Types of Pool Liners

All pool liners are not alike

Most of us dream of looking out into our backyards and seeing a crystal blue pool waiting for us to dive in. And why not? Pools are synonymous with family fun, neighborhood barbeques, relaxation, and even much-needed stress-relieving exercise! For most of us, having a backyard pool is a distant dream, but if you’re lucky enough to make the dream a reality, you may want to educate yourself because there are choices when it comes to types of pool liners – so many choices.

First, not all pools are created equal. There are above-ground pool liners and in-ground pool liners. They differ in cost, appearance, and even maintenance.

Knowing a little about each type of pool liner will help you make the right decision for your family’s needs, whether you’re looking to replace a liner in an existing pool or start from scratch. The process can be expensive both upfront and ongoing, but if you love the outdoors, bringing a pool to your backyard is something you won’t regret.

Inground Pools

In 2022 RubyHome reported that there were 8% of US homes have a swimming pool 41% of those were inground pools. If you’re looking at installing a backyard pool and worried about the cost, it might benefit you to know that adding a pool to your home may increase your home’s value by up to 7%. Of course, you may be limiting the number of people interested – not everyone wants a pool. For those that do, you’ve increased your price and your odds of selling.

Inground pools or pool liners are categorized into three groups

• Vinyl liner
• Fiberglass
• Gunite or cement

Each of these types of pool liners has pros and cons, and they do more for you than just hold water. Pool liners ensure a safe, comfortable swim, and depending on the liner you chose, they can even help you easily maintain your pool. Let’s look at them one by one.

Vinyl Pool Liners

An inground vinyl pool liner is made of galvanized steel or stainless steel panels coated with zinc to give protection against corrosion. To withstand the water’s pressure, the panels, usually 42″ x 8 ft, are supported by the pool’s wall.

A vinyl sheet is placed on a sand or cement floor, which may contain a comfort foam. The wrinkles and bubbles are taken out by hand and a special blower for a flawless finish and then locked into place by a bead receiver.

Pros and Cons of Vinyl Pool Liners

Choosing a vinyl pool liner is less expensive than gunite or a fiberglass pool, costing approximately $28,000 to $40,000 depending upon the pool size, amount of extras, and part of the country you live in. If you’re looking for a bargain with a vinyl pool, you may be happy with the upfront cost, but you may end up paying for it down the road.

If taken care of properly, vinyl pool liners can last for up to 15 years, but that’s if conditions are perfect. You may find yourself replacing one in as little as five years – not such a bargain since replacement costs can run thousands.

You can choose liners between 20, 27, 28, or 30 mils, but there is conflicting information on which is the best. Some sources believe the thicker, the better, while others suggest going with the 20 mils thick because it will conform easier to the shape of the pool. To complicate your decision further, unless your vinyl is punctured, you will probably be replacing it for cracking or fading from the sunlight. Therefore, the thickness may not matter as much as you might think – just a thought when you’re ready to shell out extra for something you may not need.

If you decide you want to go with a vinyl pool liner, you need to care for it properly.

Effects on Punctures and Cuts on Vinyl Pool Liners

One of the most important rules for taking care of vinyl pool liners is to keep sharp objects away from the area. Think about your pets – their nails will easily puncture and tear a vinyl pool, so if you have a dog that loves to swim as mine does, vinyl may not be for you. Also, when deciding where you want to place your pool, keep it away from large trees where there might be falling limbs. You don’t want a storm to break off a branch and ruin your summer fun. Lastly, be careful mowing and edging to protect your pool from flying debris.

Chemicals

Puncturing your vinyl liner is only one way you may need to replace your liner early. A vinyl liner may be damaged by chemicals – the same chemicals used to keep your pool sparkling and absent of algae. If your pool is off balance or too many chemicals are used, your pool liner will pay for it by becoming brittle and cracking.

Pool Liner’s Top Edge

The six to eight inches above the water line is one of the most exposed areas of your pool’s lining. You want to keep it clean from oils. Some of the harsh cleaners you buy at the supermarket may make your exposed liner sparkle at first, but over time those same chemicals can dry it out, causing cracks and discoloration. You don’t want to replace your liner earlier than you need to. Therefore, you want to make sure to use chemicals recommended by the manufacturer.

