Concrete vs fiberglass at a glance
Both end up as an in-ground pool with a pump, a filter and a deck around it. What changes is how the shell gets into your yard and what it asks of you over the next few decades.
| Concrete (gunite or shotcrete) | Fiberglass | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is built | Steel cage in the hole, concrete shot over it on site | One molded shell made in a plant, trucked in and set |
| Shape | Any outline the lot allows, with sun shelf, attached spa or raised wall | Only the molds the factory offers |
| Widest shell | No set limit | About 16 ft, a road transport limit |
| Lifespan with upkeep | Structure 50+ years; new plaster about every 10 to 15 years | 25+ years |
| Upkeep | Highest of the pool types, with an acid wash every 3 to 5 years | Lowest of the pool types |
| Cost to build | The higher of the two in national guides | Usually lower, though in Florida the gap can be small |
| Time in the yard | Months, including a 28-day cure | Shell set in a day or two, then deck and start-up |
Gunite and shotcrete are both concrete
Gunite and shotcrete are both concrete, placed dry or wet through a hose, and a trained crew gets a solid shell either way. How we choose between them is on our page about gunite and shotcrete pool construction.
Why Florida builds mostly in concrete
Florida has long been a concrete pool state, and the reasons are practical. We get no hard freezes here to crack a shell through the winter. Crews that shoot concrete are easy to find, which in some cases puts a concrete pool at or near the price of a fiberglass one. And since the shell is formed right in the hole, it can follow a narrow lot, step up into a raised spa wall or run a long lap lane down the side yard.
Where fiberglass fits
Fiberglass suits a plain rectangle or a factory shape that already matches the yard. Its gel surface needs the least upkeep of any pool type. The tradeoffs come with the mold. You choose from what the plant makes, widths stop near 16 ft, and a sun shelf or bench only exists when the mold has one. The gelcoat also can't be sprayed again in the backyard years later, the way a concrete pool gets fresh plaster.
Vinyl liner pools
Vinyl liner pools cost the least to put in, and the wear item is the liner itself. Plan on a new one roughly every 5 to 10 years, while the wall panels behind it last much longer. Salt needs care in these pools: with metal walls, a liner that leaks lets salty water reach the steel.
Build price and upkeep: concrete, fiberglass and vinyl
National guides rank concrete as the priciest of the three to install, with vinyl the cheapest on day one, and our pool cost breakdown lists the dollar ranges for each. We build concrete pools, and our price is $230 per sq ft of water surface, the same for gunite or shotcrete. It takes the job from design and permits through start-up, and the breakdown lists each line it includes. Over the life of the pool the order shifts: concrete costs the most to keep up and fiberglass the least, with vinyl in between once you count liner swaps.
Which one suits your lot
Start with the survey and with how you plan to use the water.
- A narrow or oddly shaped lot, where setbacks squeeze the pool, points to concrete because the shell follows the plan.
- Kids who want a sun shelf to splash on, plus a spa for the adults, also points to concrete.
- A small rectangle with the lowest upkeep may work in fiberglass, when a factory mold fits the space.
- The lowest cost to get started, with liner swaps accepted later, points to vinyl.
- Timing matters too: a concrete pool spends weeks curing, and our stage-by-stage build timeline shows where that time goes.
Frequently asked questions
Is gunite or fiberglass better for a Florida backyard?
Neither wins everywhere. Concrete gives you any shape and width, which is why Florida has long built mostly in concrete, while fiberglass trades shape for lower upkeep and stops near 16 ft wide.
Which pool type lasts longest and costs least to maintain?
A concrete structure can pass 50 years with care, though it needs new plaster every 10 to 15 years. Fiberglass usually runs 25 years or more and has the lowest upkeep of the three types.
Can fiberglass go in where the water table is high?
Any dig in South Florida can hit groundwater, so water control is planned on the lot before work starts. How a given shell behaves on a wet lot depends on that site, and our guide to digging a pool below a high water table explains the pumps and permits involved.
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