Vinyl Liner

A vinyl liner is the waterproof material that separates the pool from the water.  Vinyl liners come in a variety of custom designs and sizes, but can be somewhat limited to their shapes. 

In general, above-ground pools are lined with vinyl liners.  There are options for in-ground pool vinyl liners.  The floor below the vinyl liner is made up of either cement or sand.  Some problems that may occur with a vinyl lining are tears and possible occurrences of the bead (the top edge of the vinyl liner) separating from the track.  To avoid tears, look carefully at pool equipment to make sure no parts are coming loose and creating a sharp edge that can cut into the liner.  Also, be wary of what kinds of toys are being brought into a vinyl-lined pool.  Pool toys are sold especially for swimming pools for the purpose of keeping the pool safe and the people swimming in the pool.   If a tear does happen, it may be possible to repair it with a vinyl liner repair kit.  If the bead separates from the track, it may be possible to heat and stretch the vinyl liner and get the bead back in place.  Many vinyl pool owners in the past had used a popular method of keeping the bead in its track by using pennies or popsicle sticks.  Today, liner lock is sold for this purpose, making the use of pennies and popsicles no longer necessary.  Another problem that may occur is that the color of the liner may fade over time from the use of harsh chemicals and the sun’s UV rays.  Today’s liners are much more durable and can stand up to harsh chemicals.  At a certain point in a pool liner’s life, it will need to be replaced with a replacement liner.