Ways to keep your pool liner last

• keep animals away
• don’t plant near large trees that may have falling limbs
• Be careful of flying debris when mowing/edging around the pool area
• Make sure the chemicals in your pool are balanced

Customizable

One of the most notable pros to choosing vinyl pool liners is that if you can dream it, chances are, it can happen. First, there is no limit to the size or shape of your pool. If you believe your yard has too many turns around trees and structures, think freeform, and you could end up with a pool that is the perfect addition to any backyard.

Not only is size and shape part of the customization of a vinyl-lined pool. You can add depth – think of an end for a diving board and a shallow end for the little ones. If you live in a warm climate like Florida or Texas and need to stay cool during the summer, add a tanning ledge or bed to your pool. Nothing says relaxation more than having your chair halfway in the water. If you are not into tanning beds, no problem. Grab a float to relax on. You can also customize steps into and out of the pool. Since they are usually made of the same metal as the wall panels, they’re durable, and the vinyl liner will make them appear seamless.

Customizing your pool is only limited by your imagination. Add a swim-up bar, a black bottom pool, or turn the bottom into an emerald green ocean – no problem. The sky really is the limit when designing your vinyl pool. Unfortunately, the only thing you need to remember – with each customization, the price goes up – you knew there had to be a catch!

Pool Cracking

Many pool owners choose their pool because of the climate they live in. Just like any other metal or matter, your pool will contract in the winter and expand during the summer. This process can weaken some pools, such as cement, and cause cracks in the walls. A vinyl liner is no exception; extreme conditions can crack and tear a vinyl pool.

Smooth Pool Liners

Believe it or not, the smooth surface you get from a vinyl pool liner is a huge benefit. It may not sound like much, but if you’ve ever played all day in a cement pool – doing handstands, playing volleyball, swimming laps, and pushing against the walls, you know how blistered your feet and hands can become from the constant friction. A smooth liner reduces the friction allowing you hours of no-pain summer fun.

Not only does a smooth liner allow for fewer injuries during a day in the pool, but it also makes it difficult for algae to grow.

Use Fewer Chemicals

A vinyl liner pool is not porous like cement or gunite pools. Therefore, you don’t need to continually put chemicals in. This saves an average of 25% on chemicals – that’s a huge saving!

Pros of Vinyl Liner Pools 

• Most cost-effective of the three above-ground pools
• sleek vinyl provides a comfortable bottom
• vinyl is difficult for algae to grow
• Customizable
• Use fewer chemicals

Cons of a vinyl pool liner

• Vinyl can puncture or crack
• Vinal needs to be replaced every 15 years under perfect conditions
• Susceptible to cracking by oils, lotions, and harsh chemicals
• Vinyl can crack in cold climates
• Vinyl can fade in the sun

Concrete and Gunite Pools

Of the three types of pools, concrete/gunite is the most popular. It is the pool of choice for many people. A concrete pool is built from concrete, steel, or wood shells. The shell is then sprayed with concrete or gunite. The concrete is plastered and painted, so no liner is needed.

Like vinyl pool liners, concrete pools have many pros and cons.

Cost

The cost of a concrete pool is the most expensive of the three types of pools to both install and maintain.

A concrete pool is considered “high-end” and custom mainly due to the fact that all the work is done right in your backyard. This is great news for many who want to watch every detail of their pool as it’s being built. Others look at the building process as a hassle and may not wish to go through the building process.

Once the pool is complete, it is also more expensive to maintain because concrete is porous. Because of this, you use more chemicals than you would either a vinyl or a fiberglass pool. The cost to maintain a concrete pool is approximately 25% higher than you would spend on either a vinyl or fiberglass pool.

Pool Durability

Once you’ve paid the initial cost of installation, it can last for as long as 50 years, but you should resurface the pool every 10 to 15 years. You’ll know when it’s time to resurface your pool when you notice hairline fractures, an uneven texture, rust stains, and discoloration.

Rough Bottom

Unlike the smooth bottom a vinyl pool gives, the end result of a concrete pool is rough. Just roll your hand down the sides or bottom of the pool, and you’ll understand. This roughness can cause skin irritation and even scrapes and burns.

