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September 6th, 2009
2 min read
I've been talking quite a bit about this subject lately, but because there are still so many misconceptions out there regarding fiberglass pools and how they look, I feel it necessary to further address the "bathtub" phenomenon.
You see, when fiberglass pools came of age about 40 years ago, they had some major drawbacks for various reasons.
In fact, when it came to their structures (poor choices of resins used) and their aesthetics (white shells), they were quite a flawed product. Luckily though, fiberglass pools have advanced light-years in the past 40 years, but notwithstanding, there is still the occasional perception by some consumers that they have a bathtub-like appearance.
In order to address this "bathtub" concern, I've listed here the five keys to ensuring that your fiberglass pool looks beautiful, permanent, and aesthetically dynamic—enough so to rival the best concrete pool available on the market today.
With 2020 coming to a close, every fiberglass pool manufacturer in the industry (Sun, Latham, Leisure, Aloha, etc.) is now offering colored surfaces (typically deep blues) on their pools...finally! Although some of these colored finishes are better than others in terms of quality (as we've discussed in detail in other blogs), they still give the pool a much more pleasing aesthetic appearance than a plain white or cloud blue surface color.
The old method of pouring concrete decking around a fiberglass pool was to pour the concrete up to the fiberglass lip, versus on top of the fiberglass lip. Pouring concrete up to the lip left a 6 inch strip of fiberglass around the top edge of the patio, giving the pool a very modular and temporary appearance.
Cantilevered concrete is also the most structurally sound way of building a fiberglass swimming pool because it acts as a structural bond beam around the pool, locking the shell in place and completely integrating it with the decking.
Although waterline tile isn't a functional requisite on a fiberglass pool, many people do feel that an inground pool just isn't an inground pool without this tile highlighting the water's edge. My general recommendation to pool shoppers is that waterline tile becomes more necessary the lighter the pool's surface.
For example, if someone chooses a white fiberglass pool, waterline tile is an aesthetic imperative. On the other hand, if someone goes with a very deep blue or black pool surface, tile becomes much less important.
Inlay tile in a fiberglass pool's steps and seats is a great way to add character to the pool and also give it quite the "custom" appearance. Beyond this aesthetic enhancement though, inlay tiles in steps and seats also serve a functional purpose, highlighting clearly for swimmers the different entry and exit points of the pool.
Although water features really have very little to do with a fiberglass pool's surface, they still give off a custom, classy, and permanent feel to the swimming pool.
If you can think of any more ideas to share with your fellow pool enthusiasts, just add them to the comment section below and as always, happy swimming!
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At River Pools, we manufacture high-quality fiberglass pools for customers across North America. If you're interested in getting a beautiful and customizable fiberglass pool for your home, you can browse our pool models, try our pool cost calculator, or request pricing and information using the button below!
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River Pools® manufactures fiberglass pool shells and does not install pools. Pools are installed by locally owned and operated dealers and franchisees. The relationship between the dealers and franchisees to River Pools® is that of an independent contractor. River Pools Franchising LLC (Franchising) provides independently owned and operated River Pool franchisees with the right to market the River Pools brand of pool shells as a franchisee. Franchising does not manufacture pool shells. Due to the unprecedented and historic growth of the River Pools brand, this website contains an abundance of information that has been created over the last decade. Some of the content on this site may reflect prices, perspectives, processes, entities, and names that were relevant at the time but may not be as relevant today.
Consumers should consult their local installer (independent dealer or franchisee) for the most accurate and updated information based on the unique conditions of their property. Consumers should verify specifications with the installing dealer rather than relying on the information on this website, which is not intended to be a final specification.