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Why A Fiberglass Swimming Pool? BENEFITS OF FIBERGLASS:

  • Smooth Satin Finish
  • Permanent home improvements
  • Requires Less Chemicals
  • Factory Controlled Quality
  • Energy Savings
  • No Skin Abrasions
  • Proven Product
  • Quick Installation
  • 17 Times Stronger than Concrete
  • Less Maintenance
  • 15 years experience
  • Vacation at home

COMPARISON OF POOL TYPES IN MA, NH, RI AND CT

Fiberglass Pools

Concrete (Gunite) Pools

Vinyl Liner Pools

Warranty

Lifetime by the Manufacturer

1-5 years by contractor

Liner seams only

Installation
Time

5-13 days, ready for decking using few (if any) subcontractors.

8-12 weeks using many different subcontractors.

2-3 weeks using few subcontractors.

Shapes of
Pools

Limited to the models of the manufacturer.

Unlimited.

Limited to the models of the manufacturer.

Price of
Pools

Average.

Average.

Less expensive.


Chemical Usage

Surface does not alter water's chemical balance. Substantially fewer chemicals used.

Plaster reacts with water to raise pH levels. Uses substantially more acid & chlorine to counterbalance this chemical reaction.

Surface does not alter waters' chemical balance. Substantially fewer chemicals used.

Electricity Usage

Circulate Water 4-6 hours daily.

Circulate Water 8-10 hours daily.

Circulate Water 5-7 hours daily.

Surface Texture

Smooth, non-abrasive to skin or swim suits, walking and seating areas are textured for slip resistance.

Rough, causes skin abrasions to feet, hands and swim wear.

Slippery, easily punctured or torn by toys, pets, or surfacing rocks.

Algae Penetration

Algae sweeps off with wall brush.

Algae grows and is harbored in pores of gunite. Acid baths and scrubbing required to remove algae.

Seams of liner harbor algae.

Maintenance TIme

1/2 hour per week maximum

4-5 hours per week

2-3 hours per week

Major Renovation

None

Re-marcite or re-plaster at 5-7 years

EXAMPLE

Vinyl Liner needs to be replaced every 7- 9 years.

Stairs/Seating

Built into pool shell

Optional & Additional Cost.

Optional & Additional Cost.

Quality Control

Manufactured in environmentally controlled factory under stringent quality control standards.

Manufactured on-site. No environmental control.

Kit manufactured in factory. Quality of on-site assembly varies by installer.

Type of Coping

Fiberglass or concrete

Concrete

Aluminum (which easily corrodes)

Loan Acceptance

Excellent

Good

Fair

COMPARISON OF POOL TYPES IN MA, NH, RI AND CT

Once you have decided to purchase a pool, it is important to make the right decision as to what type of pool is right for you. It is just as important to select a manufacturer that produces a quality pool and stands behind their product.

There are three different types of pools-vinyl liner, gunite, and fiberglass. To decide which is best for you, you must first understand the pros and cons of each.

Vinyl Liner Pools
With a vinyl liner pool you will have a low initial cost, but over time, owning a vinyl liner pool can be extremely expensive. A vinyl liner pool is merely a temporary pool, not meant to last a lifetime. Liners will periodically need to be replaced and are highly prone to punctures, rips, and tears.

Gunite Pools
Gunite pools can be a permanent home improvement but are very costly to maintain. Although the design, or shape, of the pool is limited only by your imagination, the colors and features available with a gunite pool are very limited. It usually takes 4-8 weeks or more for subleased contractors to complete a gunite pool. Gunite pools require acid washing and need to be re-plastered from time to time. Because the surface is rough and abrasive, gunite pools are prone to be inhabited by algae and other microscopic bacteria. In addition to staining and discoloration, it is also very common for the concrete to show through the pools etching (edge). Gunite pools are also prone to crack in freeze/thaw climates. Along with monthly pool service, gunite pools require excessive amounts of chemicals and electricity for proper maintenance.

Fiberglass Pools
Although there are various styles and sizes available, fiberglass pools have limited shape and size limitations. Fiberglass pools are a permanent home improvement and can be installed in a few days. Fiberglass pools require less chemicals and maintenance than gunite and vinyl liner pools, and also use less energy. Due to the smooth finish of a fiberglass pool, there is no need to worry about skin abrasions. Fiberglass is the strongest type of pool available; it is 17 times stronger than concrete.

