As any woman in a clothing store will tell you, there's no such thing as "one size fits all." There are too many variables—the length, the fabric, the cut. The same "universal" shirt is too small on one person and too big on another.
When you're looking for an inground pool, there's no universal "best" pool type either.
Hold on... Shouldn't we at River Pools say that there is? We specialize in fiberglass pools, after all. Well, no.
Every person has different goals for their pool, different boundaries, and different families.
How big is your family, and how big might it get in the future?
All 3 pool types have pros and cons. Our goal is to help you evaluate those pros and cons so you can decide which one is the best inground pool for you and your family.
Which pool type has the least maintenance?
Concrete pools need a lot of help. Porous plaster both leaches alkalinity into the water and welcomes algae. Booo.
Many concrete pool owners hire a pool cleaning service to take care of the weekly upkeep.
Of course, you should always have a professional for acid washes and resurfacing. It's safer that way.
The liner is less porous and doesn't affect the water chemistry. However, algae can pop up in corners with no circulation.
The biggest maintenance issue is replacing the liner.
Fiberglass pool gelcoats are much less porous than plaster—smooth and algae-resistant!
The gelcoat doesn't affect the water chemistry, and (if made and maintained right) it should never need refinishing.
Which pool type has the easiest installation?
Concrete pools take the longest to build. At minimum, 3 months. Often longer.
And your yard is in chaos the whole time. There's often a lot of overspray, which creates a huge mess.
Vinyl liner pools take about 4–8 weeks to build.
That's a bit longer than fiberglass pools, but still much less than concrete pools.
The pool itself is full of water and swim-ready by day 2.
Which pool type is the most durable?
Real talk: the structure of a concrete pool will probably survive Armageddon.
The interior finish is sturdy too, but mortal.
Depending on the type of material (plaster, aggregate, or tile), you'll need to refinish the surface every 8–12 years. This usually includes replacing any waterline tile, too.
Salt chlorine generators also don't do well with plaster or aggregate surfaces. The salt in the water wears away at the plaster faster, meaning you have to resurface even sooner.
Vinyl liner pools are the least durable of the three types, by far.
Beware of leaks, especially with metal wall panels. They'll rust—all the way through, if it goes on long enough.
Polymer wall panels can become brittle and break.
Salt systems are extra bad for metal wall panels in leaking cases. However, the salt doesn't impact polymer wall panels.
The structure of a fiberglass pool stands up well to movement in the surrounding earth. Its natural flexibility lets it stay in place without cracking.
If properly manufactured and maintained, the gelcoat surface should never need to be refinished either.
Which pool type is the most attractive?
Concrete pools are the "classic" look. Even simple white plaster looks good if well maintained.
Of course, there's also the pool owners that go all out, like the Olympic-length pool or the full-on natural grotto aesthetic.
Basically, concrete pools only look bad when they're neglected.
Vinyl liner pools tend to look inexpensive. To be fair, that's because they are.
You can always upgrade! High-quality add-ons and surroundings can transform a liner pool.
Fiberglass pools look great with both simple and complex aesthetics.
Which pool type is the most customizable?
Concrete pools are crazy customizable.
You know those pools you've seen that are shaped like a guitar? Or a duck? Odds are good that they're concrete.
Vinyl liner pools can also be designed in custom shapes.
However, keep in mind that the liner has to be cut and fit to match that shape. That can make intricate shape detailing difficult.
Fiberglass pools are limited to the shapes and sizes of preexisting molds. They generally don't get bigger than 16 by 40 ft.
However, there are sooo many options out there. Tanning ledges, bench seats, deep ends...pretty much everyone can find a design they love.
And the sky is the limit with all the other aspects of the pool project—gelcoat color, patio, water features, accessories, waterline tile, and more.
You can check out our own designs to see examples of fiberglass pool models.
Which pool type costs the least?
For more details, check out our Inground Pool Cost Guide or our blog article How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost?
Which pool type has the best surface?
A plaster finish on a concrete pool is rough, especially on kids' skin. Many children have to wear swim shoes in a concrete pool.
Exposed aggregate isn't rough like plaster. However, it's bumpy, and walking on that can be uncomfortable too.
Tile is much smoother than plaster or exposed aggregate. The only potential issue is if a tile loosens or cracks. The sharp edge would hurt if you stepped on it.
Polished aggregate is the smoothest interior finish for a concrete pool. It's aggregate, but the bumpy exterior bits are shaved off, leaving a perfectly smooth surface.
Pool liners are smooth everywhere except the slight seam where one piece meets another. The bump there is noticeable but not sharp.
A fiberglass pool gelcoat is super smooth. Ask to feel a sample!
At River Pools we include anti-slip texture on our steps and seats. It isn't rough at all—just a slight texture to help you keep your balance.
What pool type fits me best?
With that in mind, if you're interested, you can check out our fiberglass pool designs.
Want to compare the pool types in more depth?
Check out our in-depth comparison of all 3 pool types.
Read our article comparing concrete and vinyl liner pools.
Considering vinyl liner vs. fiberglass pools? Read our article comparing the two.
You can also check out our comparison of fiberglass vs. concrete pools.
River Pools is based in Warsaw, VA (near Richmond). We specialize in fiberglass pools—not only have we installed them for years, but we manufacture our own. Why? We wanted to solve the issues we encountered in other companies' pool shells. We wanted to provide our customers the best experience possible.
When you get right down to it, that commitment to quality is just the River Pools Way.
With our best-practice techniques, you get the strongest, most durable fiberglass pool possible, and it needs the least maintenance possible.