Fiberglass Swimming Pools: Production, Price, and Additional Information

You’re all set to purchase your very own in-ground pool now. We are ecstatic for you since it’s likely that you have been fantasizing about this for years.

We at River Pools are experts in fiberglass pools, and we are aware of the thrill that comes with purchasing one. We actually believe that’s how things should be.

We never want customers selecting, purchasing, and installing a swimming pool to feel stressed out or frustrated in any way. However, the research stage normally happens before any of that.

This stage usually entails learning about the many types of pools available, how they are constructed, how much upkeep they will need, and some of your alternatives for a pool builder.

We decided to create this beginner’s guide to inground fiberglass swimming pools to help you learn as much as possible up front. If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below. You may also get in touch with us at any time to discuss your inquiries and get a quote.

Let’s begin by defining a fiberglass pool precisely.

A Fiberglass Pool: What Is It?

In order to respond to the question, “What is a fiberglass pool?” first, we should Fiberglass: what is it?
Fiberglass fiber combined with plastic is called fiberglass. Layers of polyester resin and microscopic glass fibers combine to create a strong, lightweight, and flexible material that is ideal for creating inground pool shells (as well as boats, airplanes, vehicles, etc.).

This material comes in several forms and is used to make fiberglass pools. In the part that follows, we’ll go into further depth about how your fiberglass pool is constructed. To alleviate your mind, fiberglass pools are not poisonous.

How Are Pools Made of Fiberglass?

Since we have already discussed the construction of fiberglass pools, we will keep this section brief and focus on the essentials. These are the main phases in the production of fiberglass pools that you should be aware of:

1. A mold is where it all begins. The pool’s design, also known as the plug, is handcrafted from scratch using wood. The mold is constructed inside the pattern once the wooden frame is constructed and the pool form is established. Hundreds of identical fiberglass swimming pools with the same dimensions and characteristics may be produced using the same mold. Note: To ensure that every swimming pool is level, it is crucial that the mold be constructed accurate and level.

2. The first step in creating a fiberglass swimming pool shell from a mold is to spray the gelcoat layer on the mold’s outside. The pool’s smooth surface—which you can see and touch—is called gelcoat.

3. A barrier coat made of vinyl ester resin is then applied. Unlike polyester resin, vinyl ester resin forms a waterproof barrier that keeps the gelcoat from developing bubbles, also known as osmotic blisters, which are a typical issue with fiberglass pools. To find out more, read about the most common issues with fiberglass pools and how to fix them.

4. Polyester resin and chopped fiberglass are used in the following layer. Traditional polyester resin is used to complete the remaining portion of the pool shell because just one coat of vinyl ester resin is required to make the pool waterproof. In order to provide even more strength, structural honeycomb fiberglass is put in key locations and woven roving, or woven glass fibers, is also coated onto the pool’s stress points.

5. Lastly, before the pool dries, a final coat of fiberglass with polyester resin is sprayed on, and it is taken out of the mold, the extra fiberglass is cut off the edges, and a quality check is conducted.

Because the manufacturing phase of the pool building process is so crucial, we created an eight-part video series to walk you through every step. We strongly advise you to watch this series if you are really contemplating installing a fiberglass pool in your house. That way, regardless of the manufacturer you choose, you will at least be familiar with what superior production looks like.