Mike Sigler remembers when vinyl liner pools started to become more sophisticated. “As older people started getting out of the business, a lot of the newer and younger people coming in were doing things differently,” says the territory sales manager for Tara Pool & Outdoor Products in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. That included adding vinyl covering to nearly everything in the pool, including the steps, the sun ledges, the loungers, beach-entries, umbrella holders, even the in-water bar stools.
Before that, vinyl liner pools were “pretty much plain Jane rectangle pools with fiberglass steps,” he says.
And, he notes, more customers are asking for these features. As people spent more time in their homes in the past year and possibly going forward, the pool industry experienced a surge in growth. Pool builders reported record numbers of requests for new pools, while service technicians and pool maintenance companies recorded high demand for repairs and cleaning.
Thanks to the increasing trend in liner-over pool features, demand for more customized vinyl pools have also shot up, particularly around the middle-income households.
Before, the standard rectangle was what those households were purchasing, but without much fanfare. “I kept noticing that you were either offered a $60,000 gunite pool or a $25,000 cookie-cutter rectangle pool with fiberglass steps,” says Clay Thompson, owner of Liner Guys LLC in Mobile, Alabama. “I was wondering, where was the $40,000 pool? And then vinyl started to push the limits, and more homeowners started asking for it.”
The additional cost comes with the time and extra vinyl required to carefully cover the features. Precise measurements must be made, and many of them, particularly if the pool is freeform. Every step, ledge, and the perimeter must be measured and recorded. In the end, there could be nearly 60-70 different points made to measure, Sigler explains. It’s easy to fluctuate a couple inches, which can cause problems with how the liner is laid.
In addition to detailed measurements, water level is another important consideration when designing a pool with liner-covered features. “A mistake that a lot of builders are doing is they don’t put enough water on the sun ledge,” Sigler says as an example. He often sees an eight-inch riser with about four inches of water on a sun ledge that’s 10 feet by 20 feet, which he says isn’t enough to hold the liner in place. “There should be at least 11 to 12 inches of water,” he explains. “The more water pressure on the vinyl pressing up against the steel or concrete underneath helps the vinyl stay stronger and not rip.”
Homeowners can mix and match different patterns to create a unique look for their pool. There are also now a variety of liner types for different purposes. For example, Tara offers SureStep, a textured vinyl that can go over steps and enhances traction. This liner can be ordered in a pattern that matches the rest of the pool, or in a complementary pattern. Sigler says. Not only does SureStep look good, but it adds a comfortable and tactile surface under your feet.
The end result? “It definitely is a more high-end pool with a more gunite look and feel,” Thompson says. “Everyone is trying to take the white away and make it all look more expensive.” But, he adds, it’s entirely worth it. “The [homeowner] loves it. They want the chair lounger and the umbrella holder. That’s what they’re going for – to sit in the shallow water and put their feet in while the kids are out there playing.”
For more information about vinyl liners, visit tarapools.com.
