The most popular way to install a Compass pool
Inground Fibreglass Pools
Most Compass pools are installed in the ground, and every Compass model and size can be. Set level with your paving or decking, an inground fibreglass pool looks built in, because it is: Australian-made, self-cleaning and backed by the Compass Triple Warranty.
Why Most Compass Pools Go In the Ground
On a flat or gently sloping block, an inground installation is the simplest and most popular way to have a pool. The shell sits in an excavated hole, the coping finishes flush with your paving, decking or lawn, and the pool becomes part of the garden rather than something sitting on top of it.
Because Compass pools are made in a factory in one piece, an inground installation is quick and predictable. There is no on-site formwork, no weeks of concrete curing and no render that can crack or stain. The shell arrives finished: the colour, steps, benches and, if you choose it, the Vantage in-floor cleaning system are already built in.
Of the 158 Compass projects on our website, 119 are inground pools. The rest use Maxi Rib technology to sit partly or fully above ground on sites where digging in isn’t practical.
Inground, Partly Inground or Above Ground
Every Compass model can be installed all three ways. Your local dealer recommends the right one after looking at your site.
Fully Inground
The classic finish for flat and gently sloping blocks. The shell sits in the ground with paving, decking or lawn to the edge.
How it’s installed
Partly Inground
For sloping blocks: one side in the ground, the other raised with Maxi Rib, so there is less digging and no retaining walls.
Partly above ground pools
Fully Above Ground
Rock, steep slopes, tight access or a raised deck: the whole pool stands above natural ground on Maxi Rib or as an Express pool.
Above ground poolsHow an Inground Compass Pool Is Installed
A one-piece fibreglass shell turns a big building project into a well-rehearsed process. Your local authorised dealer manages it from the first visit to the first swim.
- 1
Free Site Visit and Design
Your dealer measures the space, checks access, soil and levels, and helps you choose the model, size, colour and position.
- 2
Approvals and Your Shell
Council or certifier approval is arranged, and your pool is made in the colour and with the options you chose.
- 3
Excavation and Base
The hole is dug to the shell’s exact shape and a level, compacted base is prepared so the pool sits perfectly.
- 4
Set, Plumb and Backfill
The shell is lifted in, levelled and plumbed, and backfilled as it is filled with water so it stays true.
- 5
Coping and Surrounds
A concrete bond beam locks the edge in place, ready for coping, paving or decking flush with the water.
- 6
Fencing, Handover and Swim
Compliant fencing is completed, the equipment is commissioned, and your dealer shows you how everything works.
Every Compass Model Can Be Installed Inground
From compact plunge pools for small yards to family pools with benches and spas, and Fastlane lap pools of 10 m and longer: choose the model for how you want to use it, and install it in the ground.
Sanctuary Pool
6.0 – 10.6m long
X-Trainer Pool
5.8 – 11.8m long
Plunge Pool
2.8 – 7m long
Vogue Pool
7.15 – 10.2m long
Fastlane Pool
10.3 – 30m long, custom lengths
Explore Combo PoolsCombo Pools
Featuring the all-new Fusion 8
Inground Compass Pools Across Australia and New Zealand
119 real inground installations by authorised Compass dealers: city courtyards, family backyards, acreage and resort-style gardens.
Vogue 8.2 PoolVercoe, Whangārei NZ
X-Trainer 10.2 PoolPacific, Auckland NZ
Fastlane 10.3 PoolViridian, Kangaroo Valley NSW
Sanctuary Pool and X-Trainer SpaViridian, Kangaroo Valley NSWSanctuary 6.0 PoolEvolution, Camden NSW
X-Trainer 11.8 Pool and SpaEvolution, Wilton NSW
Vogue 7.15 PoolGrey Marble, Port Macquarie NSWX-Trainer 8.2 Pool and SpaAtlantic, Westmeadows VICVogue 9.4 PoolQuartz, Doreen VICBuilt to Last in the Ground
An inground pool lives with soil movement, groundwater and decades of Australian sun. Compass builds each shell for exactly that.
- Ceramic Core shell: a stronger, more stable laminate that resists flexing and osmosis. About Ceramic Core
- HydroPro valve: relieves groundwater pressure under the pool, protecting it if it is ever emptied in wet conditions. How HydroPro works
- Bi-Luminite colour: a colour system made to hold its depth and shine in full sun. See the colours
- Vantage self-cleaning: in-floor nozzles that clean the pool and circulate the water. How Vantage works
- Triple Warranty: structural, surface and Vantage cover from one manufacturer. The warranty
Planning an Inground Pool: What Your Dealer Checks
Most questions are answered at the free site visit. These are the things that shape the design and the price.
