A vinyl pool liner is a good alternative for those who have an exiting pool that needs renovating. Compared to a new concrete surface, vinyl will normally cost you much less. Also, you can choose from a variety of vibrant colours and finishes most of which are very smooth to touch. Most vinyl manufactures offer longer warranties these days which may also prove to be useful. However, it is always worth asking a few details about what exactly is covered under the warranty.
Benefits of vinyl lined pools
If you have an old or outdated pool surface, a vinyl pool liner will cover it completely. Also, a new vinyl surface will be very smooth and nice to swim in. Vinyl is one of the cheapest ways to have a smooth blue interior in your pool. It also means that you do not have to jackhammer out the old concrete surface saving you a lot of time and money.
Vinyl is algae resistant
Remember, vinyl is very algae resistant because the material is so smooth. For example, black spot algae cannot grow on vinyl because of its smoothness. This smoothness prevents the algae from finding a textured area to hide and grow. Also, dirt and other materials are easy to clean because of the pool surface being so smooth
Vinyl is stain resistant
Although they can stain, vinyl pools are usually very stain resistant. As mentioned above, the smoothness of the surface helps prevent staining. This means that dirt, leaves and other contaminates normally just brush away or fade away in a few days. Also, when these surfaces are stained the removal process is often easy to do.
Downsides of a vinyl pool liner
Vinyl lined pools will fade over time due to the UV light from the sun. The waterline is normally the first area of the surface that fades. This is because it is most exposed to sunlight.
Vinyl becomes brittle over time
Vinyl also becomes less flexible and brittle over time and this can cause it to tear and crack. It will often first appear in areas where the vinyl is under stress or being stretched (such as the waterline). These tears and cracks can be repaired but you may not be happy with the patching and the obvious colour difference. Also, in some cases these repairs can look very unsightly and really stand out.
Vinyl can crease and shift over time
In some cases the vinyl interior will develop creases where parts of the surface overlap forming a crease line. These often happen on the floor of the pool. Sometimes you can feel them with your feet when walking in the pool. Dirt and slime can often form along crease lines too which makes then even more obvious. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that the surface is measured and installed correctly.
Microbial stains on Vinyl Liners can occur
Unbalanced water care will bleach vinyl
If your pool water is out of balance for a period of time, you may notice that the vinyl under the water may begin to fade. This is because the unbalanced water will bleach the blue colour out of your surface. Remember, the best way to prevent this is to maintain the water all year.
Vinyl lifespan is usually less than concrete
In most cases, a vinyl pool will not last as long as a concrete or fibrelgass pool. For example, it is uncommon to see a vinyl pool that is 20+ years old with the original surface. On the other hand, it is very common to see a concrete or fibreglass pools that is more than 35 years old. However, vinyl technology has improved over the years. So it may be that new good quality vinyl may last longer than they have in the past.
