If you’re planning an inground pool in Sandy, Utah, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to choose a fiberglass or concrete pool.
Both can work well in Utah. The better choice depends on your property, the pool design you want, how much customization matters, and how the pool will fit into the rest of your backyard.
For many Sandy homeowners, fiberglass offers a faster installation and simpler long-term maintenance. Concrete gives you far more freedom when creating a highly customized pool and outdoor living space.
But the pool itself is only part of the decision.
Grading, drainage, retaining walls, patios, outdoor kitchens, landscaping, irrigation, access, and the overall backyard layout should all be considered before excavation begins.
Fiberglass vs. Concrete Pools at a Glance
| Feature | Fiberglass Pool | Concrete Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Generally faster | Generally longer |
| Customization | Limited to available molds | Highly customizable |
| Surface | Smooth, nonporous gel coat | Plaster or aggregate finish |
| Maintenance | Typically lower | Typically higher |
| Shapes and depths | Predetermined | Nearly unlimited |
| Built-in features | Available but predetermined | Highly customizable |
| Resurfacing | Generally not required like plaster | Periodic resurfacing may be needed |
| Best suited for | Faster, streamlined pool projects | Custom backyard and pool designs |
There isn’t one pool type that’s automatically best for every Sandy property.
The right choice starts with the entire backyard design.
Why Pool Planning Is Different in Sandy, Utah
Installing a pool means changing much more than one section of your yard.
Excavation alters elevations. Decking changes drainage patterns. Retaining walls may be needed on sloped properties. Existing irrigation lines can be affected. Equipment needs access and clearance. Fencing and setbacks have to be incorporated into the plan.
Properties along the Sandy bench can also have very different grades and soil conditions from homes closer to the valley floor.
That is why soil and drainage conditions should be evaluated for the specific property instead of assuming every Sandy backyard is the same.
Utah’s seasonal temperature swings also make proper installation, drainage, winterization, and material selection especially important.
The goal isn’t simply to install a pool.
It’s to design a backyard where the pool, hardscape, landscaping, drainage, and outdoor living areas all work together.
What Is a Fiberglass Pool?
A fiberglass pool is manufactured as a completed shell before arriving at your property.
The yard is excavated, a properly prepared base is installed, and the fiberglass shell is lowered into place. Plumbing, backfill, decking, equipment, landscaping, and finishing work follow.
Because most of the pool structure has already been manufactured, the onsite construction process can be considerably shorter than building a concrete pool from scratch.
Advantages of Fiberglass Pools
Fiberglass is appealing to Sandy homeowners for several reasons.
Faster installation
The shell arrives ready to install, eliminating several construction and curing phases required with concrete.
Smooth pool surface
The gel-coat surface is smooth underfoot and relatively easy to clean.
Lower routine maintenance
Because fiberglass is nonporous, algae has fewer places to attach compared with many traditional plaster finishes.
Predictable design
You select from established shell shapes, depths, benches, steps, and tanning ledges before installation begins.
Some flexibility
Fiberglass has a degree of flexibility that rigid concrete does not, although correct excavation, base preparation, drainage, and backfill are still essential.
Limitations of Fiberglass Pools
The biggest limitation is customization.
You are choosing from shapes and sizes manufactured by the pool company.
That can become important when designing around:
- Tight Sandy backyards
- Unusual property lines
- Existing structures
- Significant elevation changes
- Large outdoor living areas
- Custom spas
- Specialized water features
- Highly specific pool depths or dimensions
The shell also needs a practical delivery route to the backyard.
What Is a Concrete Pool?
Concrete pools, often built using gunite or shotcrete construction, are formed directly on the property.
After excavation, steel reinforcement is installed and the structural pool shell is created onsite. The pool then receives its interior finish before the surrounding hardscape and landscape construction is completed.
The biggest advantage is simple:
Concrete gives you dramatically more design freedom.
Advantages of Concrete Pools
Nearly Unlimited Pool Shapes
Concrete allows the pool to follow the architecture of the home, property lines, retaining walls, patios, and other landscape features.
You aren’t choosing from a catalog of predetermined shells.
Custom Depths
Concrete gives designers much greater control over shallow areas, deep sections, transitions, and specialized pool configurations.
Integrated Features
A custom concrete pool can more easily incorporate features such as:
- Tanning ledges
- Baja shelves
- Integrated spas
- Waterfalls
- Raised bond beams
- Water walls
- Custom steps
- Benches
- Vanishing edges
- Custom lighting
- Specialty coping
That flexibility can be particularly valuable when the pool is the centerpiece of a high-end landscape renovation.
Limitations of Concrete Pools
Concrete pools generally require more onsite construction.
Excavation, reinforcement, concrete application, curing, finishing, plumbing, decking, and landscape construction all need to be coordinated.
The interior surface also requires more ongoing attention than a fiberglass gel coat.
Depending on the finish, water chemistry, use, and maintenance, a concrete pool may eventually need resurfacing.
