Fiberglass Pool Resurfacing

Should you go with fiberglass pool coating instead of plaster?

If you have been a pool owner for very long, you have heard all the claims for many different types of pool coatings including fiberglass pool surfacing.  There are several factors that you should consider before taking the plunge and signing a pool resurfacing contract.

1.  Is it truly a superior surface?  Why don't builders use it?

Pool builders are always looking for a competitive advantage.  If fiberglass surfacing on pools offered a great advantage, the cutting-edge builders would be using it.  To our knowledge, we do not know of any POOL BUILDERS who use the fiberglass process on their new pools. 

Claims of superiority are also made for many other expensive pool resurfacing products.  To be sure, they are beautiful, but the truth is that plain white plaster is a very durable and beautiful surface and it is less than half the cost of some of these other surfaces.

2.  Can you really trust a 15 or 25 year warranty?  What about the fine print?

How many products do you know that are warranteed for 25 years?  Hmmm . . . not many.  Long warranties are used in many industries as a marketing tool and they are not necessarily indicative of the quality of the product.  Remember the K-Cars of the 1980's with their 100,000 mile warranties?

Read the fine print of the warranty very carefully, whether it be for a plaster type surface or a fiberglass surfacing solution.  Contracts will often boast a very generous warranty in bold print and then take it all back with a blizzard of fine print. 

3.  What if you don't like the way it turns out?

The decision to fiberglass a pool is pretty much a one-way street.  Suppose you have problems with the surface or you just plain don't like it?  At that point, it does not matter if it is under warranty or not.  Either way, you have a problem.  Getting the fiberglass back off is one tough and expensive job.

The benefit of using a traditional plaster surface is that if you don't like it, you can change to a different surface.  There a number of very nice plaster or natural aggregate surface options for pools. 

Which surface should you choose?  That is really your decision to make, but do careful research, consider all your options and make an informed decision. 

Choose a well-known reliable contractor and be at least slightly wary of unrealistic warranties and "too good to be true" promises, no matter who they come from.

Call us at 214-349-6100 or email us at info@tropixpools.com