The short answer: it mostly comes down to whether the pool goes in the ground or above it. For a fully in-ground pool, a precast concrete Plungie is usually the sweet spot — the premium concrete look, decades of durability, craned in and swimmable in days. For an above-ground or raised pool, our Little Pool Co. fiberglass wins — it's self-standing, gives you more shapes and colors for the look you want, costs less for that job, and at under 3,000 lbs it avoids the heavy crane a 25,000-lb concrete pool needs. Either way, both are factory-built and set in days, not the months a traditional poured pool takes.
One important thing up front: the fiberglass we install isn't ordinary fiberglass. We're a certified installer for The Little Pool Co., whose pools use a Ceramic Core composite and a full structural exoskeleton — so they're far stronger, lighter, and more flexible about where they go than the standard fiberglass shells most companies sell. More on that below. Here's the plain-English version of how the two materials really differ.
Side-by-side at a glance
| Precast concrete (Plungie) | Our fiberglass (Little Pool Co.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | Shell ~$25k–$35k; finished install ~$85k–$160k | Usually a little lower for a like-for-like pool |
| Install time | Craned in; swimmable in days | Set on a slab; swimmable in days |
| Shell weight | ~25,000 lbs — needs a large crane & clear access | Under 3,000 lbs — smaller, cheaper crane through tight access |
| Strength | Most durable; structural concrete | Ceramic Core composite — 10,000 psi, won't absorb water (no osmosis) |
| Lifespan | Decades with basic care | Typically 25+ years |
| Maintenance | Low | Lowest; smooth surface + Bi-luminite color stays new |
| Look & finish | Most customizable; crisp modern lines, finishes | Bi-luminite™ 3D colors; composite, ACP, or "nude" exteriors |
| Equipment | Equipment package added on site | Pump, filter, LED, skimmer & coping built in at the factory |
| Site flexibility | In-ground; great for tight courtyards | Self-standing — in-ground, above-ground, sloped, even rooftop |
| Best for | A real, lasting concrete pool in a small/sloped yard | Very tight access, above-ground/sloped sites, premium low-upkeep |
Cost: what actually moves the price
People expect the shell to be the whole story, but it usually isn't. A precast concrete plunge pool shell runs about $25,000–$35,000, and a complete, finished install — site prep, crane, plumbing, electrical, decking, equipment, and permits — typically lands between $85,000 and $160,000 depending on the model, your site, and the features you choose. Fiberglass usually comes in a little lower upfront for a comparable pool, but once you add the same site work and decking, the gap narrows. The biggest cost levers are access, slope, how much decking you want, and the equipment package — not the material by itself. The fastest way to see your real number is the cost & financing calculator.
Installation speed
This is where both of these beat a traditional poured (gunite) pool, which can tie up your yard for months. A precast Plungie and a fiberglass shell are each manufactured off-site, delivered, and craned into a prepared hole. The crane set itself is a single day, and you're swimming in days, not a whole summer. If your driveway or side yard is tight, fiberglass's lighter shell can be a touch easier to maneuver, but our crews crane concrete plunge pools into small Nashville lots all the time.
Durability and lifespan
Concrete is the more durable, structural material — it's why we lead with precast for a pool meant to last decades. Fiberglass holds up well too; it flexes slightly instead of cracking and a quality shell typically lasts 25+ years. If you want the longest-lasting, most solid-feeling pool, concrete wins. If you want a lighter shell that's quick to drop in, fiberglass is hard to beat.
Maintenance and feel
Day to day, fiberglass is the lowest-maintenance because its smooth gelcoat surface gives algae very little to grip, which can mean fewer chemicals and easier brushing. Precast concrete is also low-maintenance and gives you crisp, modern lines and finish options that fiberglass's molded shapes can't quite match. It comes down to whether you value the easiest possible upkeep (fiberglass) or a more customizable, premium concrete look.
Why our fiberglass isn't ordinary fiberglass
When most people picture a fiberglass pool, they think of a thin gelcoat shell that has to be dug into the ground and can suffer osmosis (water soaking into the laminate over time). The Little Pool Co. pools we install are built differently, and it matters:
Ceramic Core composite
The shell is made with Ceramic Core — vinyl ester resin packed with ceramic microspheres that withstand 10,000 psi and won't absorb water. That kills the osmosis problem that plagues ordinary fiberglass and makes the shell dramatically stronger for its weight.