Pros of a concrete or gunite pool

• Durability
• Customized and “high-end”
• limitless shape/color possibilities

Cons of a concrete or gunite pool

• Most expensive of the three types to build and maintain
• Rough Bottom
• Takes longer to complete
• Can crack in severe weather

Fiberglass Pool Liners

If you’ve ever driven down a highway and gotten behind a wide load carrying a pool, you know what a fiberglass pool liner looks like before it’s installed. A fiberglass pool is always prefabricated in a factory and transported. Therefore unlike the concrete pool, the building doesn’t happen in the backyard.

Cost

A fiberglass pool seems to be stuck in the middle for many pros and cons, and the cost is no exception. Like vinyl pool liners, it is not porous and therefore does not cost as much to keep chemically balanced. While one would assume a prefabricated pool would be less expensive since it’s more of a “cookie cutter” than a vinyl pool liner, it is not (unless you choose a vinyl liner with lots of extras).

Durability

A fiberglass pool is not quite as durable as gunite but more so than a vinyl liner. A fiberglass pool has a lifespan of around 20 to 25 years, but there are a few pool companies that claim their “formula” will last up to 50 years which compares to a gunite pool. You will know when it’s time to resurface your fiberglass pool when you begin seeing hairlike tracks through the coating.

One of the benefits of a fiberglass pool is that it is flexible when it comes to harsh weather conditions. Therefore, it is less prone to cracking as it expands and contracts.

Surface

The surface area is smooth and slippery, giving it points above the rough cement pool. While some enjoy this feature, others believe it is difficult to maneuver around and complain that the surface is too slippery.

One of the biggest downfalls of a fiberglass pool is its inability to change. What you see is what you get. Usually, there are a few sizes to choose from and a few colors, but that’s it. The shapes are typically a “T” or  “L” shape measuring anywhere from 10×20 foot pools to 16×40.

Some of these pools do come with built-in benches and tanning ledges, but you won’t get to change or customize them. If you’re willing to choose a premade template, you will get a durable pool filled with family fun for years to come.

Pros of Fiberglass Pool Liners

• Middle of the road price
• Lower maintenance than gunite
• durable
• reduced backyard construction
• Flexible material – best for cold climates

Cons of Fiberglass Pool Liners

• no customization
• Limited shapes, sizes, and color

Above Ground Pools

There are many reasons why people choose an above-ground pool instead of an in-ground pool. First is the cost. If you’re on a budget and long to cool off on a hot day, an above-ground pool may be the right choice for you. Other concerns are usage. If you live in a climate with long winters like Vermont, you may only have eight weeks or so to use your pool. It’s difficult to invest a lot of money for a short amount of time. There are also existing structures and trees to consider. If you live in a wooded area, you may not want to sacrifice your trees or spend the money to get rid of deep roots to make room for a pool.

Reasons to choose an above-ground pool

• Budget
• Usage
• Existing structures

When caring for an above-ground liner, it’s important to use the same precautions you would with an inground vinyl –

• don’t use harsh chemicals,
• don’t over-chemical your pool, and
• be sparing with tanning lotions and oils.

When taken care of properly, your vinyl can last up to 9 years!

There are three types of above-ground pool liners. They are –

• overlap liners
• beaded liners
• uni-bead liners

Overlap Pool Liners

As the name implies, it fits over the bottom of the pool up the sides and drapes the side of the pool. There should be a 3 to 5-inch overhang, which is secured by a rail. It is easily installed and a good choice for beginners. It’s almost foolproof in that if you’re a little off, you can adjust the vinyl even as you fill your pool with water.

Beaded Pool Liners

Some argue that beaded liners are easier to install than overlap liners. Simply hang the bead receiver over the pool and snap on the liner. It’s as easy as hanging a shower curtain. The receiver allows for an even distribution. And if you’re replacing an old overlap liner, you can purchase a conversion kit.

Universal Bead

A Universal Bead liner can be used with any setup. To use it as an overlap, open the j-hook and place it over the wall. If you plan on using it for beaded-style pools, trim off the j-hook portion along the groove mark, and it will work as a beaded liner.