Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete, Fiberglass and Inground Pools

With proper maintenance and care, a quality fiberglass pool can last well over 50 years. Fiberglass is more resistant to decomposition and algae growth than other pool building materials. This makes these pools the most cost-efficient and maintenance-friendly option for the long term.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the total cost of installing a fiberglass pool. This results in a large range of prices in different areas across the country. When including every component of the installation process such as permits, excavation, plumbing, electrical work, and parts, the cost can range anywhere from $75,000 to over $100,000. This depends greatly on the specifications of the individual project.

The best type of pool for you depends on your needs. Fiberglass pools are easier to maintain and install; however, they aren’t as customizable due to their manufacturing process. Concrete pools on the other hand are much more involved in terms of building and maintenance, but they are more customizable.

This depends on the buyer. While vinyl pools are typically lower in immediate costs, they do require much more maintenance than fiberglass and need liner changes every few years. A vinyl pool style utilizes a liner made out of vinyl that must be replaced every 5 to 9 years on average. In addition, this type of pool is known to look cheaper from an aesthetic standpoint.

A fiberglass pool is sturdier and never needs a liner replacement. Another important feature is many fiberglass pools have sun ledges or beach entries which are almost impossible to replicate well in a vinyl pool. When you add a tanning shelf or chair ledge in a vinyl pool any chairs you place on the ledge will rip the vinyl.

Once again, this question is dependent on whether you are looking for an upfront cheap cost or a lower cost over time. Are you a long-term planner looking for the most frugal option for years to come, or do you want the biggest pool for the cheapest amount of money upfront which will then cause you to pay more in maintenance?

The short answer is yes, in the long run a fiberglass pool will most likely be the more cost-effective option. When you consider construction and maintenance costs, a fiberglass pool can save you big bucks compared to a concrete or vinyl option that requires more expensive and more frequent care.

Fiberglass pools may be more costly than other types of pools up front, but they are a wise long-term investment. Since they typically need fewer repairs and maintenance costs in general, they can ultimately end up saving you money.

The disadvantages of owning a fiberglass pool are marginal in comparison to the benefits. Here are a few examples of the cons:

• Installation can be a bit more involved as costs tend to be higher up front than a vinyl pool and a crane will sometimes need to access the construction site.
• Poorly built pool shells are susceptible to a number of issues including warping and peeling. Fortunately, Parrot Bay Pools uses the highest quality pool brands and installation practices to avoid these types of problems. We install over 100 fiberglass pools per year and know which ones are the best options.
• Another disadvantage of a fiberglass pool is the fiberglass shell costs more than a vinyl pool up front, but again, the money you save over the life of the pool more than makes up for it.

Yes. Parrot Bay designs and builds custom concrete pools in Raleigh and throughout our 18-county service area in central and eastern North Carolina.

Our concrete pools can be designed with custom shapes, depths, steps, benches, tanning ledges, integrated spas, infinity edges, water features and premium finishes. We can also coordinate the pool with landscaping, hardscaping, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fire features, lighting and other outdoor-living elements.

Parrot Bay combines advanced pool-building credentials, general-contractor knowledge, complete outdoor design and continuing service within one local company.

Owner, Shaun Braddy, is a Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional-the highest credential in the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s GENESIS® education and certification pathway. He is also a North Carolina licensed general contractor with more than 18 years of pool-industry experience.

Our clients benefit from:

• Master Pool Builder leadership
• Custom pool and landscape design
• Concrete and fiberglass expertise
• Construction coordination
• A 10,000-square-foot Design Center
• Pool School and homeowner education
• Service and support after construction

A custom concrete pool is constructed on the property rather than manufactured as a predetermined shell. Its shape, size, depth and features can therefore be designed specifically for the home, land and homeowner.

Concrete is especially well suited for clients who want an original design, integrated spa, infinity edge, unusual dimensions, custom depths or architectural features that are unavailable in a standard fiberglass pool.

“Concrete pool” is the broad term for a pool with a reinforced concrete shell. Gunite and shotcrete are two methods of pneumatically applying the concrete material over the pool’s steel-reinforcement structure.

The appropriate materials and application method depend on the design, engineering specifications and construction requirements of the project. The quality of the preparation, steel, plumbing, application and curing process is more important than relying on a marketing label alone.

The price of a custom concrete pool varies considerably because every project is designed and built individually. Important cost factors include:

• Pool size and depth
• Property access
• Soil and groundwater conditions
• Excavation requirements
• Integrated spas
• Infinity or perimeter-overflow edges
• Tile, coping and interior finishes
• Decking and hardscaping
• Retaining walls and drainage
• Water and fire features
• Landscaping and outdoor structures
• Equipment and automation
• Engineering and permitting

Parrot Bay begins by learning about your property, priorities and desired investment. Once the design direction and project scope are established, our team can prepare a detailed proposal.