However, not all fiberglass pool manufacturers are the same. It is important to understand the benefits of a Viking pool and why Viking Pools is your best choice for a fiberglass pool.

Viking Pools has over 30 years of experience building quality fiberglass pools that are built to last a lifetime. Viking's pools are built using 21st Century technology and they are so confident in the quality of their pools, that they come complete with a lifetime structural warranty and a 7-year surface warranty. Viking's pools are 33% thicker than other fiberglass pools and monitored by a comprehensive quality assurance program. Vikings's Vinyl Ester Resin formula means that your pool will have unsurpassed blister protection. Your safety is a concern at Viking Pools; our pools have textured steps and bottom and a convenience ledge in deep pools. Viking also offers more options than other fiberglass pool manufacturers including Crystite finishes, inlaid tile, perimeter tile, custom mosaics, cascades, perimeter fiber optic lighting, and in-floor cleaning systems.

Viking Pool Advantage

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logoViking Pools manufactures an impeccable product with unsurpassed service and a lifetime warranty. In addition to various pool styles and sizes, Viking offers more options than any other pool manufacturer with features like perimeter tile, inlaid tile, tile mosaics, Crystite pool finishes, built-in water features like cascades and streams, fiber optic lighting, and in-floor cleaning systems to provide you with a superior pool that compliments your home and your lifestyle. Viking makes owning a pool a lifetime of pleasure and enjoyment.

Four-Layer Construction and Ceramic Core Means Superior Strengthpool design Viking Pools manufactures a superior product that is unlike any other pool in the world. Viking combines premium raw materials and a unique four-stage manufacturing process, known as A.C.P.(Advanced Composite Pool), to crate a pool of unsurpassed appearance and performance. With over two decades of research, development, and innovation, Viking builds a pool that leads the industry well into the 21st century.

Viking's state-of-the-art four-layer construction begins with durable, high-polished material. The primary application of Gel Coat or Viking's unique Crystite is applied to give the pool a gorgeous, non-porous finish. This smooth finish is non-abrasive to the skin and swimwear and is more resistant to algae than other types of pools. Viking's non-porous finish resists the problems associated with unbalanced water chemistry, requiring less chemical maintenance, labor, and electric, saving you time and money. The second layer is Viking's Vinyl Ester Resin, which is combined with fiberglass to provide the greatest impact resistance and optimum blister protection available. This Viking created formula became the benchmark of the fiberglass pool industry. In the heart of every Viking pool is an exclusive ceramic core layer that adds a greater strength to the pool walls and provides enhanced water resistance. The final stage of every Viking pool is specially designed resin and hand laid fiberglass.

Viking's pools withstand drastic temperature changes and resist freeze-thaw climates, and Viking is the only pool manufacturer that offers an earthquake warranty. Viking Pools takes great pride in manufacturing a quality product using the latest technology to lead the way in the fiberglass pool industry.

PROS AND CONS OF SWIMMING POOLS

FIBERGLASS

GUNITE

VINYL LINER

PROS
PROS
PROS

Smooth Satin Finish

Unlimited Design

Low initial cost

Permanent home improvement

Permanent home improvement


CONS

Requires less chemicals


CONS

Temporary pool

Quick Installation

Acid washing

Liner replacement

17X stronger the concrete

Replastering

Susceptible to tearing, rips and punctures

Less Maintenance

Excessive chemicals

 

Factory controlled quality

Excessive electricity

 

Energy savings

Sensitive to aglae

 

No skin abrasions

Monthly pool service

 

Proven products

Plaster

 

Lifetime warranty

Concrete shows thru

 

 

Etching

 

CONS

Abrasive

 

Limited shapes & sizes

Stains/discoloration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Reasons to Install a Viking Fiberglass Pool by Cherry Hill Pool and Spa -

1          Save gas - Don't drive to the beach
2          Save money on the gym ~ work out in your own pool at home
3          Add value to your home
4          Create a water-based landscape
5          SAFETY: Have your children and their friends play at home; know where they are
6          Get your kids outside, away from video games and TV           
7          Truly enjoy every part of your backyard
8          On hot summer days, refreshment is only steps away
9          Look foward to a cooling dip at the end of the workday ~ it'll make the day better
10        Make friends in the neighborhood ~ POOL PARTIES!

Questions to ask your contractor

For an unbiased opinion on the pros and cons of the various styles of swimming pools, go to AskAlanAQuestion.com