The three pool types compared
| Option | Fiberglass | Vinyl liner | Gunite / concrete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished pool, small to large | $52,000–95,000 | $40,000–88,000 | $56,000–140,000 |
| Build time | 2–3 weeks of install (local builder) | About 3–5 weeks (estimate) | 1.5–3 months (local builder) |
| Shapes | Molded models up to about 16x41 | Rectangles and simple curves | Whatever you can draw |
| If groundwater is high | Lightest shell: never empty it | Liner can float off the wall if drained | Heavy, but still wants a relief valve |
| Long-term upkeep | Lowest; non-porous surface | New liner every several years | Resurface every 10–15 years |
| Who builds it here | A few dealers (Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Sunset) | Fewer; ask | Most custom builders |
Our ranges for a finished pool with pump, filter, coping and start-up. Fiberglass is anchored to a Breaux Bridge builder's published installed prices; gunite and vinyl lean on local permit values and national guides. Checked November 2026. A wider deck, a fence and the extras below are separate. The builder who walks your yard sets the real number.
Who sells fiberglass here
- Acadiana Pools, Breaux Bridge: Latham, Thursday and Imagine shells, with a priced online configurator (site).
- The Pool Guy, Broussard: listed as a San Juan dealer (San Juan). The Pool Shoppe in Opelousas is the other nearby San Juan listing.
- ASP Lafayette: a franchise that lists fiberglass, vinyl and concrete installation (ASP).
Brands differ in wall build, finish and warranty. Ask which shell, which warranty, and who services it.
Setting a shell on Acadiana ground
The crew digs to the shell's profile, levels a bed of crushed stone and lowers the pool by crane. When water seeps into the hole, a pit dug below the deep end and filled with stone gives the pump somewhere to pull from until the shell is set (River Pools). Backfill and filling the pool with water happen together, so the shell is never left sitting empty and light.
Sizes and shapes
Local lists run from a 14x8 plunge pool to shells about 16 by 41 ft. Freeform and rectangle versions of similar sizes are often within a few thousand dollars of each other. If you want an infinity edge, a big raised spa or an unusual footprint, you're in gunite territory.
Owning one
The gel surface is non-porous, so algae has a harder time in July heat, and there's no replastering. The surface can be slick underfoot. The rule that matters most here: talk to your builder before you lower the water for any reason.
Sources & further reading
- Acadiana Pools: fiberglass models and installed prices (checked Nov 2026). 122 models, $51,900–86,900 installed
- Acadiana Pools: what the installed price includes
- San Juan Pools: Louisiana dealer list
- ASP Lafayette: pool installation
- River Pools: hitting water during a dig
Editorial note: General planning information, not engineering or legal advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rules with your local officials and a qualified pro.