We are having a vinyl liner in-ground pool installed this June in Michigan. The fiberglass pool that priced out around $60K in 2019 jumped to $130k in 2022. I nearly gave up on my dream of a swimming pool. I didn’t like the idea of a vinyl pool but like you said the aesthetics have gotten much more refined. We are doing a cantilevered pool coping, a vinyl pattern that isn’t wildly busy with no (ugly in my opinion) decorative border, and vinyl wrapped corner stairs along with an automatic pool cover. I’m so excited. 24’x14’ all in with gas heater, sand filter, variable speed pump, 2” hard pipes, two pool lights, auto cover, exposed aggregate concrete deck, for $54k. Your videos have been sooooooo helpful. Thank you.
Here in Ontario when I was getting pricing for a new pool there was very little difference between vinyl, concrete and fiberglass. We went for fiberglass and have never had the potential issues you mention. Just as vinyl has come a long way, so has fiberglass.
The vinyl liner in the pool that I inherited when I bought the house that I am in is over 20 years old! It’s faded quite a bit but considering the temperatures are in the high 30’s in the summer and the low -20’s in the winter! I think it’s lasted well!!
A couple of pros about the vinyl lines is that if you do find a small leak it is easy to repair with a patch kit. Also, the vinyl feels nicer when compared to the abrasive feel of the concrete/Gunite when standing in the water, vinyl also is softer so it has a tiny bit of cushioning (again at least compared to concrete).
Iiuc another reason plaster doesn't do well with cold is that that colder water likes to pull calcium out of the concrete itself (low CSI). Adding calcium fixes this, but then there might be a scale problem during summer.
Hi, I recognise your problem. What I do when the water gets colder is to increase the alkalinity with 10 to 20 ppm. And, since I use stabilizer, I increase the PH to about 7.7 to 7.8. Both of these values can easily be decreased during summer time. Calcium level I leave alone for this problem.
My problem is finding a pool installer who offers vinyl liner pools in Florida. Everyone either offers fiberglass or concrete and they want 100k+ for a simple pool.
Realistically a comparable vinyl liner pool is only going to be maybe 20% cheaper than other pool options so still expensive overall. In some areas it can be hard to find certain types of builders. In my area concrete pool builders and renovators are like unicorns.
Thx for the video. I am new to the swimming pool world and am about to build a concrete swimming pool in a warm climate where it almost never freezes. I try to inform myself as much as possible and all finishes are possible. We are offered Ecofinish (fire-sprayed PE coating). Have you talked about that in previous videos? Of course the manufacturers and operators say it is very good???
I do not endorse this interior finish. I have seen too many failures in the field and being that it is a non cement based finish, and failure means a lot more money needing to be spent to strip out the failed surface with soda / sand blasting. Concrete pools should have a mortar based interior surface - pebble or plaster. Or tile if you have very deep pockets.
I have a "hybrid" pool built in the 70's (the bottom is all concrete and the vertical walls are fiberglass panels. It's not leaking, but looks terrible because much of the paint has chipped away. From what I've been told and even heard on your channel, painting these things can be a dangerous and costly endeavor. Does it ever make sense to install a vinyl liner in such a pool? (I'm also in the northeast US where it freezes)
Generally these pools lack sufficient support around the top rim to attach hardware for mounting the liner coping track. That is why these pools do not usually get switched out to vinyl pools.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Thank you, I thought that might be your answer.. I guess I'll have to find a way to safely paint it. None of the local pool companies are interested, I got a number for one guy who said he was the only guy left in town who specializes in this, and he then ghosted me.
@@Paul-jp8zz Late reply. It is fiberglass. Guessing it gets gel coated. Why not talk to a boat painter. That is mostly what they do is fiberglass gel coat. I can imagine it wouldn't be much difference.
Ii have a question. We are fixing to buy a new liner for our inground pool. We cant install until May when the temps are above 70 consistently and we are in Alabama. Is it ok to buy the liner now this month and keep it in the box until we get it installed?
I have tried to write about phthalate polymers in pool liners before as well as contacting every liner manufacturer I could find. None responded to my questions.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve , at least it's great to hear you've seriously considered this. I wouldn't expect any liner manufacturer to openly address the health issues directly related to soft plastics.
We are having a vinyl liner in-ground pool installed this June in Michigan. The fiberglass pool that priced out around $60K in 2019 jumped to $130k in 2022. I nearly gave up on my dream of a swimming pool. I didn’t like the idea of a vinyl pool but like you said the aesthetics have gotten much more refined. We are doing a cantilevered pool coping, a vinyl pattern that isn’t wildly busy with no (ugly in my opinion) decorative border, and vinyl wrapped corner stairs along with an automatic pool cover. I’m so excited. 24’x14’ all in with gas heater, sand filter, variable speed pump, 2” hard pipes, two pool lights, auto cover, exposed aggregate concrete deck, for $54k. Your videos have been sooooooo helpful. Thank you.
