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Pool Lining: Plaster, vinyl or other?

Posted by Sherri Trometter on March 9, 2010 at 11:27am in Pool Service Topics

I get asked about what type of pool liners work best when I'm perfoming inspections. I would like to hear about what is available besides the plaster and vinyl. I hear there are always new products available to the pool industry that I may not always hear about. Pros and cons on different types and keep in mind the temperature has a large effect for central Pennsylvania. This includes some severe winters for outdoor seasonal pools as well as indoor pools that may not always have the balanced water chemistry too. I mainly want to know what works for public/commercial pools, if it's used for residential and could apply to commercial - let me know!

 

If these liners are made to replace or cover over existing liners and what is the life expectancy of the lines and a rough estimate to cost too. I know products may not be available or allowed in every state, but if you're sure it would meet code in Pennsyvania also state that as well. The state of Pennsylvania follows the UCC 2003 for pools and 1999 for spas. We have not accepted any later versions of the UCC codes.

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Tags: plaster, vinyl, lining, other, pool
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Replies

  • Chris Lightenberg March 11, 2010 at 11:00am
    OK Here you go.....
    Typically it is generally not a good idea to put a residential liner in a commercial pool as it is not designed for heavy use! That being said there are at least two different manufacturers of PVC Membranes for use in commercial applications Natare and Reno-Systems I believe is the name of the second. Regarding other options there is fiberglass which can be applied over virtually any properly prepared surface and there are several different suppliers for this application. There is also another surface similar in concept to fiberglass but instead of using polyester resins it uses a soy based plastic resin....yes soy from soy beans. Only one company supplies that material which is based out of Florida called Oceaneering Research Development.
  • Lester Eric Brehm March 9, 2010 at 1:34pm
    Sherri, I don't have any first hand or definitive information on this but I did leak detection on a Commercial Pool, in Windber PA. The leak was not the fault of the liner as it turned out but the pool was originally concrete and they had a PVC shell installed over top after having leak problems before. The PVC liner looked like a very nice system but I couldn't get much information out of the pool operator. I think this is what it was http://www.renosys.com/ if anyone else has information on this or a similar system please chime in.
  • Scott Wagner March 9, 2010 at 1:21pm
    That is typically determined by the original construction process or by what type of membrane is already in place. However you can install a "fiberglass" type membrane on a concrete/gunnite/shotcrete pool or you could option to put in a thicker vinyl liner on an existing liner pool. Each swimming pool is designed with for a specific waterproofing membrane and constructed per that design. In my experience it is best to stay with the original method of construction with the one exception being to line a failed plaster membrane with a new fiberglass membrane. I do not know what the cost for that process is but for sure more than a re-plaster. As for cost that is such a regional thing I would suggest you connect with builders in your area to determine what potential costs would be. Myself I like to make relationships with people that can help my business volume grow so I think your local guy's would be there for you just the same.
    Good luck!
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