The interior surface of a fiberglass pool is called the gelcoat. It’s smooth to the touch and resistant to scratches, UV and treated water. This interior will fade over time, usually 10 - 15 years which it can then be rejuvenated and brought back to life, looking like a completely new pool! Steps or tanning ledges are designed to have an anti-slip texture, but even that’s not rough.
Concrete pools are exactly that, a concrete structure so they are incredibly durable. From there you can either have a pebblecrete, jewels 4 pools, tiled or painted surface, which are all low maintenance and reliable surfaces to expect 15 - 30 years of life.
Tip: the interior finish (style, colour, type) can make or break a pool, ensure you 100% happy with your choice.
The benefit of having a concrete pool is that if the surface does wear or tire you can reapply a new surface to totally transform the appearance of the pool!
Check out PebbleCrete's Site for the latest recommended PebbleCrete Finishes.
If you want to add jewels to add a sparkly finish to your concrete pool then head on over to Jewels 4 Pools to check out their latest catalogue of pool finishes! Make sure to go directly to their site as there has been a wave of unscrupulous imitations out there that sell substandard products under the Jewels 4 Pools Label.
If you want a more elegant finish for your pool then Mr Pool Man recommends Ezarri Pool Tiles, they're stylish and classy at the same time.