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During the process of collecting quotes and information concerning the pool-resurfacing project, the pool board was made aware of an alternative to the traditional “plaster” method of pool resurfacing by one of our long time members. This alternative is a liner made of Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC. Although the Board felt that the liner was probably not a viable alternative to consider, we felt it was our fiduciary responsibility to look at all the options available for this project. What followed was surprising.

 

First, and probably most important, is that current PVC liner technology is NOT the same as the very thin vinyl liners of the past. The new liner is thicker, tougher and chemically a different material.

 

Renosys, the company that produces and installs the pool liner, has performed numerous installations at both private and public pools in 48 of the 50 states. These include: Western State College, City of Louisville, Boulder Country Club (2 pools), City of Longmont, City of LaJunta, Salida Hot Spring Pool, Carmody 50M indoor pool – Lakewood, Metro State College, Front Range Community College – Westminster, Arapahoe Community College, Weld County School District (High Schoo), Tamarron Resort – Durango, Northern Arizona University, Ft. Lupton High School, Pueblo West Parks and Rec, US Army – Ft. Bliss, White Sands Missle Range – NM, Broomfield Bay pool slide and indoor pool, Carbondale City Pool, Fruita High School, Pueblo Country Club, and Horn Creek Resort – Wescliffe, CO.

 

A Village Green Pool Board representative talked with the pool managers of eight pools, and visited four who had installed the PVC liner. Without exception, the managers said they were pleased with the product and would use it again. Several said, “there was no down side” to the product, and made the point that they would never go back to plaster. It is soft and padded, and will not cause abrasions to your skin like plaster can. All of them said their pools were much easier to clean and maintain. One common theme was how much patrons like the PVC surface as opposed to the rough plaster surface.

 

Of all the pool managers interviewed, only one said they had ever had a problem with the material tearing. The rip was due to damage caused by inappropriate use of pool equipment (some aspiring Olympians were pole vaulting into the pool) and the sharp metal legs on a table put into the pool for swim lessons. However, to the contrary, the Longmont community pool had vandals break in, throwing large rocks and their very large elevated lifeguard chair into the pool and did not suffer any damage. One of the benefits of this particular product is that if a tear occurs the water pressure usually keeps water from leaking behind the liner until a patch can be applied under water.

 

Two site visits in particular stood out, the Boulder Country Club and the City of Longmont’s Sunset Pool. The Boulder Country Club is a very high-end facility and their membership expects a high level of quality throughout their club. They have an outdoor pool (40% larger than ours with 12 racing lanes and a diving/deep end) and an indoor, 3-lane lap pool and Jacuzzi. They are very pleased with the liner in both pools, with the outdoor pool having the liner for six seasons, and the indoor for two.  

 

The Longmont Recreation pool is about 4 times the size of our pool. It has a 6-lane racing area at one end, a very large center section with water slides and diving boards, and a huge wading pool section at the other end of the pool for children. The pool has a ‘deck wrap’ around the edge of the pool similar to what the Village Green Pool Board is considering. It is also right next to a very large sand play area that is used by the kids. They roll around in the sand and then jump into the pool, creating a very abrasive environment for the liner, which is holding up just fine after 5 seasons. This pool gets very heavy usage by the general population.

 

Finally, we contacted a pool in the mid-west that has had their liner for 13 years. They are very pleased with it, and are about to rework it. In fact, they are seeing if they can keep the bottom part of the liner, and just replace the top colored portion and decking wrap.

 

For comparison: