Fiberglass Pools |
Vinyl Pools |
Concrete Pools |
|
| Warranty |
Usually 25 years Viking pools lifetime |
Others 1-5 years Foxx Pools lifetime |
1-5 years Swim-Crete Lifetime |
| Installation Time | 5-7 days, weather permitting | 2 weeks | 2-3 months Swim-Crete 2 weeks |
| Shapes of Pools | Limited to the models of the manufacturer |
Others- limited to models Foxx unlimited designs |
Unlimited |
| Price Pools | Average | Average | Medium to High |
| Estimated chemical Usage |
Surface does not alter waters chemical balance therfore less used |
Average chemical usage | Plaster reacts with water to raise ph.More acid and chlorine to counterbalance effects |
Estimated |
Circulate water 4-6 hours per day. Up to 30% savings hydro |
Circulate water 6-8 hours per day |
Circulate water 8-10 hours per day |
| Surface Texture | Smooth, non abrasive to skin or swim suits, walking ans seating areas are textured for slip resistance | Slippery, easily punctured or torn by toys, pets or surface rocks | Rough, causes skin abrasions to feet, hands and swim wear Swim-Crete smooth like vinyl |
| Algae Penetration | Algae sweeps off with wall brush No staining |
Seams of liner harbor algae No staining |
Algae grows and is harbored in pores of gunite Acid baths and scrubbing required to remove Swim-Crete like Vinyl |
| Estimated Maintenance Time | 1/2 hour per week | 1hour per week | 1 hour per week |
| Major Renovation | None | Vinyl liner needs to be replaced every 7-9 years $5,000 | Re-marcite or re-plaster at 10-12 years $12,000 Swim-Crete re-do every 15 years |
| Stairs and Seating | Built into pool shell. Strategic areas with spa jets | Optional and additional cost Foxx standard |
Optional and additional cost |
| Quality Control | Manufactured in controlled factory under stringent standards | Kit manufactured in factory. Quality of on-site assembly varies by installer | Manufacturerd on-site. No quality control Swim-Crete prepared in forms, uniform quality everytime |
| Type of Coping | Fiberglass or concrete | Vinyl or concrete | Concrete |
| Loan Acceptance | Excelllent | Good | Good |
| Strength | Has 10 times tensile strength and 17 times the flexural strenght of concrete Viking Pools tested to be strongest | Excellent strength Foxx Pool X brace system same as fiberglass |
Strong but subject to cracking Swim-Crete re-inforced throughout with grid iron and re-bar |
| Mobility | Pool can be removed and re-installed elsewhere | Fixed in ground | Fixed in ground |
| Options | Viking offer different pool finishes, built in water features, in-floor cleaning systems | Foxx offers same standard options | Options expensive to design and build Swim-Crete system unlimited designs |