Vinyl Liner Inground Pools: Pros and Cons

When you think about inground pools, what do you see? If you imagine a pool with a pattern along the waterline and a sequenced design across the floor and walls, you’re probably thinking of a vinyl liner pool!

Vinyl liner pools have been around for decades and are one of the most popular types of inground pools on the market (alongside fiberglass and concrete pools). An inground pool is a hefty investment, and one that requires an almost expert-level knowledge of the product at hand for maintenance purposes.

Why might someone choose one pool type over another? There are several factors to consider, such as cost, required maintenance, customization, installation time, and more. The truth is, the type of pool you end up getting will most likely come down to your budget and how fast you want to be swimming.

With this in mind, let’s return to vinyl liner pools. Royal Pools G2 Landscaping has installed hundreds of inground vinyl liner pools throughout Northwest Indiana and South Chicagoland for over 25 years now. Many of these pools we have even maintained over the years through our weekly inground pool maintenance packages. Suffice to say, we know all about the pros and cons of vinyl liner pool ownership and maintenance. Thinking about purchasing a vinyl liner pool? It’s great to know the pros and cons before committing to any product of this size. Let’s dive in!

Pros:

Customization

When it comes to customizing your inground pool design, vinyl liner inground pools are your best friend. If your yard and budget can accommodate, a pool contractor can essentially fit any size or shape vinyl liner pool in your backyard.

The options for vinyl liner patterns are quite extensive, so you will have a ton of options to pick from. As for the pool design itself, this is where you get to be creative. Your very own unique pool design can be whatever you and your family desire.

If you desire more swimming space, a longer rectangular lap pool would be right for you. If you have children and want a place for both parties and teaching your little ones to swim, you may want a larger freeform pool with a tanning ledge and deep end. The bottom line is with a vinyl liner pool, you can customize it till the cows come home.

Lower Upfront Cost

If the lowest upfront cost is your top priority, a vinyl liner inground pool is the way to go. On average, a new vinyl liner inground pool installation costs anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000. Compared to the price ranges of their fiberglass ($75K – $130K) and concrete ($80K – $200K+), vinyl liner pools are by far the most cost-effective pool to install.

The materials and labor involved are simply less expensive than fiberglass and concrete pools. Where vinyl liner pools wind up being more expensive is the lifetime cost, which accrues significant chemical and maintenance spending, including vinyl liner replacements (every 7 – 10 years). More on that later.

Fiberglass Vs. Concrete Vs. Vinyl Liner: Which Pool Should You Get?

Aesthetic Versatility

The term “backyard oasis” has been hammered to death by pool contractors and manufacturers alike for years. How are you supposed to know what look, what color, will accent your backyard the best? With vinyl liners, not only do you have hundreds of options to pick from, but you have the ability to swap out your liner for a new one every 7 – 10 years!

What this gives homeowners is the ability to pivot or adapt if they end up not liking the vinyl liner pattern they choose for their pool. This makes vinyl liner pools incredibly versatile. It is recommended that liners be replaced every 7 – 10 years due to general deterioration, but you can always do it earlier if you wish. This will add to the overall lifetime cost of pool ownership.

Smooth Non-Porous Surface

We did not mention it earlier, but for many pool owners, comfort is *the* number one factor. Who wants to swim in a pool and walk on a jagged, rough floor? I, for one, dislike few things more than stubbing my toe underwater. With a vinyl liner pool, that is all but an impossibility.

The smooth, non-porous surface of vinyl liners makes them not just incredibly comfortable but also algae-resistant. As long as you maintain proper water chemistry and brush and vacuum your pool weekly, your vinyl liner pool should never grow algae.

Cons:

Limited Lifespan

Unfortunately, vinyl liners are not built with longevity in mind. For years, pool owners would stretch their liner’s lifespan to 15, sometimes even 20 years, much to the liner’s detriment. It is recommended that vinyl liners be replaced every 7 to 10 years.

When you need to replace your liner will depend on a few factors: the amount of regular sunlight the pool is exposed to, how well you maintain the water chemistry, and general deterioration over time.

The key to prolonging your vinyl liner’s life is to maintain perfectly balanced water chemistry and ensure you’re brushing and vacuuming your pool at least once a week.

Pro-tip – Balanced pool chemistry looks like:

• Chlorine/Bromine: 1 – 3 PPM
• pH: 7.2 – 7.8 (7.2 – 7.4 in fiberglass pools)
• Alkalinity: 80 – 120 PPM
• Calcium Hardness: 175 – 350 PPM (under 120 PPM in fiberglass pools)
• Cyanuric Acid: 0 – 50 PPM

Unbalanced pool water can destroy your liner and shorten its lifespan. Keep your pool balanced, or the savings you made by getting a vinyl liner pool over the alternatives will be for nothing.

Maintenance

Vinyl liner pools are non-porous, yes, but if you’re not on top of your chemistry, you may experience liner wrinkles over time. This means areas for algae to bloom, which means more frequent and deeper cleanings. We cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain proper water chemistry in vinyl liner pools.

Durability (Tears, Punctures, Etc.)

So, we have established that liners must be replaced every 7 to 10 years or so. What does that mean when compared to fiberglass and concrete pools? Well, for one, those pools will last for decades. Fiberglass pools, in particular, as they do not need to be replastered or resurfaced every 10 to 15 years the way concrete pools do.

Additionally, vinyl liners are generally nowhere near as strong as fiberglass or concrete. All it takes is an extra-sharp toenail to puncture a liner, and you will need to patch or replace it, adding to the lifetime ownership cost.

If you’re looking for the most durable pool possible, a vinyl liner pool won’t be for you.

Customization Costs

To wrap things up with an obvious one, with customization comes additional cost. The larger your pool is, the more the project will cost. If you decide to outfit your pool with, say, an automatic swimming pool cover or a shade structure like a gazebo or pergola, that too will drive up the overall cost.

The pool contractor you end up working with should give you a solid price range based on all of your wishes and desires. Just know that most add-ons will drive up the price.

Conclusion

Anyone with an inground pool can tell you it’s both a financial investment as well as an investment in you and your family’s happiness. Making the wrong decision can cause you to resent your pool and the money you spent on it. Who wants that?

A vinyl liner pool just might be the perfect fit for your backyard, but it is very important to bear the downsides of owning one of these bad boys in mind. There is no such thing as a perfect product. Vinyl liner pools are no different. Luxury products require luxury care.

Provide your vinyl liner with proper maintenance and a little tender love and care, and you will guarantee years of happy memories.

Interest piqued? Want to know more about vinyl liner pools? Check out the articles below. Thanks for reading, have a great day!

Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Maintenance: How To Master Your Pool

Top 5 Vinyl Liner Manufacturers of 2025

5 Unique Inground Vinyl Liner Pool Patterns

Written by Logan Edgemon