Fibreglass vs concrete pool

We had our latest concrete pool painted in the darkest blue we could get (without looking black) - warmed up beautifully and didn't need to connect the solar heating after all.

Sadly, don't live there anymore and are now stuck with a 1970's fibreglass pool that is still in okay condition

 

I am jealous, very nice

 

We went fibreglass because we have fairly reactive clay soils and did not want to deal with concrete cracking. That, and the speed of installation.

 

My folks have a small concrete pool (in Perth). Its probably about 8m by 3m but an odd kind of kidney shape. And its fairly deep. The 'shallow' end is probably about 1.5m the deep end is about 2.2m.
It also gets a lot of shade.

It is freezing. Even in summer jumping in will take your breath away. My folks can probably only use it for about 4months a year, and even then they 'jump in-jump out'. There certainly isnt any sitting in the pool going on. Beyond 5mins and you are shivering - regardless of the outside temp.

They should get a heating system for it, but dont want to spend the $$.

Blacky

 

That's very nice, great view as well.

 

that's my concern, we wont use it if its too cold and will end up having to pay additional costs for heating which is not ideal.

 

Are you going to add solar heating? Maybe plus a heat pump if you have the solar panel

 

I thought I could get away with a heat pump??

 

What did the pool provider said? (I'm not an expert)
All my quotes came with solar heating as it is the most energy efficient (I think)

 

still to look at pool suppliers, however my niece who recently installed pool said this is all I need

I will post more when I find out more info

 

I think if water temperature is a concern then keeping the pool fairly shallow is important and maximizing sunlight hours will help.
My pool is 2.5m deep at one end, I wouldn't do this in a colder climate or one with a longer winter.

 

So am I - since we don't live there anymore ... we renovated this pool from billabong green with red terracotta tiles surrounds (very 80's) to super modern ... finished 3 weeks before we sold (sniff sob)

 

would have been hard to leave this, beautiful view.

 

Done this pretty much every day for the last few months!

 

I've had a bit of a look lately, apparently the concrete ones cost more, some people pay around $100k.
Fibreglass can be around $40k with fence, pumps, landscaping etc...

 

Best thing for heating is a pool cover. We also have an electric heat pump which is too slow and noisy. I would goes gas next time.

Swimming when the heater is at 33 degrees is wonderful.

 

Isn't that a spa temperature? I told hubby I want the pool at 30 degrees and he said it would be too hot to swim in

 

Exactly already worked this one out. They actually work

 

This is 33 at the heat pump, by the time it flows through the pipes back to the pool I would say you probably loose 6-8 degrees.

 

Pebblecrete (?)....

Excuse my possibly incorrect terminology and I think it's out of fashion. The uneven surface promotes algae and black spot.

I think it's called Pebblecrete. It's a mixture of small coloured pebbles mixed with cement and applied to a concrete pool (possibly fibre glass or wood(lol)?) to create a slightly rough, riverbed look. Different colours will change the colour of the pool. So by changing the ratio of green, red, blue, purple, fluoro white or beige you can create any colour you want. So if you wanted slightly green, but mostly aqua blue with a tinge of purple you'd have x%green, y% blue etc of the pebbles.

Over the years the pebbles come away. It would seem they don't come away consistently. My parents pool, has in the last 18yrs gone from a great colour to a green swap colour.

I wouldn't recommend it. I also wouldn't recommend slate unless it is always underwater.