment makes a difference as well, pentair equipment cost more then hayward or are you getting automation . Unless equipment is same and 20k difference is just fiberglass vs vinyl. For me after the equipment difference fiberglass was coming out to be almost 26k more.

 

[Texas Splash]

Really a personal choice. You've done most of the homework and cost comparisons already, to include maintenance over the years. We have dogs, and at the time young kids, so vinyl was never a consideration. As you said, pros & cons either way.

 

[Newdude]

Would you guys recommend a 20x40 vinyl pool? Or a 16x40 fiberglass pool?

I always vote on 25% larger for $20k less. I don't care what we're talking about. Houses, cars, boats, pools........

You will be the only one who cares which type of pool it is. Kids and guests all think WOOHOO POOL!!!!!! and hop in. Spend some of the savings on a nicer/larger patio.

 

[kboater]

Thanks everyone. Yes it's the same equipment for the $20k difference. Maybe actually about $18k difference. We have a dog but he does not get in the pool. I've seen and been in tons of concrete and vinyl pools, but not really any of the newer fiberglass pools. Do they really feel higher end compared to vinyl liner? I just really have no way of knowing if fiberglass looks and feels like a higher end product compared to vinyl? Losing 4ft of width may not be the end of the world since it's 40ft long. So is the "higher end" feel and no liner changes worth the $18k difference and loss of 4ft?

 

[Newdude]

Do they really feel higher end compared to vinyl liner? I just really have no way of knowing if fiberglass looks and feels like a higher end product compared to vinyl?

To me, fiberglass feels like my acrylic bathtub, which isn't particularly fancy.

If you picked a solid color liner (no pattern) it would be hard to tell the difference until you got in it. You can do benches and stairs in a vinyl pool just the same.

But at the end of the day, something so subjective can only be decided by the one looking at it. Truth be told, there are no wrong decisions here.

 

[Wolfepack88]

I have a fiberglass 16 x 40 and for me the ease of maintenance has been great with fiberglass and assume that would be the case of vinyl as well. A little less water chemistry to balance than gunite and gunite was way more expensive for me in NJ. Having said that a little wider would be nicer. We have a built in spa which is nice and we like to warm up right before getting out for the day. I haven't really had to scrub the walls at all and the robot keeps it clean. Its nice on the feet which vinyl would be as well. If the liner is $5k you can replace it 4 times for the price difference. This is what a 16 x 40 looks like. Also vinyl allows for more custom shapes and sizes. All of this comes down to the quality of installation as you probably know.

 

[kboater]

I have a fiberglass 16 x 40 and for me the ease of maintenance has been great with fiberglass and assume that would be the case of vinyl as well. A little less water chemistry to balance than gunite and gunite was way more expensive for me in NJ. Having said that a little wider would be nicer. We have a built in spa which is nice and we like to warm up right before getting out for the day. I haven't really had to scrub the walls at all and the robot keeps it clean. Its nice on the feet which vinyl would be as well. If the liner is $5k you can replace it 4 times for the price difference. This is what a 16 x 40 looks like. Also vinyl allows for more custom shapes and sizes. All of this comes down to the quality of installation as you probably know.

View attachment 487401

Thank you. If you had to do over again. Would you save the $20k and do vinyl to have a 4ft wider pool? I'll probably do a separate spa regardless. how do you feel about the finish of the fiberglass? Do you feel like its more premium compared to vinyl? Thanks!

 

[Wolfepack88]

Thank you. If you had to do over again. Would you save the $20k and do vinyl to have a 4ft wider pool? I'll probably do a separate spa regardless. how do you feel about the finish of the fiberglass? Do you feel like its more premium compared to vinyl? Thanks!

I like the insulating properties of fiberglass in the ground and its flexing properties. Is all that BS I don't know but I can tell you my pool holds heat well. The finish of the pool looks awesome but I would bet vinyl would as well. A little wider pool would be visually nicer but we love the pool. I don't know the con's of vinyl other than it tearing if you have dogs or are really rough with it. With any pool it all comes down to the installation and doing it right. Others on here will tell you if there are any issues with vinyl that justify that price difference. I would think they have been worked out over the years and its just the risk of having to replace the liner sooner than you would have to resurface fiberglass which is a long time from now but invest the price difference and you will totally set for even multiple liner replacements.

 

[Newdude]

its just the risk of having to replace the liner sooner than you would have to resurface fiberglass which is a long time from now

That's about it. With the exception of a defect or rip, liners should get 7 to 12 years and are a savings upfront and long-term.

It all comes down to personal preference. We have multi million dollar houses here with vinyl, but in some areas, it's frowned upon with $300k houses. That's definitely something to consider if moving is a short term possibility. Don't worry about long term if you're staying put. You'll need to refinish the fiberglass then anyway and you won't want to spend that much money only to move. Plus, nobody knows what will be in style in 20 years anyway.

 

[Btimm]

Thanks for this great forum everyone! I've been researching and reading and still can't decide.
I've ruled out a concrete/gunite pool due to cost and time. This leaves me with vinyl or fiberglass. The cost between the two in my area is about $20,000 difference. My question is should I get a 20x40 vinyl pool? Or a 16x40 fiberglass pool for about $20,000 more?
It will primarily be used as a family pool with my kids friends coming over too. I doubt any dogs will be getting in the pool so not really worried about nails on vinyl. I understand the pros and cons. I think. Vinyl is easier to damage and will need to be replaced approximately every 8 to 12 years at a cost of four $5,000. I also understand this can be an opportunity to have a new looking pool every 10 years too. The most of the builders in my area do fiberglass and vinyl. They're recommending fiberglass because they say they are the" better" Cool and will look a lot nicer. We live in a relatively high-end neighborhood with mostly concrete pools. There's only one vinyl pool in their neighborhood and while it does look beautiful, I am concerned that if we ever go sell the house, people will think of it as a negative rather than a positive having a vinyl pool.

So, in a higher end neighborhood, but not wanting to spend the price and time on a concrete pool. Would you guys recommend a 20x40 vinyl pool? Or a 16x40 fiberglass pool?
Fiberglass pool downsides are $20,000 more and 4 ft less of width. But supposedly lower maintenance, longer longevity, and more of a high-end look compared to vinyl....


Please help. Thank you

Hi! I’m in Maryland and we have been getting different pool quotes. After research we originally planned to go vinyl. BUT for some reason in my area vinyl ends up being only about 9k less than a concrete/plaster pool. A Fiberglass pool with equipment is actually MORE expensive than a similar size concrete. So if in my area the vinyl pool was 20k less, that’s the route I’d go!
Unfortunately I’m very confused because I’m thinking we’re going to go concrete now and there seems to be a lot to learn and more maintenance Good luck!