WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY

Over view

A fiberglass pool could be one of the most expensive and the most permanent structure you will ever buy. The following information is intended to help you be more informed about your buying experience and expose some of the pit falls along the way.

All swimming pools are subject wear and tear from the effects of water, called “weathering”. Water is very aggressive. We wash and dissolve things in water. Moving water erodes mountains into valleys. Water with low p.h. can eat away at certain materials and fade colors. Water with high p.h. can leave deposits on pool finishes. When water freezes, it expands, and then contracts when it thaws. Repeated freeze thaw cycles can do serious damage to the things it comes in contact with. Look what happens to concrete roads and side walks. Pools made from materials other than fiberglass deteriorate more rapidly over time from the effects of “weathering”. This results in on going high maintenance costs.

Why buy fiberglass

Good quality fiberglass pools are unaffected by aggressive water. Fiberglass is often used to store acid and alkali materials. Because fiberglass does not degrade over time, some fiberglass pools that were installed 40 years ago are still in service. Because fiberglass is not porous, running water slides over its surface and does not wear it away. This smooth surface will not give dirt, algae spores and bacteria a place to hide. Fiberglass has the ability to flex during freeze thaw cycles without damage. Fiberglass pools resist all of the causes of “weathering”. This results in almost no on going maintenance costs. Water line tile on fiberglass pools is attached and grouted with silicone which also flexes during freeze thaw cycles. Silicone is non porous and will not degrade over time

The interior surface of a fiberglass pool, called “gel coat”, is made from basically the same marine grade resin that the pool is made from. It is a very high quality resin with special additives, pigments and u.v. inhibitors to improve its performance. It must be noted, that some gel coat pigments are more subject to “weathering”, and will loose their color. Clear gel coat can become cloudy or turn yellow in time. White and tan colors are the most stable and least susceptible to color loss. Even if there is fading or color loss, a high quality marine grade gel coat can be expected to last indefinitely when proper water chemistry is maintained.
It is interesting to note the reason why pool water is blue. When the water chemistry is balanced all the colors of the color spectrum are absorbed into the water except blue which is reflected back. A colored gel coat will affect the natural beauty of the blue color that you see in a white or light tan pool. Recently, gel coat finishes with the look of marble or granite in various shades of color have become popular. This look is accomplished by different methods. Some manufacturers use multiple layers of gel coat while others use one layer with the granite look built in. these finishes come at a premium price, and some pool manufacturers require that the buyer sign a waiver releasing them from responsibility if the finish fades or discolors. Some material suppliers have shown that there products are color stable when applied properly and assuming the buyer maintains the proper water chemistry. The surface of all gel coat will degrade in time, the question is how much time??? Please keep this in mind when choosing your pool finish.

Fiberglass pools are built in a factory with controlled conditions to assure consistency and quality. Because fiberglass pools are made on a mold that is very expensive to build, designs and shapes may be limited. The down side of a fiberglass pool is its tendency to attract metals and minerals to the Gel coat surface. This can result in a discoloration that will not brush off or rub off. Fortunately, if this type discoloration is contended with early, it can be removed with metal removing chemicals, available at most pool stores, without having to drain the pool.

The manufacturer

There are several well known fiberglass pool manufacturers that service the whole U.S.: Hawaiian/Aloha, Viking, San Juan, Sun, Blue Hawaiian, Royal, Trilogy, Allaglass, Barrier Reef and Leisure Pools (because the industry is growing rapidly, this list may not be up to date). Each of these manufacturers makes high quality pools. There are other smaller fiberglass pool manufacturers, often referred to as regional manufacturers because their market area is limited in size. All these manufacturers have websites you can browse. It is always best to ask manufacturers for several references before deciding on the one you want. I strongly recommend that you contact the better business bureau and any other business reporting agency for references.

The contractor

Take your time and check out the contractors that you are considering to install your pool. Good contractors are happy to have their potential customers check them out. They know that if you do your home work, you will be in a position to compare their services with other reputable contractors. Do not make the mistake of assuming that all contractors are the same. If a contractors price is to low, he may not be their if you need him for future service. If the quality of his work is in question, you may end up with an inferior job. Once a fiberglass pool is in the ground and the deck has been poured, it is cost prohibitive to resolve major problems. I can not over emphasize the importance of checking out your contractor. Call the Better Business Bureau. Contact the local A.P.S.P. chapter (Association of Pool & Spa Professionals) www.apsp.org. Check with the city and or county permit office. Ask the contractor for references, and then check the references out.

Warranties

Do not accept a verbal warranty statement such as “don’t worry, this pool has a lifetime warranty”. Some pool manufacturers may have a lifetime structural warranty, but I assure you that it is extremely limited. Get a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty, and make sure you understand all the terms and conditions. Most of the damage that occurs on a fiberglass pool results from shipping incidents or improper installations. This type of damage is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The gel coat finish on a fiberglass pool is considered by most manufacturers to be a cosmetic finish and not part of the pool structure. There is usually a separate manufacturer’s warranty for the gel coat finish.

