All swimming pools, regardless of size, will need a liner of some description. This is to hold the water in the pool, inside of a structure that gives shape and strength to the pool.
Your choice of swimming pool liner will depend upon your budget, the size of the pool that you wish to install, and the amount of work that you are willing to do to maintain the pool. There are three main choices-concrete, vinyl and fiberglass.
Fiberglass liners can be made to a variety of sizes and shapes, and may be made in one piece or several pieces that are later fitted together. They are made in a factory and shipped out to the installation site on the back of truck, thus limiting the size of each piece to the maximum size that the roads that they will have to travel on, will allow.
There is a risk of a fiberglass liner cracking, but generally these are a strong and attractive option. They are also very easy to clean, with the walls not providing anywhere for fungi to grow unchecked. A simple and regular sweep of the walls will keep them clean.
Vinyl liners can be fitted very quickly, leaving the new pool owner with a pool in the quickest time possible. They are also not so limited to size, as they do not need to be assembled on site, but rather are put together on site. Vinyl liners are a very common choice for above ground pool liners.
Unfortunately the vinyl is also rather fragile. It is easy for it to be torn, and it only lasts for seven to ten years before needing to be replaced. Replacement is quick, and initial installation costs are low, yet the frequent need to renovate the pool means that the costs add up steeply, ultimately costing as much as a concrete pool may do.
Concrete pools are hardy, and will stand up to more punishing treatment than a fiberglass or vinyl pool. The surface however is porous and will allow fungal growth that will need to be scrubbed away regularly, and additional chemicals will be needed to maintain a safe PH.
The installation and renovation of concrete pools is a major undertaking, taking a lot of time, and they are also costly. Yet they can be created in whatever shape and size desired, and serve a family for many years if well cared for.
Once your choice is made you can be sure that you will have made an investment that will provide a great deal of enjoyment for you, your family and your friends.