Pool info
The basics to understand before you talk to builders, starting with the biggest decision: concrete or fibreglass.
Concrete vs fibreglass pools
Both make excellent family pools in Australia. The right choice depends on your budget, your block and how much you want a custom design.
| Topic | Concrete | Fibreglass |
|---|---|---|
| Shape & size | Any shape, size or depth, built to suit your yard. Easy to add spas, beach entries and ledges. | Choose from each manufacturer's range of moulded shells. Width is limited (about 4.5 m) by road transport. |
| Build time | Usually 8–12 weeks or more: steel, spraying, curing and interior finish each take time. | The shell is made in a factory, so the pool can be installed in days and swimmable in 2–4 weeks. |
| Upfront cost | Usually costs more, especially for larger or custom designs. | Usually cheaper for a standard size, but crane hire and tricky access add to the cost. |
| Site access | Materials go in by concrete pump and small machines, so it suits tight or awkward yards. | The shell arrives in one piece and is usually lifted in by crane, often over the house. |
| Surface | Pebble, quartz or fully tiled finishes. Textured surfaces can feel rough on feet. | Smooth gelcoat that's gentle on skin and feet, in a range of colours. |
| Maintenance & chemicals | Porous surface: more brushing and acid to control algae and keep the water balanced. | Non-porous surface resists algae and usually needs fewer chemicals and less cleaning. |
| Long-term upkeep | The interior usually needs resurfacing every 10–20 years, a significant extra cost. | No resurfacing in most cases. Gelcoat can fade or mark over decades. |
| Durability & ground | Very strong and suits most soil types, including reactive clay and sloping blocks with engineering. | Strong and slightly flexible. Needs a well-prepared base; high water tables need extra care. |
| Warranty | Structural warranties from the builder are common (often lifetime on the shell). | Manufacturers offer long structural and surface warranties. Check what each one covers. |
Choose concrete if…
- you want a custom shape, size or feature
- your yard has tight access or no room for a crane
- you're happy to wait longer and budget for resurfacing later
Choose fibreglass if…
- a standard shape and size from a range suits you
- you want the pool finished quickly
- you want lower maintenance and fewer chemicals
Chlorine, salt, magnesium or ionised?
Every pool needs a sanitiser to kill bacteria and algae. These are the four common options in Australia. Whichever you choose, you still need to test the water and keep the pH balanced.
Chlorine
Liquid or granular chlorine added by hand or with a dosing pump.
- How it works
- Chlorine is added directly to the water to sanitise it.
- Feel
- Can smell of chlorine and dry out skin, hair and eyes if levels run high.
- Equipment
- Lowest setup cost: no chlorinator needed.
- Upkeep
- Buy, store and add chlorine every few days; levels go up and down between doses.
Good for: Low upfront cost, or pools that are used occasionally.
Salt water
The most common choice in Australia. Mildly salty water feeds a salt chlorinator.
- How it works
- A salt cell turns dissolved salt into chlorine as water flows through it.
- Feel
- Softer than hand-dosed chlorine with steadier levels; slightly salty, about a tenth of sea water.
- Equipment
- Salt chlorinator and cell; the cell is replaced every few years.
- Upkeep
- Top up salt now and then. Salt can corrode some metals and natural stone, so seal stone coping.
Good for: Low day-to-day effort and steady chlorine levels.
Magnesium (mineral)
A blend of magnesium and potassium salts, used with a chlorinator like a salt pool.
- How it works
- The chlorinator makes chlorine from the minerals, and the magnesium stays in the water.
- Feel
- Often described as silky and gentle on skin and eyes; less salty than a salt pool.
- Equipment
- A mineral-compatible chlorinator (many salt chlorinators work).
- Upkeep
- Similar to salt, but the mineral blend costs more to top up than pool salt.
Good for: People with sensitive skin who want a softer feel.
Ionised
An ioniser releases copper and silver ions that kill algae and bacteria.
- How it works
- Electrodes release copper and silver ions into the water as it circulates.
- Feel
- Very low chlorine, so little smell or irritation.
- Equipment
- An ioniser unit; the electrodes wear out and need replacing.
- Upkeep
- Still needs a small amount of chlorine to oxidise waste. Copper levels must be watched, as too much can stain surfaces and tint light hair green.
Good for: Owners who want the lowest chlorine levels and are happy to test carefully.
Compare the cost of a concrete and a fibreglass pool for your own yard.
Try the calculator