Who’s doing you pool can you send me the info or the company name please
@@robertoesquivel4691Where are you located in MI?
Here in Ontario when I was getting pricing for a new pool there was very little difference between vinyl, concrete and fiberglass. We went for fiberglass and have never had the potential issues you mention. Just as vinyl has come a long way, so has fiberglass.
The vinyl liner in the pool that I inherited when I bought the house that I am in is over 20 years old! It’s faded quite a bit but considering the temperatures are in the high 30’s in the summer and the low -20’s in the winter! I think it’s lasted well!!
Concrete used to be the way for super custom pools but now we can build Vinyl pool just the same now with all the cool features.
It is true that vinyl liner pools have definitely come a long way towards bridging the gap of customization that you can have with concrete pools.
A couple of pros about the vinyl lines is that if you do find a small leak it is easy to repair with a patch kit. Also, the vinyl feels nicer when compared to the abrasive feel of the concrete/Gunite when standing in the water, vinyl also is softer so it has a tiny bit of cushioning (again at least compared to concrete).
Iiuc another reason plaster doesn't do well with cold is that that colder water likes to pull calcium out of the concrete itself (low CSI). Adding calcium fixes this, but then there might be a scale problem during summer.
Great comment, thank you.
Hi, I recognise your problem. What I do when the water gets colder is to increase the alkalinity with 10 to 20 ppm. And, since I use stabilizer, I increase the PH to about 7.7 to 7.8. Both of these values can easily be decreased during summer time. Calcium level I leave alone for this problem.
I have a concrete pool and 100 percent agree.
My problem is finding a pool installer who offers vinyl liner pools in Florida. Everyone either offers fiberglass or concrete and they want 100k+ for a simple pool.
Realistically a comparable vinyl liner pool is only going to be maybe 20% cheaper than other pool options so still expensive overall. In some areas it can be hard to find certain types of builders. In my area concrete pool builders and renovators are like unicorns.
Thx for the video. I am new to the swimming pool world and am about to build a concrete swimming pool in a warm climate where it almost never freezes. I try to inform myself as much as possible and all finishes are possible. We are offered Ecofinish (fire-sprayed PE coating). Have you talked about that in previous videos? Of course the manufacturers and operators say it is very good???
I do not endorse this interior finish. I have seen too many failures in the field and being that it is a non cement based finish, and failure means a lot more money needing to be spent to strip out the failed surface with soda / sand blasting. Concrete pools should have a mortar based interior surface - pebble or plaster. Or tile if you have very deep pockets.
Mine is a vinyl lined pool...16 x 32 inground.
I have a "hybrid" pool built in the 70's (the bottom is all concrete and the vertical walls are fiberglass panels. It's not leaking, but looks terrible because much of the paint has chipped away. From what I've been told and even heard on your channel, painting these things can be a dangerous and costly endeavor. Does it ever make sense to install a vinyl liner in such a pool? (I'm also in the northeast US where it freezes)
Generally these pools lack sufficient support around the top rim to attach hardware for mounting the liner coping track. That is why these pools do not usually get switched out to vinyl pools.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Thank you, I thought that might be your answer.. I guess I'll have to find a way to safely paint it. None of the local pool companies are interested, I got a number for one guy who said he was the only guy left in town who specializes in this, and he then ghosted me.
@@Paul-jp8zz Late reply. It is fiberglass. Guessing it gets gel coated. Why not talk to a boat painter. That is mostly what they do is fiberglass gel coat. I can imagine it wouldn't be much difference.
Ii have a question. We are fixing to buy a new liner for our inground pool. We cant install until May when the temps are above 70 consistently and we are in Alabama. Is it ok to buy the liner now this month and keep it in the box until we get it installed?
Definitely. Keep it safe from rodents!
@@Swimmingpoolsteve thank you very much for your prompt answer!!!
The _soft_ plastic of a vinyl liner leaches into your water for many years, bad for your health. The issue nobody dares to discuss.
I have tried to write about phthalate polymers in pool liners before as well as contacting every liner manufacturer I could find. None responded to my questions.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve , at least it's great to hear you've seriously considered this. I wouldn't expect any liner manufacturer to openly address the health issues directly related to soft plastics.
So, you're saying there is no chemical in concrete and fiberglass pools? I think they are worst
I doubt concrete is worst. Probably worst is vinyl, and best is concrete.
@@Gruuvin145 years with vinyl at my mothers house and 3 years here and never had any problem and nobody that came either.