Fiberglass pool manufacturers sell their pool shells to dealers or contractors. There is no legal relationship between the dealer and the contractor. No manufacturer warrants the pools installation and will not cover the costs to repair the damages which result from improper installations. The exception to this rule is that some manufacturers may have their own crews to install the pools they make.

The contractor has a separate warranty which he furnishes to cover the pool installation and materials. Some states require the contractor to warrant his workmanship and material for one year. Again, read the warranty, do not accept a verbal statement.

The more informed you are about the subject of fiberglass pools the easier it will be for you to make the right decisions. Before you sign an agreement to have your pool installed, make sure that it contains the information in the following check list.

BEFORE YOU BUY CHECK LIST

• Do you have a written agreement listing every thing that the contractor is to do along with an itemized list of the equipment and supplies that he is to furnish?
• Do you have a complete listing of the terms and conditions of the agreement to be signed by the contractor and yourself?
• Do you have a copy of the manufacturers and contractors warranty?
• Do you have a copy of the contractor’s liability and workman’s compensation insurance?
• Is concrete or wood deck work part of the agreement? If so, be sure that the total area or dimensions of the deck to be furnished are listed in the agreement.
• Do you have a start of construction date and an estimated completion date included in your agreement? Pending weather delays and circumstances beyond the contractor’s control, the average time to install a fiberglass pool including concrete decking should not exceed three weeks. Complex installations such as raised spas, water falls, raised deck areas, etc. will increase the working time.
• Has the contractor furnished you with a scale drawing of the pool that shows its correct location on your property? Some Fiberglass pool manufacturers furnish the contractor with plastic pool templates that represent the shape and size of the pool you select. This template can be rolled out in your yard at the desired location. The contractor can then paint a line along the outer edge of the template to determine the excavation line. This option can be used in place of a scale drawing.
• Are there any under ground utilities in the pool area (septic tank, electric, phone, etc.)? If so they must be located and moved prior to beginning the pool installation
• A progressive pay schedule is normal when installing a fiberglass pool. A suggested pay schedule might be 10% at the signing of the agreement, 40% at the time the pool is delivered (the pool excavation should be complete), 40% at completion of the deck work (at this time the electrical work should be complete, and the pool equipment and plumbing work should be complete), 10% at the jobs completion. At this time the yard should be free of debris and graded well enough to replace grass. All excess dirt should be removed and the pool should be fully functional. This guide line may have exceptions depending on the complexities of the job and unusual circumstances. It is important however to always keep your payments even with the level of the works progress.

NOTES:

1. Contractors do not normally replace fence sections when removed for yard entry
2. Contractors do not normally replace damaged grass
3. Be sure to note in the agreement as to whether the soil from the excavation is to be removed or left on site.
4. Large equipment and huge amounts of excavated soil create a bomb blast effect in your back yard. Be prepared for the devastation.
5. The contractor does not know what under ground obstruction (rock, water, mushy soil, etc) that he may encounter when excavating the pool. Because of that, he may have a clause in his agreement that requires you to pay for the increased amount to have the problem resolved. If this becomes an issue, you can have a geological survey done (very expensive) or ask the contractor to dig a test hole (not so expensive) to determine whether an obstruction exists and if it is cost effective to continue with the pool project.
6. If access to your back yard requires using a portion of your neighbors or public property, be sure you or your contractor gets written permission for the right to use the property for access. Be very specific about who pays for the repairs if the property is damaged.
7. Make every effort to eliminate your drive way as an access to the work site. A loaded dump truck could weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Your drive way was probably not designed to carry that kind of load. If the drive must be used, determine who will pay for the damage (it could be extensive) and list that information in the agreement.
8. Up to 25,000 gallons of water will be required to fill your pool. Where will it come from? If you have a well, will it be able to supply that much water with out running dry, and is it loaded with iron? If water becomes an issue, be sure to determine who supplies it, and who pays for it, and then include that information in the agreement.
9. Permits for installing a fiberglass pool are usually required by the city or county that you live in. You can check with the city or county to see if one is required. If your contractor asks you to get the required permits, it may be because he is not licensed to install pools in that jurisdiction.?.?
10. If your contractor does not pay his sub contractors or suppliers for work or material used on your job, in some states, you may become legally responsible for payment. To protect yourself, check with your attorney or local building officials for the regulations regarding this matter.

Summary

There is a lot of information here to absorb. The task may seem daunting, but a little extra effort before you buy may make the results well worth it. Having said this, it must be stated that the vast majority of people who have purchased a fiberglass pool, did so with very little problems and are enjoying their swimming pool experience. If you would like more information about fiberglass pools, click on the topic of interest.