Vinyl or Concrete pool in Atlanta?

[jamaw]

I'm new to the message board. we're getting serious about putting in a pool in the backyard. nothing crazy. like in the 18-20 x 36-40 range with saltwater. i kinda like something more curvy but the wife likes a standard rectangle. We have kids and they want a deep end, so we're thinking of a 40"-8ft...though if someone has an argument against, i could be swayed to like a 40"-5ft-40". no pets, yet, but might get a dog. also, the gola would be lots of kid pool parties through the years, so durability is a must. i'd also like to heat it if that would work in north atlanta. like, not in the dead of winter but maybe for an extra month on each end of the season. would that work?

my main question is, are vinyl pools good longterm plays? everything i read online says concrete are more longterm but i kind of dont get why. like, the vinyl builder i was looking at (Merodynamic Pools, if anyone has an opinion) builds concrete walls for the liner and i cant see why i wouldnt be able to continue putting in new liners in perpetuity as they run out, just like i could keep refinishing a pebbletek pool forever (was looking at RCS Pools for that job). am i missing something?

also, are the ranges of of replacement windows correct that ive been reading? it seems like the standard is 20 years for a pebbletek refinish and maybe 10 years for a vinyl replacement. the rough quote i got from refinished and repairers for both types are 10k for a pebbletek refinish and 5k for a liner replacement. At those ranges and costs, its almost identical longterm repair costs, which means the $35k less initial expense on the vinyl pool vs concrete is a total savings. but will the vinyl pool really last forever with new liners every few years? will lots of kids and friends and maybe a dog mean that im replacing the liner every 2 years and blowing my margins?

i dont want to throw $35k out the window if the only benefit is repair cost and those are about even. how else is a concrete pool better than a vinyl one? i know the shape is one, but with us probably getting a rectangle, thats not really anything.

anyway, grateful for any help or opinons.

 

[Newdude]

but will the vinyl pool really last forever with new liners every few years?

Mine will




Barring any leaks, a steel wall liner pool can realistically expect 30 years .

will lots of kids and friends and maybe a dog mean that im replacing the liner every 2 years and blowing my margins?

It shouldn't. If it happened once it would be considered a fluke in the grand scheme of things.

i dont want to throw $35k out the window if the only benefit is repair cost

It's entirely subjective. Everybody likes what they like. If you honestly don't have a preference, then pocketing a mid sized car is your preference.


And please forgive my terrible manners. Welcome to TFP !!!!

 

[Bperry]

I'm new to the message board. we're getting serious about putting in a pool in the backyard. nothing crazy. like in the 18-20 x 36-40 range with saltwater. i kinda like something more curvy but the wife likes a standard rectangle. We have kids and they want a deep end, so we're thinking of a 40"-8ft...though if someone has an argument against, i could be swayed to like a 40"-5ft-40". no pets, yet, but might get a dog. also, the gola would be lots of kid pool parties through the years, so durability is a must. i'd also like to heat it if that would work in north atlanta. like, not in the dead of winter but maybe for an extra month on each end of the season. would that work?

my main question is, are vinyl pools good longterm plays? everything i read online says concrete are more longterm but i kind of dont get why. like, the vinyl builder i was looking at (Merodynamic Pools, if anyone has an opinion) builds concrete walls for the liner and i cant see why i wouldnt be able to continue putting in new liners in perpetuity as they run out, just like i could keep refinishing a pebbletek pool forever (was looking at RCS Pools for that job). am i missing something?

also, are the ranges of of replacement windows correct that ive been reading? it seems like the standard is 20 years for a pebbletek refinish and maybe 10 years for a vinyl replacement. the rough quote i got from refinished and repairers for both types are 10k for a pebbletek refinish and 5k for a liner replacement. At those ranges and costs, its almost identical longterm repair costs, which means the $35k less initial expense on the vinyl pool vs concrete is a total savings. but will the vinyl pool really last forever with new liners every few years? will lots of kids and friends and maybe a dog mean that im replacing the liner every 2 years and blowing my margins?

i dont want to throw $35k out the window if the only benefit is repair cost and those are about even. how else is a concrete pool better than a vinyl one? i know the shape is one, but with us probably getting a rectangle, thats not really anything.

anyway, grateful for any help or opinons.

They both have their pros and cons.

 

[jamaw]

Mine will

View attachment 502710


Barring any leaks, a steel wall liner pool can realistically expect 30 years .

It shouldn't. If it happened once it would be considered a fluke in the grand scheme of things.

It's entirely subjective. Everybody likes what they like. If you honestly don't have a preference, then pocketing a mid sized car is your preference.


And please forgive my terrible manners. Welcome to TFP !!!!

Thanks for the quick response. the vinyl builder i've been talking to does what i think youre doing, which is 10" walls and then a sand/porter cement floor. so, your feeling is that that's a solid longterm play? i just dont get it...everywhere on the web it says concrete is the only long-lasting move but i dont see why.

I dont have a preference but it might be because i dont know of (if there are some) real differences between concrete and vinyl. thoughts?

 

[Newdude]

.everywhere on the web it says concrete is the only long-lasting move but i dont see why.

Most of the country uses steel wall vinyl pools. An unsuspecting leak can kill one in a couple of years. It's not often, but it happens.

But concrete/ vinyl pools have a forever shell like plaster pools do.

thoughts?

You really don't care or you'd be telling us 8 things wrong with the one you didn't prefer.

Also consider your neighborhood. When the time comes to move, you don't want to be the only one on the block with your choice of pool.

 

[Bperry]

Thanks for the quick response. the vinyl builder i've been talking to does what i think youre doing, which is 10" walls and then a sand/porter cement floor. so, your feeling is that that's a solid longterm play? i just dont get it...everywhere on the web it says concrete is the only long-lasting move but i dont see why.

I dont have a preference but it might be because i dont know of (if there are some) real differences between concrete and vinyl. thoughts?

You have to find someone capable of building a liner when it wears or is damaged. Their skill in building it and installing it without wrinkles or bubbles may vary. I don’t like the squishy feeling of the liner when I jump in the water, but that’s a personal thing.

Gunite pools can crack and leak like anything else. Take a look at my pool renovation for proof. but my plaster lasted over 20 years so can’t complaint too much.

 

[nbrogan]

 

[nbrogan]

Hi, did you have a pool installed? If so, could you please tell me if you went with vinyl or concrete and which builder? I live north of Atlanta and am in the process of deciding between vinyl and concrete and trying to find a reliable builder. Also have the same questions as you regarding the long term costs of each type of pool ; and, feel like I might be missing something with respect to why so many builders only do concrete and why pay the difference? Thank you!