In Sherman Oaks, where backyards can swing from flat lawns to terraced hillsides in a matter of steps, choosing between fiberglass and concrete for a new pool is not just a style question—it is a decision about how you want to build, live, and maintain your space for years. Both options can be beautiful and durable when designed for the site and executed well. The right choice depends on your yard’s character, your desired features, and the experience you want from design to daily use. Having guided homeowners across the neighborhood through this decision, I find that clarity comes from understanding how each system behaves in our soils, how installation unfolds on our streets, and how ownership feels through the seasons. It also helps to get oriented with reliable overviews of pool installation so the sequence and vocabulary make sense as you compare.
What Fiberglass Offers Sherman Oaks Homeowners
Fiberglass pools arrive as pre-shaped shells, smooth to the touch and consistent in color. One of their most attractive qualities is the speed and predictability of installation once the site is prepared. After excavation and base preparation, the shell is set—often by crane when access is tight—and plumbing connections, backfill, and decking follow. For homeowners who want to minimize the duration of active construction, that compressed timeline feels like a gift. The gelcoat surface is non-porous, which slows algae growth and makes water care straightforward. Many families appreciate that the surface feels gentle on feet and swimsuits, and that the integrated steps and benches in most models create inviting lounging areas without additional design work.
On sloped lots, fiberglass can still be a contender. A stable, level base and strategic retaining allow a shell to sit comfortably, and crane placement can actually simplify logistics where side-yard access is limited. However, design flexibility is bound by the available molds. If your heart is set on a custom shape or on features like a long, vanishing edge tailored to a specific view, the fiberglass catalog may not match your vision precisely. For many homeowners, though, the available sizes and styles align well with real-world yards and lifestyles.
Where Concrete (Shotcrete/Gunite) Excels
Concrete pools are bespoke. They are formed and reinforced on site, which means shape, depth transitions, ledges, benches, and integrated spas can be tailored to your exact preferences. On a hillside with a signature view, a vanishing edge can be tuned to the angle of the valley below; on a compact lot, every inch can be used efficiently. The structural adaptability of concrete also suits sites with complex soil conditions or engineering requirements. If a terrace needs a particular retaining strategy or if load paths must be coordinated with existing structures, a custom shell gives engineers broad latitude to solve gracefully.
The tradeoff for that freedom is a longer, more involved construction process. Excavation, steel, plumbing, electrical, shotcrete, curing, and finishes unfold over a series of carefully sequenced steps. For homeowners who enjoy being part of a craft-driven project, this can be rewarding; you watch the pool emerge layer by layer, each decision fine-tuned in place. For others, the additional duration and site activity require more patience and neighbor coordination.
Texture, Color, and the Way Water Looks
Fiberglass gelcoats offer a uniform, glossy surface that reads as crisp and clean. Color choices vary by manufacturer but generally lean toward coastal blues and grays. Concrete interiors range widely—from exposed aggregate pebble finishes to polished quartz looks—each with its own texture and shimmer. In Sherman Oaks sun, the difference shows up in how water captures light. A light fiberglass blue can pop brightly at noon and glow softly at dusk; a deeper pebble aggregate might offer a lagoon-like richness. There is no right answer, only the mood you prefer and how it complements your home and garden.
Consider touch as well. If you favor a silky-smooth feel, fiberglass is hard to beat. If you prefer the natural traction of a pebble interior underfoot, concrete offers multiple textures graded for comfort. Families with very young children sometimes lean toward smoother surfaces, while lap swimmers may prioritize durable traction on steps and entries. In either case, materials have advanced considerably, and both categories now offer sophisticated palettes that age gracefully when maintained.
Engineering for Our Hills and Soils
Hillside or not, Sherman Oaks soils demand respect. For fiberglass, the base must be carefully compacted and leveled, often with a gravel bed that facilitates drainage. Backfill—commonly clean gravel—supports the shell evenly and allows water to move away from the structure. Hydrostatic relief measures and proper plumbing penetrations protect the shell during heavy rains or when the pool is temporarily drained. With concrete, engineering is tuned to lateral earth pressures and, where needed, retaining elements that stabilize terraces. Rebar density, wall thickness, and footing design reflect both the shape you want and the forces your site exerts. In seismic country, details like bonding, expansion joints at adjacent hardscape, and thoughtful equipment placement contribute to long-term performance.
Access is another engineering-adjacent consideration. On narrow Sherman Oaks streets, a crane can place a fiberglass shell with surprising elegance, reducing the back-and-forth of small equipment through a side yard. For concrete builds, staging may require more days of coordinated deliveries and inspections. Neither approach is inherently disruptive when planned well, but the rhythm of the site will feel different depending on the system you choose.
Features, Hydraulics, and Daily Use
Most fiberglass models now include tanning ledges, benches, and thoughtful step designs. Add-ons like integrated spas may be available within certain lines, though positioning and size are dependent on the mold. With concrete, every feature is on the table—beach entries, custom sunken seating, statement water walls, or a spa perched to sip the sunset. Hydraulically, both systems benefit from well-planned circulation with variable-speed pumps and returns positioned to keep the surface clear. In sloped settings, head calculations and pipe sizing ensure efficient operation.