A custom concrete pool generally takes longer to construct than a fiberglass pool because it is built in multiple stages on the property.

The overall schedule may include design, engineering, permitting, excavation, steel installation, plumbing, concrete-shell installation, curing, tile, coping, decking, interior finish, equipment startup and landscaping.

Project complexity, permitting, inspections, weather, material availability and site conditions can all affect the schedule. Parrot Bay will explain the anticipated construction phases and keep clients informed as the project progresses.

Concrete provides exceptional design flexibility. The pool can be designed around the architecture of the home, the available land and the way the homeowner intends to use the space.

Possible designs include:

• Modern geometric pools
• Natural freeform pools
• Lap and exercise pools
• Courtyard pools
• Resort-style pools
• Pools with integrated spas
• Infinity-edge pools
• Perimeter-overflow pools
• Pools with custom ledges, benches and entry steps

Engineering, setbacks, access and property conditions may influence what can be built, but concrete offers more customization than any prefabricated pool type.

Yes. An integrated concrete spa can be designed as part of the pool’s structure and overall visual composition.

Options may include a raised spa, flush spa, spillover spa, infinity-edge spa or perimeter-overflow spa. Seating, jet placement, elevations and finishes can be customized around the client’s preferences.

Yes, depending on the property and project scope. Infinity and vanishing-edge pools require careful planning of elevations, views, structural requirements, hydraulics and the catch basin or surge system.

These pools are particularly effective on sloped properties or sites overlooking wooded areas, water or long-distance views. A property evaluation is necessary to determine feasibility.

Yes. Concrete pools can be excellent solutions for sloped, wooded, restricted or unusually shaped properties because the design can respond directly to site conditions.

These projects may require additional grading, drainage planning, structural engineering, retaining walls or specialized access. Parrot Bay’s experience as a pool builder and licensed general contractor allows us to consider the pool and surrounding construction together.

Yes. Parrot Bay can coordinate the pool with the surrounding outdoor environment rather than leaving homeowners to assemble several unrelated contractors.

Depending on the project, our work may include:

• Landscape design
• Travertine, porcelain, concrete or natural-stone decking
• Retaining walls
• Drainage and grading
• Outdoor kitchens
• Fireplaces and fire features
• Pergolas and pavilions
• Landscape lighting
• Fencing and privacy screening

This comprehensive approach helps the pool, home and landscape feel like one cohesive design.

Neither pool type is automatically better for every homeowner.

A concrete pool may be the better choice when maximum customization, unusual dimensions, custom depths, integrated spas or architectural water features are priorities.

A fiberglass pool may be the better choice when the homeowner prefers a streamlined installation, a smooth factory-manufactured surface and lower ongoing surface maintenance, and when an available fiberglass model fits the property and desired layout.

Because Parrot Bay builds both concrete and fiberglass pools, we can help homeowners compare the options based on their property, lifestyle, design priorities and long-term expectations.

Concrete pools require routine water testing, chemical balancing, cleaning, filtration and equipment care, just like other inground pools. Their interior surfaces also require periodic professional evaluation and may eventually need refinishing.

The exact maintenance requirements depend on the interior finish, sanitation system, surrounding environment and how frequently the pool is used.

Parrot Bay offers Pool School and ongoing service to help clients understand and care for their pools after construction.

There is no single resurfacing schedule that applies to every concrete pool. The lifespan of an interior finish depends on the material, installation quality, water chemistry, maintenance and environmental conditions.

Signs that professional evaluation may be needed include roughness, staining, surface deterioration, exposed aggregate or areas where the finish is separating. Proper water chemistry and maintenance can help extend the life of the finish.

Yes. “Saltwater pool” describes the sanitation system, not the pool’s construction material. A properly designed concrete pool can use a salt-chlorine generator or another suitable sanitation system.

Equipment selection and water chemistry should be coordinated with the pool’s interior finish, materials and maintenance plan.

Yes. A concrete pool can be equipped with a properly sized heat pump or gas heater, depending on the desired water temperature, pool size, seasonal use and property utilities.

An automatic cover, solar cover or other heat-retention strategy may also reduce heat loss and operating costs. Parrot Bay can discuss heating and automation options during the design process.

A professionally designed pool can improve a property’s appeal, enjoyment and marketability, particularly when it complements the home and surrounding landscape. However, the effect on resale value depends on the location, quality of construction, condition, design and preferences of future buyers.

Parrot Bay focuses on creating a cohesive outdoor environment that feels appropriate for the property rather than simply placing a pool in the yard.

Parrot Bay builds concrete and fiberglass pools throughout an 18-county North Carolina service area, including Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Pittsboro, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Garner, Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Southern Pines and surrounding communities.

Construction availability depends on the property location, project scope and schedule. Contact our team to confirm whether your property is within our current construction territory.