A full structural exoskeleton
A built-in composite exoskeleton makes the pool self-standing — it doesn't need the ground to hold it up. That's why it can go in-ground, above-ground, on a slope, or even on a rooftop, and why you can attach decking and steps directly to it. The whole shell weighs under 3,000 lbs (a concrete pool is around 25,000), so it craned in with a smaller, cheaper crane through tight Nashville access where concrete simply can't go.
Equipment built in at the factory
Standard packages arrive with the pump, filter, LED light, skimmer box, basic maintenance kit, and coping already integrated — so there's far less to assemble on site. Add heating, salt or mineral sanitation, Wi-Fi automation, or therapy jets to tailor it.
Bi-luminite™ color and finishes
The Bi-luminite 3D color layering (Sapphire, Evolution, Pacific, Quartz) gives the water a luminous, three-dimensional look that's engineered to keep looking new for longer — not just a flat painted color. Outside, choose composite coping and fascia, sleek aluminum composite panels, or a "nude" shell where you're decking right up to the edge.
So when we say "fiberglass," we mean a premium, super-tough, self-standing pool — not the budget shell the word usually brings to mind.
Which is right for your Nashville yard?
Honestly, the simplest way to decide comes down to one question: is the pool going in the ground, or sitting above it?
Going fully in-ground? Lean concrete.
If the pool is dropping fully into the ground, the precast concrete Plungie is usually our pick — you get the crisp, premium concrete look and finish, decades of durability, and it's craned into a prepared hole in days. For a clean in-ground pool, concrete is hard to beat.
Going above ground (or partly raised)? Fiberglass wins.
This is where The Little Pool Co. fiberglass really shines. Because the shell is self-standing, it's built to sit above ground — and it gives you more shapes, colors, and finish choices for that above-ground look, at a better cost than concrete for the same job. Just as important: a concrete pool weighs around 25,000 lbs, so craning it up and setting it above ground gets expensive or simply isn't possible on a tight lot. The fiberglass shell is under 3,000 lbs, so the crane stops being a dealbreaker. And if you change your mind, the same pool can still be buried in-ground.
It often comes down to the look you want.
For a lot of homeowners the deciding factor is aesthetics — the shape, the water color, how it sits in the yard. Concrete gives you that built-in, architectural in-ground feel; fiberglass gives you a wider palette (including the Bi-luminite colors) and the freedom to raise it, wrap it in decking, or float it on a slope. The quickest way to know is to tell us about your yard and the look you're after — we'll point you to the better fit, no pressure either way.
Fiberglass vs. Concrete FAQs
Is fiberglass or concrete better for a small Nashville backyard?
For most small or sloped Nashville yards, a precast concrete plunge pool is the sweet spot — it's craned in and swimmable in days, comes in compact sizes, and the concrete handles tricky sites well. Fiberglass is a strong choice when access is very tight or you want the lowest upfront price and fastest possible drop-in.
Which costs less, fiberglass or concrete?
Fiberglass usually has a slightly lower upfront price for a like-for-like pool, while a precast concrete shell runs about $25,000–$35,000 and a complete, finished install typically lands between $85,000 and $160,000 depending on the model, your site, and the features. Site work — access, slope, decking, and equipment — narrows the gap between the two more than the shell price does.
How long does each pool last?
A quality fiberglass shell typically lasts 25+ years and a precast concrete pool can last decades with basic care. Concrete is the more durable, more customizable material; fiberglass is lighter and lower-maintenance day to day because of its smooth gelcoat surface.
Which pool installs faster?
Both are far faster than a poured-in-place gunite pool. A precast concrete Plungie and a fiberglass shell are each manufactured off-site and craned into a prepared hole, so the disruptive part of the job is measured in days, not the months a traditional concrete build takes.
Is Wallaby's fiberglass the same as regular fiberglass?
No. We install The Little Pool Co. pools, which use a Ceramic Core composite (10,000 psi, no water absorption, so no osmosis) and a full structural exoskeleton that makes them self-standing — in-ground, above-ground, sloped, or rooftop. The pump, filter, LED light, skimmer, and coping are built in at the factory, and the Bi-luminite™ 3D color is engineered to stay looking new. It's a premium, super-tough shell, not a standard budget fiberglass pool.
Should I get fiberglass or concrete for an above-ground pool?
For an above-ground or raised pool, fiberglass is usually the better choice. The Little Pool Co. shell is self-standing and only weighs about 3,000 lbs, so it sits above ground easily and gives you more shapes, colors, and finishes for that look — at a lower cost. A concrete pool weighs around 25,000 lbs, so craning it up to sit above ground is expensive or impossible on a tight lot. For a fully in-ground pool, concrete becomes the stronger pick.