Vinyl Pools: Replacing and Remodeling

Unlike fiberglass pools, vinyl pools will eventually need a new liner. Although the average liner will hold out for about 10 or 12 years, they can last a full two decades under the right conditions with vigilant maintenance. In the ensuing years, the color and pattern may fade or you may have patch a tear or two. But eventually, you’ll notice some heavy warning signs like pH wrinkles, which are the result of chemical imbalances. Unlike your neighbor’s third wife’s face, you can’t Botox those babies away. In other cases, your liner may start floating, pulling away from the corners or turning brittle.
Once that happens, there’s no getting around it. It’s time for a new liner.

The good news however, is that replacing a liner is pretty simple and straightforward. Even better, a liner replacement can dramatically change the entire look and feel of your pool. Don’t believe me? Go to Google Images and search “vinyl pool liner before after replacement.”

Liner replacement is also the ideal time to consider a more in-depth renovation. This may include replacing any fatigued liner track or coping. It’s also the perfect opportunity to inspect the bottom of the pool and repair any cracks or breaches, which can let in groundwater and damage your new liner. If you have an old pool, it is likely that you have just one drain. A liner change presents a good opportunity to update the drain to something more modern and efficient or, even better, to add a second drain.

Finally, there is right time of year to replace a liner or conduct a renovation. But for the sake of your yard, your wallet and your pool professional’s sanity, avoid the coldest winter months and the wet and sloppy early spring.