Concrete Vs. Vinyl Pools: Which Is Better For You?

Posted by  on 13 March, 2017

When it comes to choosing a type of pool, there are generally two options: vinyl or concrete. Each style offers numerous benefits, so it all comes down to personal taste, your price range and the type of backyard you have. Below we’ll explore the pros and cons of concrete and vinyl pools to help determine which is better for you.

Concrete Pools

A concrete pool is a swimming pool that is made out of a compound consisting of a mixture of concrete, gravel and sand. This mixture is durable and is used for most inground pools. Concrete pools take about two to four months to install, but they offer more flexibility with the design than vinyl pools.

Concrete pools can be as big as you want with accessories like tanning ledges, vanishing edges, waterfalls and beach entries. You can also get a concrete pool in any shape, size or depth that you want. In terms of major maintenance, you will need to have a professional resurface the pool every 10-15 or so years and re-tile to update the look. Furthermore, concrete pools require chemicals and advanced filtration systems to prevent algae. However, as long as you (or the pool maintenance company you hire) brush and clean the pool regularly, you will see no problems with algae.

Vinyl Pools

A vinyl pool is a swimming pool that is made up of a vinyl sheet (about 20‒30 mm thick) on top of a sand or cement-like floor. This vinyl sheet (also known as a vinyl liner) lies between the water and the pool’s structure. The top edge of the vinyl sheet is locked into a track at the bottom of the coping (the cap of the shell wall) at deck level. It takes about two weeks to one month to install a vinyl pool and the cost is less than that of a concrete pool.

Vinyl pools are harder to customize than their concrete counterparts. When it comes to algae growth, vinyl pools are not known to foster the surge of algae. However, the liner will need to be replaced every 10-12 years and because it is thin, it is more susceptible to damage, or UV damage (fading).

To summarize:

Concrete Vinyl
Cost More expensive than vinyl Less expensive than concrete
Customization Can be customized (shape and depth) Harder to customize
Maintenance Requires professional maintenance every few years, and resurfacing every ten years Same as concrete, plus vinyl liner needs to be replaced every 7 years
Algae Issues If you maintain your pool, algae won’t be an issue Algae has a harder time growing in vinyl pools
Cleaning Easy to clean (can hire a professional to do it or can be done on your own) Same as concrete
Installation 2–4 months 2 weeks–1 month