Fiberglass swimming pools are a low cost, low maintenance alternative for inground pools as they are easy to clean and less vulnerable to natural wear and deterioration. For one, they cut down on the expense of swimming pool cleaning chemicals as the coating sprayed on the fiberglass is mold and algae resistant. This alone will also cut down on the time it takes to clean most fiberglass swimming pools. This coating also eliminates the costly need for a swimming pool liner. Since they are premade, installation is much easier and faster than concrete and overtime you won't have to worry about the cracks and fractures that concrete often suffers from. They are more durable than vinyl, which tends to rip and be costly to repair.

With all of the outstanding qualities of a fiberglass swimming pool, it does have some disadvantages and concerns that come along with it. Probably the biggest factor that deters more people from purchasing one is the cost. It is more expensive than laying a concrete pool. The designs are usually premade so you may be required to excavate land in order to adjust them to the contour of your backyard. In the same vein, if your property is on a water table or a marshy area you run the risk of your fiberglass pool floating out of the supporting ground during a flood or oversaturation of the land. Because it needs ground to support it you will only find fiberglass inground swimming pools available. They are not made for above ground pools.

Depending on the size of the pool you want, you can perform your own fiberglass swimming pool installation. There are many fiberglass swimming pool kits you can choose from. You don't want to overdo it with size. Leave enough room in the area to move around it comfortably. Find a spot that gets plenty of sunlight too. Once you have these details worked out you can begin excavation. Again, the size will determine how much excavating it will take. Most pools are one level so it shouldn't require but so much. Be sure to check with local utilities for any possible underground power or sewer lines. Expect this to take most of a day to complete. Afterwards you will use a piece of string to get the pool plumb to set the grade with the sand and gravel for support.

A truck will deliver your pool. All you need to do is guide it into the supporting hole. The crane rental usually has a three hour minimum but you should be able to get the pool set and leveled by then. Once set, put in the backfill. You want to start filling the pool at this time too, keeping the water level above the backfill line by at least a foot to keep the shape of the pool. Never drain your pool or you risk it collapsing. Finally you will need to grade out the land surrounding the pool so that the pool stands on a crest. This allows water to drain away from the pool area and will help keep your pool from coming up in a flood type scenario. You should wait about two weeks for the pool to settle before pouring the deck. Feel free to swim in the meantime.

For your protection and probably your sanity it is recommended to have this project done by a professional.

Cleaning is really simple and you never have to drain your pool to do it. In fact it is a very bad idea to drain your pool because the pressure of the surrounding ground can cause your pool to fracture and even collapse. If you develop a ring around your pool use some basic swimming pool tile cleaner, nothing abrasive as you will damage the gel coat. You will get some natural hair line cracks but that is normal and happens mostly to the gel coat itself. The gel coating is up to eight times thicker than a coat of paint so any scratches or cracks can be superficial and will not upset the pool's structural integrity. However fiberglass swimming pool repair is simple if you need to fix a cracked surface. Contact the dealer you bought the pool from for more specifics. Any dirt in the pool can be vacuumed out or pushed toward the filter drain as long as it isn't a heavy deposit. That's about all there is to it for maintenance.

Now what's all this going to cost you? Well, fiberglass swimming pool prices can vary significantly but overall including installation you can expect to pay from $12,000 up to $30,000 for a self-install. This is the cheapest route by far. If you have a professional company do all the work for you, your fiberglass swimming pool cost can reach up to $75,000. That is a fair cap which includes decking and filtering system, fencing and any electrical work that is needed. It is a total package price so to speak.

If you want to see what goes into pool installation from A to Z, check out the ten minute video below. It covers the twenty six days it took to install, which is standard for fiberglass swimming pools