Gunite -vs- Vinyl lined

[Pool_Mike]

So are Vinyl lined pools good or bad to invest in?

[JShilling]

For my $$$ I went with gunite - With 2 pool loving dogs I was afraid for the liner - 1 replaced liner and you are in the same price range as a gunite pool

[sunofthebeach]

Here is my 2 cents

a well constructed gunite pool can last forever. I am sure 100 years from now there will be gunite pools that are over 100 years old. I don’t think the same will be true about vinly pools.

But a well built vinly lined pool can last a long time also. My parents have one that is 25 years old.

All the large buildings and bridges in the United States today are built with steel and not just concrete and rebar, but the foundations for buildings and bridges are build from concrete.

I dont think most vinal liners will outlast plaster either.

There is nothing wrong with a vinyl pool. They are usually cheaper. I looked at your other posts and you got a quote for a gunite pool for $33,000. That price seems right for my area. If a vinyl pool company could build a similar pool in the mid to low $20,000. Range I would consider it.

If the price is the same or only a few thousands lower, no question ....... get the Gunite

Also I would not buy a pool from the company you got this information from.

[Simmons99]

I think this is a question of personal preference. I have been in concrete and vinyl pools. As far as I am concerned from a swimmers point of view they are both fine.

When I decided to build a pool - I decided on a concrete because the contractors in the area were more experienced with it - I have seen 25+ year old concrete pools that are structurally sound - and I had a friend that had a vinyl pool that said that replacing the liner was a real pain and she wished she had a concrete pool (I did remind her that a concrete pool has maintenance as well).

I have only ever seen one pool "pop" out of the ground. It was 10' deep pool in an area of Florida about 12' above sea level in a flood plain - the person drained the whole pool - there was a large rain storm and out it came! Why - because the water table was higher than the bottom of the pool. You can't drain a vinyl pool all the way or the liner will get all messed up - so I don't think those "issues" are really issues at all.

[MaryLee]

I LOVE the look of a gunite pool. However, the pool we put in is an 18 X40 vinyl. We chose that because I wanted a pool I could swim laps in and the pool is really just a "play" pool for my 2 young kids. We could have spent the same money and gone with a gunite, but we would have had to settle with a much smaller pool.

For now, vinyl is right for us. After the kids move out and we "downsize", I will put in the gunite pool of my dreams!!

[Pool_Mike]

I LOVE the look of a gunite pool. However, the pool we put in is an 18 X40 vinyl. We chose that because I wanted a pool I could swim laps in and the pool is really just a "play" pool for my 2 young kids. We could have spent the same money and gone with a gunite, but we would have had to settle with a much smaller pool.

For now, vinyl is right for us. After the kids move out and we "downsize", I will put in the gunite pool of my dreams!!

This is same reason for me. 2 kids 8 & 3. They said that they can put everything that the gunite offered me and be ruffly about 7K- 10K less then the pool quote I got.

I love to do gunite and did some reading on pool & Spa website and there was nothing negitve really about vinyl.

Since here in Austin, TX we do get heavy rains and flash floods... I am just wondering if the pool becomes over-flooded and the liner will not hold it. What is your take along that issue?

[y0manda]

I really didnt give it much though on considering which to get vinyl or gunite.
Gunite is definity the only way to go. I had special engineering plans for my pool because of a big slop in my backyard. The backend of my pool and 4' raised spa acted as a retaining wall. something you couldnt do with a plastic pool. Vinyl lined pools are cheap looking and don't give you that "swimming pool" feel.

[MaryLee]

Since here in Austin, TX we do get heavy rains and flash floods... I am just wondering if the pool becomes over-flooded and the liner will not hold it. What is your take along that issue?

Well, here in NH, we've had some major flooding the last few weeks. My pool was filling up to the coping faster than I could drain it.......no problems whatsoever with the liner holding up.

There are overflow drains built-in that you can get. Looking back, I wish I had one put in....I can't tell you how many times I've had to drain my over-flowing pool the last few years ....it would have been well worth it.

[EricF]

It really is personal preference. Neither one is intrinsically better than the other.

First of all, IMHO, no pool is a good "investment". Adding a pool to most houses is usually neutral when it comes to resale value, although may not be true in certain regions/markets. What you are really investing in is your own enjoyment.

Vinyl is much less expensive in my area, and the pool will be finished much faster. This is why it is much more popular choice among pool owners that I know. I chose gunite for several reasons, including:

1. Dogs. I have two golden retrievers that love the water, and I did not want to worry about liner tears.
2. Appearance. Don't get me wrong, there are very good looking vinyl pools out there, I just prefer the way a gunite and tile pool looks and "feels".
3. Custom design. Gunite allows for just about any design you want. I must admit, however, there are a lot of vinyl shapes and designs to choose from.

My advice would be to look at and swim in both types of pools, and then decide what you prefer at a given price level. Both can provide many years of enjoyment.

EricF

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

My gunite pool is 30 years old. The plaster has only been replaced once and part of the reason was because the pool sat un-used for several years. Everthing still looks brand new and I wouldn't be suprised to get another 20-30 years out of the pool before major work is required. Also, I am in Northeast so plently of freezing and thawing.