What a fiberglass pool is
A fiberglass pool is one piece. The shell, steps, benches, tanning ledge and sometimes a spa are molded together in a factory, with a smooth gelcoat surface on the inside. Latham's shells are at least a quarter inch of fiberglass-reinforced plastic under that gelcoat, according to their independent code evaluation.
The shell is trucked to your street as an oversize load, lifted into the hole by crane, set on a level bed of crushed stone, and backfilled while it fills with water. Nothing has to cure in your backyard. Once the plumbing, the concrete deck and the automatic safety cover are in, it's a pool.
Why we install fiberglass
Predictability. A concrete pool is built in your yard by a chain of separate crews (steel, shotcrete, plaster, tile), and each one is a place for the schedule to slip. A fiberglass shell arrives finished. We do the excavation, the concrete and the landscaping ourselves, so far fewer people have to show up on time for your pool to get done.
It also usually costs less than custom concrete on the Wasatch Front. Customers have shown us concrete quotes of $250,000 to $300,000; our fiberglass pools are coming in around $150,000. Here's what that number includes.
Latham, plainly
We install Latham fiberglass shells, bought through a Utah Latham dealer. Latham describes itself as the largest fiberglass pool maker in North America; it isn't the only one. Its lineup runs from small plunge pools to 16 × 40 family pools, every shell has an independent code evaluation (ICC-ES ESR-2014) behind it, and there's a Latham dealer close to home.
You can browse every Latham shape on Latham's site, or start with the sizes we see most.
What every MP pool includes
- Jason's site visit, the pool drawings and the city permit
- The Latham shell, delivered and set by crane
- Excavation, the stone base and the backfill, done the way Latham's installation guide calls for
- Plumbing, the pump, filter and equipment
- The concrete deck and coping
- An automatic safety cover, on every pool
- Filling the pool and a walk-through with your family
The pool is finished when the deck is poured, the equipment is running, the pool is full and the cover is on. Landscaping, heaters, spas, slides and water features are priced in the same written proposal, so nothing shows up as a surprise later.
The warranty, in plain words
The shell is covered by Latham's warranty, not ours, so read it. In its 2026 version, Latham covers structural leaks in the shell for the original buyer. It covers the gelcoat surface against osmotic blistering, and says it does not cover fading, staining or hairline cracks.
The part that matters on Utah ground: the warranty is void if groundwater collects under or around the pool, and it excludes damage from poor drainage and hydrostatic pressure. It also doesn't transfer to the next owner, and short-term rental use voids it. That's why we treat the drainage plan as part of the pool, not part of the landscaping.
Who fiberglass doesn't suit
- Pools wider than 16 ft or longer than about 40 ft. A shell has to travel by road, and about 16 ft is the practical limit.
- A one-of-a-kind shape. You choose from the molds that exist. They're many, but they're not unlimited.
- Serious diving. Most Latham shells are rated no-diving. One deep model, the Synergy Grand, is rated for it.
- Yards a crane can't reach. The shell goes over the house or along the side yard on a crane. Very tight access can mean a bigger crane or a different plan, and Jason checks it on the visit.
If one of these is a deal-breaker, we'll tell you on the visit rather than sell you the wrong pool.
Next
Compare fiberglass and concrete honestly, see how we install it, step by step, or pick a shape and see it in a yard.