Choosing between concrete and fibreglass pools for a backyard can be tricky. Both will provide hours of fun, but they differ with respect to designs, installation, and upkeep. Here's a comparison to help you weigh up which may work best for you.

Installation

A concrete pool is made by excavating the backyard to create a hole, and after various steps, the concrete is poured around the contours. Because the pool is built from scratch, it can be made into any shape or size you desire. Thus, you can create a unique pool that harmonises with your house and garden. You can also line the pool with pebbles or tiles, which will affect the colour of the pool water.

On the other hand, a fibreglass pool is pre-made in a factory and lowered into the hole in the backyard. While these pools come in various shapes, they're not customisable like concrete ones. However, you will have choices in the most popular styles, including ledges and other features. Installing a fibreglass pool is faster and typically more economical, as you can skip the phases of concrete mixing, pouring, and curing.

Landscaping

With respect to landscaping, concrete and fibreglass pools allow you to fully customise the surroundings. While a fibreglass pool has a predetermined shape and size, you can pave the decking with complete freedom. As with a concrete pool, you can opt for stone, brick, concrete, or timber decking and build it to integrate the pool with your backyard. With both types of pools, you'll need to construct a pool fence compliant with regulations.

Durability

Both fibreglass and concrete pools are solid and durable. However, a benefit of a fibreglass pool is that it forms a continuous shell that can adapt if the soil is slightly unstable or the area experiences a minor earthquake. In the same scenario, a concrete pool may crack and require extensive repairs.

Maintenance

Fibreglass pools are usually easier to look after when it comes to maintenance. They have a non-porous gel coating that inhibits the growth of mould and mildew, and they require fewer chemicals for maintaining the pool and water. Additionally, concrete pools are sometimes colder than fibreglass pools, which are naturally somewhat insulating. Thus, you could spend more on heating a concrete pool.

Time Taken

Both fibreglass and concrete pools are excellent options for a backyard pool, though concrete offers more customisation because of how these pools are built. However, this process is also lengthy, and once you decide to have a pool, you can get a fibreglass model faster. A pool builder can give you further advice.