Vinyl Liner - Vermiculite Floor - Slight Imperfections

[Barkyman]

Hi

I am in the final stages of completing my new pool build. When the builder installed the liner it was late winter and we had some storms and the decking wasn't done yet. There were a lot of bubbles in the shallow section for various reasons as I'm getting drains put in around the pool when decking goes in.

They just came back, pumped out the pool and touched up the floor and reset the liner. I was out there the entire time and they did a good job and we all couldn't see anything with the naked eye.

Then we turned on the lights tonight and it looks much better. We still noticed a couple of spots with the lights on and I'm not sure what to do next. It's not concrete, but the wife sees a few imperfections and we don't know if this is normal or not for a Vermiculite Floor.

Wife is now very worried.....

Appreciate any feedback and adding the before and after refinishing pictures.

 

[Homebrewale]

I had imperfections in my vermiculite floor.

 

[Barkyman]

Will the vermiculite floor dent from people jumping in the pool?

We want perfection, but understand nothing is perfect. Seems like there will always be imperfections as it's not concrete.

 

[kimkats]

When you turn on the light make sure the pump is on high speed so it ripples the top of the water so no one can see the "beauty marks" of the floor. Your floor looks pretty good. I have seen a lot worst!

Yes some one jumping in the pool can (don't want to way will but yes will) leave divots in the pool.

 

[Barkyman]

Thanks. Yea we had a flood and a small river around the pool walls one storm. We have the decking and drains going in this week so we shouldn't have that issue again.

We didn't really know the small imperfections with vermiculite vs concrete. Guess we will have to live with impressions from the kids jumping in. Is this the common problem vs. concrete?

 

[Newdude]

Seems like there will always be imperfections as it's not concrete.

Lol. There's 2 kinds of concrete. Cracked and not yet cracked. And it has its fair share of bumps and divots.

Perfect is an illusion and all pools have their character.

 

[Barkyman]

Yup I hear that. So far everything has been done very well. We just didn't expect to see small imperfections on a new liner/pool.

 

[Barkyman]

We did notice a few small wrinkles/air bubbles that we will have them work out. Myself and the crew looked over every inch and couldn't see it in daylight - only w the lights on. They were on their hands and knees on foam pads looking.

Like you said. Nothing is perfect.

 

[Barkyman]

I'll take a few pictures tonight as a reference.

Anyone else have issues with a vermiculite pool base and getting indentations over time?

 

[duraleigh]

At night, my vermiculite floor looked like the surface of the moon. Smooth would be ABnormal if not impossible.

 

[PoolStored]

Here is mine at night, pretty normal.

62A18A6A-5CF1-4FC4-AF3E-3A57A62CFB07.jpeg

• PoolStored
• Sep 26, 2021

 

[Texas Splash]

We just didn't expect to see small imperfections on a new liner/pool.

For what it's worth, I think most of us who have invested in a new pool "wish" it was 100% perfect. Sadly, I bet 99% are not. There is something we as the owners see or know about we wish could be different. Just like getting that first dent or paint chip on a new car, at some point those feelings will wash away and you'll enjoy the pool for what it really is - an extension of your home for family fun. Try not to beat yourself up over it. Enjoy.

 

[Newdude]

Dropping a light on *anything* is cheating. Lay a flashlight down on the sidewalk, the kitchen floor, against any wall, etc, and you'll see all KINDS of flaws.

My solution to the imperfect floor ? Hop in it and you can no longer tell.

 

[Barkyman]

Why do most builders use Vermiculite versus concrete. Just logically if Vermiculite dents, softer and can cause floating liners - why is it so popular. I would think concrete is absolutely ideal - I'm not an expert, just asking the experts!.

 

[Barkyman]

Attaching some pictures from today! Let me know what anyone thinks so far. Decking and drains go in this week . I'm doing the sod and pavers myself the next couple weeks.

 

[PoolStored]

Attaching some pictures from today! Let me know what anyone thinks so far. Decking and drains go in this week . I'm doing the sod and pavers myself the next couple weeks.

For a vinyl line, that looks really good!

 

[Newdude]

+1. Mine is sand. I watched them pack it as flat as glass. It looked amazing until the water went in and it all settled differently.

1000 heel prints later, it looks like a golf ball after 1 season.

 

[Saturn94]

It looks good to me as well.

When we had our pool installed, the builder was very clear up front that imperfections are normal and would be visible/exaggerated at night with the light on.

 

[Barkyman]

Great - Thanks! The few.spots we noticed can likely be fixed come swim season.

Would anyone know the answer to my question...
.
Logically if Vermiculite dents, softer and can cause floating liners - why is it so popular. I would think concrete is absolutely ideal - I'm not an expert, just asking the experts!.

 

[duraleigh]

I would think concrete is absolutely ideal

Nope.

A crack in a concrete floor is inevitable. Multiple cracks are possible and what you COULD end up with is the floor settling where one side of a crack may be 1/2" or so higher than the other. Vermiculite has some "flex" to it and is far more forgiving.