None of those issues make concrete a bad choice.
They simply mean homeowners should consider the entire ownership experience rather than selecting a pool based exclusively on appearance.
How Utah Winters Affect Pool Design
Sandy experiences hot summers followed by freezing winter conditions.
That seasonal change makes proper construction especially important.
The pool structure itself matters, but so do:
- Drainage around the pool
- Backfill
- Soil preparation
- Plumbing placement
- Winterization
- Decking
- Expansion joints
- Retaining walls
- Surface materials
- Water management
A fiberglass pool should not be considered automatically protected from ground movement simply because the shell can flex.
Likewise, a properly engineered concrete pool should not be assumed to crack simply because it is rigid.
Installation quality matters tremendously with either system.
Soil Conditions Should Be Evaluated Before Pool Construction
One weakness in many online fiberglass-versus-concrete comparisons is that they make sweeping statements about local soil.
Sandy properties can have very different subsurface conditions depending on location, previous grading, fill, drainage, elevation, and site history.
Local geotechnical records show mixtures that can include sand, gravel, clay, fill, and alluvial materials depending on the specific area.
For a major pool and landscape project, the important question isn’t:
“Does Sandy have clay soil?”
It’s:
“What conditions exist underneath this particular backyard?”
Those conditions can influence excavation, base preparation, retaining-wall design, drainage, and the engineering needed around the pool.
Don’t Design the Pool Separately From the Backyard
This is one of the most important decisions homeowners can make before starting construction.
A pool company may naturally focus on the pool.
A landscaper may focus on everything around it.
But the finished backyard doesn’t work that way.
Everything is connected.
Before determining the final pool location, you should know where the following elements will go:
Pool Decking
There should be enough usable deck space for circulation, seating, loungers, furniture, and entertaining.
Patios and Outdoor Living Areas
The pool should feel connected to the primary entertaining spaces rather than dropped into an empty area of the yard.
Outdoor Kitchen
If you’re considering an outdoor kitchen now or later, account for utilities, circulation, seating, and proximity to the home before positioning the pool.
Fire Features
Fire pits and fireplaces need enough separation from swimming and traffic areas while still feeling connected to the outdoor living space.
Retaining Walls
Sloped Sandy properties may require walls or elevation transitions as part of the overall design.
Drainage
Water needs somewhere to go.
Pool decking, patios, retaining walls, roofs, slopes, and landscaping all change how stormwater travels through the property.
Landscaping
Trees, planting beds, turf, privacy plantings, lighting, and irrigation should be included in the plan early.
Equipment and Access
Pool pumps, heaters, filters, electrical components, gates, utility connections, and service access all need dedicated space.
Designing these elements afterward can force unnecessary compromises.
Fiberglass May Be Better If You Want Simplicity
A fiberglass pool can be a strong fit if your priorities include:
- A relatively straightforward pool layout
- Faster construction
- Lower routine maintenance
- A smooth pool surface
- Predictable dimensions
- A shape available from a manufacturer that already works well with your yard
For the right property, fiberglass can become one component of a larger custom landscape without requiring the pool itself to be custom fabricated.
Concrete May Be Better for a Fully Custom Backyard
Concrete becomes especially attractive when the pool needs to follow the design rather than the design following the pool.
Consider concrete when you want:
- A completely custom pool shape
- An unusual depth
- An integrated spa
- Architectural water features
- A vanishing edge
- A highly specific pool-to-patio relationship
- Complex elevation changes
- A pool designed around retaining walls
- A resort-style backyard with multiple connected outdoor spaces
For these properties, the added flexibility can justify the longer construction process.
What About Pool Installation Time?
Fiberglass installations are usually faster because the shell is manufactured before arriving at the home.
Concrete pools are constructed in multiple stages onsite and require additional time for structural and finish work.
But homeowners should avoid looking at the pool installation schedule in isolation.
A complete Sandy backyard renovation may also include:
- Site preparation
- Excavation
- Rough grading
- Retaining walls
- Pool installation
- Plumbing and electrical
- Drainage
- Hardscape
- Outdoor structures
- Irrigation
- Landscape lighting
- Planting
- Turf or artificial grass
- Final grading and cleanup
Good project sequencing prevents completed work from being damaged by crews that need access later.
Pool Decking Matters Almost as Much as the Pool
The material surrounding the pool influences how the backyard looks, feels, drains, and functions.
Common options include:
- Concrete
- Pavers
- Natural stone
- Porcelain pavers
- Decorative concrete
Consider heat retention, slip resistance, maintenance, freeze-thaw performance, visual style, and how the material connects with other patios and walkways.
A beautiful pool surrounded by poorly planned hardscape can still create a disappointing backyard.
Plan Retaining Walls Before Excavation
Retaining walls are particularly important on properties with meaningful grade changes.
If a wall will ultimately be needed, it should be incorporated into the original design rather than treated as a surprise halfway through construction.
