Vinyl Liners: What You Need to Know

If you are looking into having a new liner installed in your existing Colley’s pool, this blog is for you! While we do want to make customers aware of the nuances between liner options, we stress that it is 100% the choice of the customer which liner they choose- it is your backyard oasis!

With that in mind here are some things to consider when choosing from one of our high-quality, American-made Craftworks liners.

• The Liner Thickness

One of the considerations we notice customers take into account most when choosing their liner, is the thickness of the liner. Our manufacturer, Craftworks, offers 3 options regarding liner thickness. The options differ based upon the liner pattern but can be broken down as follows:

20/20: This means both the walls and the floor of your liner will be 20 millimeters in thickness. This is the thinnest option offered.

27/20: This means the walls of your liner will be 27 millimeters, while the bottom floor of your liner will be 20 millimeters.

27/27: This means both the walls and floor of your liner will be 27 millimeters. This is the thickest option offered.

• Sunlight in Your Backyard

Some backyards are subject to rather constant sunlight throughout the pool season if you do not have trees or other structures that may mitigate the amount of sunlight that reaches your pool. Repetitive, direct sunlight can cause fading to your liner’s color as time goes on. In response to this, our manufacturer, Craftworks, offers the “Infinity” style liner.

The, “Infinity” liners offer 20% more UV resistance. Additionally, the, “Infinity” liners are produced with 50% more of top coating.

• Pricing

Not all liners that Craftworks manufactures are the same price. There are some styles that they produce that do include an upcharge. Your local Colley’s specialist can walk you through which liners will have an upcharge and what the upcharge may be.

Choosing your liner can be one of the more exciting aspects of your vinyl pool project. Armed with this additional information in mind- you can choose the liner that best suits you!

NOTE: The longevity and condition of the liner varies depending upon many factors such as, how well the customer maintains their pool (balancing chemicals, cleaning regularly, etc), the amount of usage the pool gets as well as the ground water in the yard (ground water can cause the liner to wrinkle or float), etc.

Gunite vs. Vinyl vs. Fiberglass Pools

If you are considering having a new in-ground pool installed by Colley’s it is important to understand the difference between the 3 options; gunite, vinyl and fiberglass.

1. Gunite

   Using a rebar framework, we spray a concrete, water and sand mixture to create a gunite pool surface. Often times, the terms gunite and concrete can be used interchangeably.

   Gunite pools are extremely customizable- giving the customer the widest range of personalization. In turn, gunite pools are often considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing.

   Additionally, gunite pools are very durable- the structure itself can last for many decades, but it will require resurfacing every 10 years or so. As with every pool, gunite pools require proper maintenance to keep the pool in operable shape.

   Gunite pools are the most expensive of the 3 options, in general. With the customization factor, there are typically many add-ons and features you can add to a gunite pool that you are unable to do on a vinyl or fiberglass pool which can add cost to your project.

   Gunite pools are also the most time-consuming to install and requires a labor-intensive process (possibly more so than vinyl or fiberglass).

   So, if you are looking for a highly customizable, durable option and are aware of the higher cost and longer installation time, a gunite pool may be right for you!

2. Vinyl

   A vinyl pool is formed with reinforced steel wall panels with a vinyl liner placed over the walls and floor of the pool.

   While a vinyl pool is not as customizable as a gunite pool, there are still a decent range of shape options you can choose from. Additionally, with our line of Craftworks liners you can choose from a wide-variety of patterns to design your pool the way you want!

   Vinyl pools are generally the most cost-effective of the 3 options and the process to install is generally more straightforward.

   On the flip side, vinyl liners do have a lifespan which is generally 10 years give or take. The lifespan of a liner depends on how well you maintain you pool, how often it is used, how much sunlight you get in your yard and various other factors. It is important to maintain upkeep of your vinyl liner to increase its longevity and protect the structure of your pool.

   Vinyl pools are the most common option, generally the most cost-effective and somewhat customizable!

3. Fiberglass

   A fiberglass pool is pre-molded from fiberglass-reinforced plaster. We install the prefabricated, fiberglass pool into the ground.

   The draw with fiberglass pools is that they are non-porous and generally easier to maintain than a gunite or vinyl pools. Once the pool has been manufactured and has arrived to Colley’s, installation is generally a straightforward process.

   While there are a wide range of shape options, you must remember that a fiberglass pool is prefabricated and thus the possibilities are finite based upon the manufacturer’s options.

   So, fiberglass pools are highly durable, moderately customizable and generally mid-range pricing between gunite and vinyl.

So, as you research the options for your backyard oasis keep in mind that each pool option has unique attributes, varying pricing and differences in the installation process and maintenance of the pool. So, find out what is most important to you in a new pool and consult with one of Colley’s Sales Consultants who can walk you through all there is to know about designing your new backyard oasis!

Vinyl Liners: What You Need to Know

If you are on our list for a brand new vinyl pool to be installed, or a new liner to be put into your existing Colley’s pool, this blog is for you! Not only is it one of the most important aspects, but also one that the customer has full control over.

While we do want to make customers aware of the nuances between liner options, we stress that it is 100% the choice of the customer which liner they choose- it is your backyard oasis!

With that in mind here are some things to consider when choosing from one of our high-quality, American-made Craftworks liners.

• The Liner Thickness

One of the considerations we notice customers take into account most when choosing their liner, is the thickness of the liner. Our manufacturer, Craftworks, offers 3 options regarding liner thickness. The options differ based upon the liner pattern but can be broken down as follows:

20/20: This means both the walls and the floor of your liner will be 20 millimeters in thickness. This is the thinnest option offered.

27/20: This means the walls of your liner will be 27 millimeters, while the bottom floor of your liner will be 20 millimeters.

27/27: This means both the walls and floor of your liner will be 27 millimeters. This is the thickest option offered.

• Sunlight in Your Backyard

Some backyards are subject to rather constant sunlight throughout the pool season if you do not have trees or other structures that may mitigate the amount of sunlight that reaches your pool. Repetitive, direct sunlight can cause fading to your liner’s color as time goes on. In response to this, our manufacturer, Craftworks, offers the “Infinity” style liner.

The, “Infinity” liners offer 20% more UV resistance. Additionally, the, “Infinity” liners are produced with 50% more of top coating.

• Pricing

Not all liners that Craftworks manufactures are the same price. There are some styles that they produce that do include an upcharge. Your local Colley’s specialist can walk you through which liners will have an upcharge and what the upcharge may be.

Choosing your liner can be one of the more exciting aspects of your vinyl pool project. Armed with this additional information in mind- you can choose the liner that best suits you!

NOTE: The longevity and condition of the liner varies depending upon many factors such as, how well the customer maintains their pool (balancing chemicals, cleaning regularly, etc), the amount of usage the pool gets as well as the ground water in the yard (ground water can cause the liner to wrinkle or float), etc.