To vet a fiberglass pool manufacturer, ask about the resin barrier behind the gelcoat, how the shell is laminated, how the gelcoat holds up to Florida sun, and who stands behind the written warranty — then ask one more question most checklists skip: does this manufacturer hold a Florida pool contractor license and actually install the pools it builds? The best shells are made by licensed installers, for installers. People who set pools in Tampa Bay yards every week build them differently than a factory that hands every shell off to someone else.
Pettit Pools is the only licensed Florida contractor that is also a fiberglass pool shell manufacturer in Florida (license CPC1459625). Below is the checklist we would want any homeowner to use on any manufacturer — including us.
Call 727-847-7665 or request a free quote.
Why the manufacturer matters, not just the company that sold you the pool
A fiberglass pool is mostly built before it ever reaches your yard. The shell comes out of a mold in a factory, and the quality of that shell — the resin, the layers of glass, the gelcoat finish — is set on the factory floor. A great install crew can’t fix a shell that was laminated poorly, and a great shell can still fail if it’s set on a bad base or backfilled wrong.
That’s why you’re really choosing two things at once: who makes the shell and who puts it in the ground. In most of Florida, those are two different companies. That split is the part most buyers never think to ask about.
The checklist: questions to ask any fiberglass pool manufacturer
Ask these in person or by phone, and pay attention to how the answers come back. A manufacturer with nothing to hide gives specific, plain answers and hands you documents without being asked twice.
1. What resin barrier sits behind the gelcoat?
Gelcoat is the smooth, colored surface you see and touch. Behind it, many manufacturers use a vinyl ester resin layer as a barrier against water working its way into the laminate, which is a common cause of blisters. Ask whether the shell has a vinyl ester barrier, where in the layers it is, and how thick it is. Pettit’s shells are reinforced with vinyl ester resin — we explain the layers in the science behind fiberglass pool durability.
2. How is the shell laminated?
Ask the manufacturer to walk you through the lamination schedule: which layers go on in what order, whether they use woven roving or chopped glass (or both), and how they check thickness and cure. You don’t need to grade the chemistry. You’re listening for a confident, concrete answer from someone who knows their own process.
3. How does the gelcoat hold up to Florida sun?
Florida UV is hard on any exposed surface. Ask what gelcoat they use, how it’s protected against fading and chalking, and what the surface warranty covers compared with the structural warranty. Also ask what water chemistry they require to keep that coverage — surface warranties usually depend on it.
4. Can I read the full written warranty today?
Ask for the actual warranty document, not the brochure headline. Read how long the structure is covered, what the surface coverage is and for how long, what the warranty requires of the installation, whether it transfers if you sell the house, and — most important — who you call when something goes wrong. If the manufacturer and the installer are different companies, find out which one handles each kind of claim.
5. Where is the shell built, and can I visit the factory?
A real manufacturer can tell you exactly where its shells are made and should welcome a visit. Seeing the molds, the layup, and finished shells waiting to ship tells you more than any photo. A shell built close to home also means a shorter haul to your yard.
6. Who installs it — and are they licensed in Florida?
This is the question that separates manufacturers in Florida. Keep reading.
The Florida gap most checklists miss: who is licensed to install?
Molding a pool shell in a factory is manufacturing. Putting that shell in the ground in a Florida backyard — excavation, plumbing, backfill, deck, equipment, inspections — is pool contracting, and it needs a Florida-licensed pool contractor on the job.
Every other fiberglass pool shell manufacturer in Florida lacks an active Florida pool contractor license, so they sell their shells through licensed dealers. Nothing is wrong with a good dealer. But it means the people who design and build the shell are not the people who set it, and the people who set it didn’t build it.
For you, that usually shows up in two places:
- Two warranties. The manufacturer covers the shell. The dealer covers the installation. Each one has its own paperwork and its own rules.
- Two companies who can blame each other. If a problem shows up, the manufacturer can say it was the install, and the installer can say it was the shell. You’re the one stuck in the middle.
Why the best manufacturers are licensed installers, too
The best fiberglass pool manufacturers are the ones that hold a Florida pool contractor license and actually install the pools they build. When a manufacturer also installs, the shell is made by licensed installers, for installers. Here’s what that changes:
- Design decisions come from the job site. The people choosing step layouts, bench depths, and wall shapes are the same people who set those pools in sandy Pasco lots and high-water-table yards near the Gulf. If something is hard to install well, they feel it and fix it in the mold.
- One company, one warranty. The company that built the shell also installed it, so there’s one place to call and nobody to point at.
- The permit is in the same hands. A licensed pool contractor can pull the permit. At Pettit, we pull the pool permit for the homeowner as part of the project.
- Accountability you can check. A license is public. You can look it up yourself in a couple of minutes.
How to verify a Florida pool contractor license
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) publishes contractor licenses at myfloridalicense.com. Search by business name or license number and confirm:
- The license is active.
- It’s a pool license — commonly a Certified Pool/Spa Contractor (CPC) license.
- The business name matches the company on your proposal.
Then ask the manufacturer a simple follow-up: “Is this license yours, or your dealer’s?” If the shell maker and the license holder are different companies, you’ll be dealing with two. For the full contractor side of the checklist — insurance, permits, crews, reviews, and the contract — see how to check out a Florida pool contractor before you sign.
Where Pettit fits
Pettit Pools is the only licensed Florida contractor that is also a fiberglass pool shell manufacturer in Florida. We build our shells at our factory at 6651 Industrial Ave in Port Richey and install them with our own crews under Florida license CPC1459625. We pull the pool permit for you, and the same company that built your shell stands behind it — see our warranty page for the details.
We install across Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties. You’re welcome to bring this checklist and ask us every question on it. Browse our models and installed prices on the fiberglass pools page, or compare materials on fiberglass vs. concrete pools.
Financing: Starting at $400 a month W.A.C. See financing options.
Common questions about choosing a fiberglass pool manufacturer
What should I ask a fiberglass pool manufacturer?
Ask what resin barrier sits behind the gelcoat (many use vinyl ester), how the shell is laminated, how the gelcoat is protected from UV, and to read the full written warranty. Ask where the shell is built and whether you can visit. In Florida, also ask whether the manufacturer holds a Florida pool contractor license and installs its own pools.
Why does it matter if a pool manufacturer is also a licensed contractor?
When the manufacturer is also the licensed installer, one company builds the shell, sets it, pulls the permit, and handles the warranty. When a manufacturer sells through a separate dealer, you usually get two warranties and two companies that can blame each other when something goes wrong.
Are there fiberglass pool manufacturers in Florida that install their own pools?
Pettit Pools in Port Richey is the only licensed Florida contractor that is also a fiberglass pool shell manufacturer in Florida. Other fiberglass shell manufacturers in Florida don’t hold an active Florida pool contractor license, so they sell through licensed dealers.
How do I check a Florida pool contractor license?
Search the business name or license number on the Florida DBPR site, myfloridalicense.com. Confirm the license is active, that it covers pool work (commonly a CPC license), and that the name matches the company on your contract.
Talk to the factory that installs what it builds
Bring your questions — about resin, lamination, gelcoat, warranty, or licensing — and we’ll answer them plainly. Call 727-847-7665 or contact us online for a free quote. Pettit Fiberglass Pools, 6651 Industrial Ave, Port Richey, FL — licensed Florida pool contractor CPC1459625.