Gunite or fibreglass, which one is better? One of the most asked questions by prospective pool owners is when making a decision on which pool to build: “Which is better, fibreglass or gunite (concrete)?”
If the customer asks this question in front of enough pool ‘professionals’, they’ll get a barrage of answers. All different, for several reasons.
When you ask a pool salesman who sells fibreglass shells: which type of pool is better, he’ll swear that the best thing you can do is invest in a fibreglass pool.
Should you ask a pool builder who builds gunite pools: the best swimming pool to buy, he’ll tell you some horror stories. How fibreglass shells have crumbled, cracked and popped out of the ground.
He’ll tell you how once you’ve installed the pool and the gelcote starts to blister, you will never get the pool company back to sort out the product failure.
If you had to ask an expert in the field of the built environment, architects or engineers, I’m sure they’ll say build a gunite pool. It’s more substantial and solid!
These experts would insist on making sure that the specifications align with those of the NSPI’s (National Spa and Pool Institute) and South African Pool and Spa Association.
Use the correct size steel at the right centres…etc. The keyword being: Reputable swimming pool company in Durban. They certainly have a vested interest in making sure that their reputation remains intact.
The best of both.
Many professional swimming pool builders will argue that the best type of pool is, in fact, a gunite pool that has been fibreglass lined—also known as “The best of both”.
It combines the advantages of both options:
Gunite advantages:
- Customisable to shape and depth
- Considered to be stronger, structurally
- You can resurface it many times as it gets older
- You can change the scum-line tiles to a modern looking tile years down the line.
Fibreglass advantages:
- Low maintenance
- Algae cannot grow on it easily
- It doesn’t pitt or get rough patches for years
- It’s resilient to harsh chemical conditions
- Stains get removed easily from the surface
- Lower chemical consumption
Here is an example of a swimming pool we built in Umhlanga, Durban. It is a gunite pool that has been fibreglass lined.
Gunite pool with Fibreglass Lining
If there was to be a correct answer to the question: “Which is better, a Fibreglass pool or a gunite (concrete) pool?” The winning answer would be: Whichever is better suited to your yard and pocket, as long as it’s a swimming pool built by a reputable pool company in Durban.
Related: From Gunite Pool to Fibreglass Shell