Access
How the shell reaches the backyard: by truck and crane over the house, or through a side gate. Your dealer plans the lift so even tight blocks can usually have an inground pool.
Ground and Slope
Rock, clay, sand, fill and groundwater all change how the hole is dug and the base prepared. On a steeper slope, part of the pool can sit above ground with Maxi Rib instead of building retaining walls.
Position and Services
Sun, shade, wind, views from the house, setbacks, easements and sewer or stormwater lines decide where the pool goes and how big it can be.
Approvals and Fencing
Pools need council or certifier approval and a compliant barrier. Your dealer explains the local rules and builds them into the plan from day one.
Surrounds
Coping, paving, decking, landscaping and lighting finish the pool and are a big part of the total cost. Plan them with the pool, not after it.
Equipment and Running Costs
Filtration, heating and Vantage self-cleaning affect comfort and running costs for years. Your dealer helps you choose what suits how you will use the pool.
The Same Compass Technology in Every Pool
Inground or above ground, every Compass pool is built with the same technology and quality.
Vantage self-cleaning
In-floor jets push debris to one canister. No vacuuming, no robotic cleaner, fewer chemicals and no cold spots.
Discover VantageTriple Warranty
Structural, cosmetic and hydrostatic cover in one package, transferable to new owners for up to 25 years.
See the Triple WarrantyCeramic Core
A proprietary structural layer of vinyl ester resin and ceramic microspheres. Standard in every Compass pool.
About Ceramic CoreHydroPro™ valve
Our patented valve releases groundwater pressure five times faster than the standard industry valve.
About HydroProBi-Luminite colours
Nine exclusive colours built from two colour layers and large reflective chips for real 3D depth.
See Bi-LuminiteMaxi Rib technology
External structural ribs let a full-size pool stand partly or fully above ground on slopes, rooftops and tight sites.
See Maxi RibCustomisations
Spas, waders, beach zones, Sunpods, infinity edges and lighting, built into the shell at the factory.
See the optionsInground Pool Questions, Answered
What people ask most before choosing an inground fibreglass pool.
Can every Compass pool be installed in the ground?
Yes. Every Compass model and size, from plunge pools and family pools to long Fastlane lap pools, can be installed fully inground. The same models can also be installed partly or fully above ground with Maxi Rib if your site needs it.
How long does it take to install an inground fibreglass pool?
Much less time than a concrete pool. Because the shell is made in one piece in the factory, it is usually lifted in, levelled and plumbed within days of the excavation. The overall timeframe depends mostly on approvals, access, the ground and the paving, fencing and landscaping around the pool. Your local dealer gives you a timeline for your site.
How much does an inground fibreglass pool cost?
The total depends on the model and size, your site and access, the ground, and the surrounds you choose, such as paving, decking, fencing and landscaping. Your local authorised Compass dealer gives you an itemised, site-specific price after a free site visit, with no obligation.
Is fibreglass or concrete better for an inground pool?
For most backyards fibreglass is faster to install, smoother to the touch, lower in maintenance and less prone to algae and staining than concrete, with no resurfacing every decade or so. Compass adds a Ceramic Core shell, Bi-Luminite colour, the HydroPro valve and optional Vantage self-cleaning, backed by a Triple Warranty. Concrete is mainly chosen for one-off shapes that no fibreglass model fits.
Can I have an inground pool on a sloping block?
Often yes. On a gentle slope the pool can still go fully in the ground. On a steeper slope it usually makes sense to set part of the pool above ground with Maxi Rib, so there is less digging and no retaining walls. Your dealer will recommend the best option at the site visit.
What happens to an inground pool if the groundwater is high?
Groundwater pushes up on any inground pool, especially if it is emptied. Compass pools have the HydroPro valve, which relieves that pressure under the pool. Your dealer also checks the ground at the site visit and allows for it in the excavation and base.
Is Your Block Right for an Inground Pool?
Your local dealer can tell you at a free site visit: what will fit, how it will be installed and what it will cost, with no obligation.
Book a Free Site Visit
Thinking about an inground pool? A local Compass dealer will look at your backyard, explain the installation and give you a clear price, with no obligation and no pressure.
- Free, no-obligation site assessment
- Authorised local dealer visits your home
- Model, size and position recommended for your block
- Site-specific price for an inground pool
Get a Pool Quote
Accurate pricing with a site inspection, or a ballpark range to start.
Get a Pool QuoteBook a Free Site Visit
Your local dealer visits, measures your space and brings real colour samples.
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