Wall placement can affect:
- Pool elevation
- Deck width
- Stairs
- Drainage
- Views
- Privacy
- Yard access
- Planting areas
In some designs, retaining walls can become architectural elements instead of purely functional structures.
They can frame the pool, create raised planting areas, provide seating, or support water features.
Think About Privacy Early
A pool changes how homeowners use their backyard.
Areas that previously felt private may suddenly feel exposed when they become swimming and entertaining spaces.
Privacy can be created through combinations of:
- Trees
- Evergreen plantings
- Decorative screens
- Pergolas
- Fences
- Walls
- Strategic elevation changes
These elements work best when they’re part of the original landscape plan.
Pool Fencing and Sandy City Requirements
Pool safety and code requirements should also influence the design.
Sandy City maintains building permit and code requirements for residential construction, so homeowners should verify the current requirements applicable to their project before construction begins.
Salt Lake County notes that private residential pools should have a barrier at least four feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Exact requirements can depend on the property and applicable building codes, so fencing, gates, setbacks, equipment locations, and other requirements should be confirmed during project planning.
This is another reason to address the entire backyard layout before settling on a pool location.
Which Pool Is Better for Sandy, Utah?
There isn’t a universal winner.
Choose Fiberglass When:
You want a streamlined pool project, a smooth surface, relatively low routine maintenance, and one of the available fiberglass shapes fits your backyard well.
Choose Concrete When:
Customization is a major priority and you want the pool to become an architectural component of a highly customized outdoor living space.
For either choice, site preparation and overall landscape design matter as much as the shell material.
A well-designed fiberglass pool is better than a poorly planned concrete pool.
A properly engineered custom concrete pool is better than forcing a fiberglass shell into a landscape where it doesn’t fit.
The right answer comes from the property.
Start With Landscape Design, Not Excavation
One of the most expensive mistakes in a major backyard renovation is making individual decisions in the wrong order.
The pool is selected first.
Then someone figures out the patio.
Then the homeowner decides they want a pergola.
Then retaining walls become necessary.
Then drainage becomes a problem.
Then there isn’t enough room for the outdoor kitchen.
By that point, the homeowner is redesigning the backyard around decisions that have already been made.
A better approach is to create the complete landscape plan first.
At Millburn Lawn & Landscape, we can plan the pool as part of the larger outdoor environment, including grading, drainage, hardscape, retaining walls, irrigation, planting, lighting, and outdoor living spaces.
That gives you a roadmap for the entire project before major construction starts.
Planning a Pool and Backyard Renovation in Sandy?
Whether you choose fiberglass or concrete, the best pool projects start with a backyard that has been designed as one complete space.
Millburn Lawn & Landscape provides landscape design and installation in Sandy, Utah, helping homeowners coordinate pools with patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, fire features, irrigation, lighting, planting, and the surrounding landscape.
Call Millburn Lawn & Landscape at (801) 810-5452 or book a landscape design consultation to start planning your Sandy backyard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fiberglass pools good for Sandy, Utah?
Yes. Fiberglass can work very well in Sandy when the site is correctly excavated, prepared, drained, backfilled, and installed. The smooth surface and relatively simple maintenance make fiberglass attractive to many homeowners.
Are concrete pools good for Utah winters?
Yes. Properly designed and constructed concrete pools are used successfully in cold climates. Engineering, drainage, winterization, installation quality, and maintenance are important for long-term performance.
Is fiberglass better than concrete for Utah?
Neither material is automatically better. Fiberglass generally offers faster installation and lower maintenance, while concrete offers significantly more customization.
How long does a fiberglass pool take to install?
The pool shell itself can be installed relatively quickly, but total project time also depends on permits, excavation, utilities, decking, landscaping, inspections, access, and the scope of the overall backyard project.
How long does a concrete pool take to build?
Concrete pools usually take longer because excavation, steel reinforcement, gunite or shotcrete, curing, interior finishing, plumbing, decking, and additional construction phases must happen onsite.
Does Sandy have clay soil?
Soil conditions vary throughout Sandy. Properties can contain combinations of clay, sand, gravel, fill, and alluvial materials. Site-specific conditions should be evaluated when they could affect a major pool or landscape project.
Which pool requires less maintenance?
Fiberglass typically requires less routine surface maintenance because the gel-coat finish is smooth and nonporous. Concrete pool finishes generally require more brushing and may eventually require resurfacing.
Can a fiberglass pool have a tanning ledge?
Yes. Many fiberglass pool manufacturers offer shells with built-in tanning ledges, benches, steps, and other features. However, their dimensions and locations are predetermined by the mold.
Can a concrete pool be any shape?
Concrete offers tremendous design flexibility and can be configured around unusual properties, elevations, outdoor living spaces, integrated spas, and custom water features.
Should the pool or landscape be designed first?
Ideally, they should be designed together. Pool location affects grading, drainage, patios, retaining walls, fencing, utilities, landscaping, and outdoor living areas. Planning everything together reduces compromises later.
