What’s the Best Material for Lining Your Pool?

The first thing you need to know about pool lining is what it is exactly. It’s the cover placed over the swimming pool’s structure. It goes completely over the walls and the floor of your pool, working hard to retain water, and to help maintain a clean appearance. Who would want to swim in a pool that’s half empty, with dirty water? No one, so you have to reline, and we have tips to keep in mind here for when you do, but let’s help you decide what kind of lining you want first.

When is it time to reline your pool?

To keep your pool in good shape, you have to occasionally reline it. If you just let it go, eventually you’ll start to see cracks and rips in it. That’s the most obvious sign that it is time. Even if some cracks and rips are too small to see, you’ll notice as you start to lose the water in your pool. Sometimes it’s slow, making it nearly impossible to notice.

Then you will start to visibly suffer from UV and chemical damage. Most pool liners today will resist fading from UV for a certain amount of time, but none are completely immune to it. Over time, you’ll see the color begin to fade and feel your pool liner become brittle. If it’s gotten to this point, you need to reline it. Now your chemicals are unbalanced, which means they aren’t properly cleaning the pool, and it’s become unsafe to swim in more ways than one.

What’s the best material to reline your pool with?

You always could just reline your pool with the same material you lined it with the first time, but now is not only the perfect time to improve the pool lining, but make sure it lasts even longer than the first lining.

There are several kinds of material you can use, but only one can be the best. Between fiberglass, vinyl, and concrete pools, why not look at your options.

Fiberglass Pool

Fiberglass is made to be the last pool you have. It’s low maintenance with its gelcoat surface.

This makes sure the pool shell inhibits algae growth and the number of chemicals you need to maintain the pool. Better yet, unlike the other two, fiberglass is made to last. It needs no upkeep, there’s no vinyl lining that needs repair or cracking from ice pressure. There’s the one installation fee and that’s it, making it cheaper on multiple fronts.

Not only are they cheaper than other liners in the longer run, but they’re also easier to deal with. Outside of needing fewer chemicals to clean it, its installation moves more rapidly. Because the shells are built off-site, the installation is 3-6 weeks on average and comes with built-in seats and steps.

Vinyl-lined Pool

Vinyl is exactly what it sounds like, vinyl. It doesn’t last forever, with a ton of factors that make the material go up in price. Currently, it’s one of the most common materials used to line a pool, because it used to be the best available. Not necessarily anymore.

The best thing about it is how affordable it appears upfront, but over time, it costs more money needing to repair it. A 12’ round liner may only be $100, but doing it again and again, in the average-sized pool, and you’ll see the cost rise again and again too.

Concrete Pool

The most common type of concrete liner is gunite; it’s sprayed into the hole in the ground to make a pool shell. In Pennsylvania, it usually runs more expensive than vinyl because of our low temperatures during the fall, winter, and spring. When it gets cold outside, this will lead to ice pressure where the pool cracks. You’d need to repair constantly, or put money into steel, concrete, and expertise to keep it from cracking under ice pressure.

Basically, since it’s not easier to upkeep and it’s not cheaper, the only real bonus is its infinite customization. Since there is no set size or finish, you can pick whatever you want. It can be sprayed into any stable hole in the ground, you can have any shape you want. At the same time, this is potentially another thing you’d have to upkeep and fix on a regular basis. It’s the perfect example of one going for style or substance.

What are you getting?

Relining or getting a pool is a big step, and not a small decision no matter which one you pick. We have vinyl and fiberglass pools to meet your needs, which you can see in our locations. If you’re looking for a new pool, they come in tons of shapes and sizes for you to choose from.

If you still need help seeing the pros and cons of each lining type, and which one is best for you, contact us today! We have three locations across Pennsylvania in Tannersville, Dickson City, and Wilkes-Barre. Dive into your dream pool, dive into one that will last.

Posted by Aqua Leisure Pools & Spas in Pools