Fiberglass Pool Owner’s Guide to Swimming Pool Repairs

From enjoying the many physical and mental health benefits to spending quality time with friends and family, we’re sure you’re already convinced of the many bonuses that come your way through the investment of having your own backyard swimming pool.

The typical in-ground swimming pool has a lifespan between 15 and 30 years, and over that time any pool will require some repairs as a result of regular wear and tear. Those repairs will typically cost somewhere between $200 and $1000. For most swimming pool repairs, professional work will be required. The types of repairs your pool may need will largely depend on the kind of swimming pool you have: gunite, vinyl liner, or fiberglass.

In this post we’ll be looking specifically at those kind of problems that can come up and repairs that can be needed if you have a fiberglass swimming pool.

Fiberglass Pool Problems: Bulging Walls

If your pool was properly installed, you won’t have to worry about this one. But if improper backfill such as sand was used, over time that fill can become overly saturated, causing the walls of your pool to bulge. (This issue occurs because sand that’s saturated with water is heavier than water itself.) The best way to avoid the kinds of costly repair required is to make sure proper backfill — namely, gravel — is used during the installation process. Otherwise, you may be looking at extremely costly swimming pool repairs or even complete replacement.

Fiberglass Pool Problems: Plumbing Leaks

Another issue that’s more likely to be caused when improper backfill has been used, plumbing leaks are often the result of pressure on the pipes that causes them to bend or even break. The over-saturated sand is very heavy, making it more likely to cause that kind of pressure. Again, the best answer is prevention, making sure your pool is installed with gravel rather than sand for backfill. Otherwise, repairs will be quite costly.

Fiberglass Pool Problems: Cracks

When it comes to choosing a fiberglass pool over one with a vinyl liner, a fiberglass pool costs more at the outset but allows you to reduce the chances of needing repairs to the surface that a thin vinyl liner is likely to require. The fiberglass surface, although more resilient than a vinyl liner, can still become subject to scratches and cracks. Sometimes thin “spider cracks” can be caused by weakness of the fiberglass that can result from a variety of issues, including the shipping and construction process and pressure caused from the backfill.

If cracking does occur, it will require resurfacing. (Resurfacing can also be done to compensate for faded covering or other blemishes on the surface.) The resurfacing process involves having a refinishing gel coat painted onto the entire surface of your pool; of course, this will require your pool to be completely emptied. You can expect having your fiberglass pool resurfaced to cost somewhere between $300 and $700 for a typical 500 square foot pool (excluding the cost of emptying and refilling the pool).

Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.