Heating and lighting options are similarly flexible for both categories. Consider how and when you swim. If evening soaks are your ritual, lighting schemes that layer ambient glow with task lighting on steps make a world of difference. If you aim for morning laps before the day warms, a simple, efficient heating strategy that takes the edge off cool water will make consistency more inviting. The more your design reflects your routines, the more your pool becomes a daily joy rather than a weekend novelty.
Maintenance and Longevity
Fiberglass’s non-porous surface slows algae growth, which can translate to easier chemistry management with fewer aggressive cleanings. Over many years, gelcoat may eventually call for refinishing, a process that is typically less invasive than a full interior redo. Concrete interiors are durable and customizable; their long life depends on balanced water and periodic maintenance suited to the finish you choose. Pebble and quartz interiors have excellent track records when cared for properly. Equipment choices—pump, filter, automation—are largely shared between systems, so day-to-day routines feel similar when the design is thoughtful.
Repairs follow different paths. Minor surface blemishes in fiberglass can often be spot-repaired, though color matching demands skill. With concrete, surface work is tied to the specific interior finish; patching pebble or quartz can blend well when executed by experienced hands. Structural concerns are rare in both when design and installation are sound, which is why team selection matters as much as material choice.
Neighborhood Considerations and Aesthetics
Sherman Oaks values curb appeal and neighborly rhythm as much as private enjoyment. For fiberglass, the most visible day is often crane day, a brief but impressive moment that places the shell over house or trees. Clear communication with neighbors and precise timing keep the spectacle orderly. For concrete, there are more days of visible activity but also a sense of craftsmanship unfolding—rebar lattices, formwork, and finishes laid with care. Whichever you choose, plan for dust control, respectful parking, and tidy staging that reflect well on your household throughout the build.
Design cohesion is the throughline. Tie pool colors to your home’s palette, echo stone or tile from the interior, and let plantings soften transitions. On sloped lots, terraces that echo the home’s lines make the pool feel anchored. On flat pads, a strong axis from the back door to the water draws you outside naturally and makes the yard feel larger.
Choosing Between the Two
When clients ask which is “better,” I ask how they want to live. If speed, predictability, and a smooth feel are high priorities—and if a catalog shape matches your space—fiberglass may be your best fit. If a custom composition, tailored features, or a view-driven edge is the dream, concrete offers the freedom to tune every line. Your site may tip the scales, too. Complex slopes with integrated retaining often sync naturally with concrete’s flexibility, while tight access and a desire for quick installation may favor fiberglass. Either path leads to a backyard that changes how you use your home when the design honors the realities of your property and the rhythms of your life.
As you weigh the options, spend time with overviews of pool installation so that timelines, inspections, and technical vocabulary feel familiar. The more grounded you are in process, the easier it is to spot the choice that will feel effortless day after day.
FAQ: Fiberglass vs. Concrete in Sherman Oaks
Q: Which type installs faster?
A: Fiberglass typically has a shorter active installation period once the site is prepared, as the shell arrives ready to set. Concrete unfolds over more stages, which allows custom shaping but takes longer.
Q: Is one better for sloped lots?
A: Both can work. Concrete provides maximum design flexibility for integrated retaining and custom edges. Fiberglass can be placed successfully with a stable base and thoughtful terracing, often using a crane for access.
Q: How do surfaces feel underfoot?
A: Fiberglass is silky-smooth. Concrete interiors vary from smooth quartz to textured pebble; each offers a different combination of traction and feel.
Q: What about maintenance?
A: Fiberglass’s non-porous surface can simplify water care. Concrete finishes are durable with routine maintenance tuned to the material. In both cases, balanced water and proper circulation are the keys to easy ownership.
Q: Can both support features like spas and tanning ledges?
A: Yes. Fiberglass models often include integrated ledges and benches. Concrete allows custom placement and sizing of any feature, including fully integrated spas and vanishing edges.
Q: How does equipment differ between the two?
A: Equipment is largely similar. The difference lies in hydraulic design and placement relative to the pool’s shape and elevation, which a good team will tune for efficiency and quiet operation.
Q: Which feels more “custom”?
A: Concrete, by nature, is fully custom. Fiberglass feels curated—chosen from refined shapes with built-in ergonomics. Both can look high-end when integrated with cohesive decking, lighting, and landscape.
Q: What influences the final decision most?
A: Your site, timeline preferences, desired features, and how you want the pool to relate to your home and view. When those factors are clear, the right choice often becomes obvious.
If your Sherman Oaks backyard is ready for a transformation, now is the moment to choose the path that aligns with your lifestyle. Walk the yard at different times of day, picture how you will move from kitchen to water, and imagine the evenings you want to create. Then continue your research with a practical guide to pool installation and connect with a team that can bring your fiberglass or concrete vision to life with care and clarity.