Reading between the liners: our exclusive survey shows how improved quality and aesthetics have helped boost the sales of vinyl-liner pools - Survey Vinyl Liners

Pool & Spa News, April 25, 2003 by Bob Dumas

* Freeform shapes: 75 percent

* Customized steps: 72 percent

* Specialized coping: 67 percent

"As far as options go, just about everything is available today for the vinyl-liner pool," Edwards says. "Every pool we sell comes with an automatic cleaner and a heater. Those are our two most popular."

Bonsall agrees: "We offer all those options and a lot of new pools are being installed with many, if not all, of these features."

Right in line with the survey, automation products are some of Bonsall's best sellers. "The electronic controls--automation from inside the house where they can completely control the pool and spa are very popular," he notes. "Vinyl-liner customers aren't afraid to spend some money."

Custom stairs and fiberoptic lighting, in addition to automation and heaters, are popular additions in the New England area, says Rao. "These things are all being paired now with vinyl-liner pools in order to keep the overall price [of the project] down," he says.

The survey also indicates that a significant number of vinyl-liner pool installers are including products traditionally associated with gunite pools with their projects.

Forty-three percent of those surveyed say they install waterfeatures with the vinyl-liner pools, and 37 percent say they have inground spas available as well.

"Waterfalls, spas, negative edge--we do it all," Herendeen says. "With the Internet the way it is, people bring in pictures and ask, `Can you do this?' People are seeing things [online] that they didn't even know existed. We have been gearing ourselves to up-sell something to make it nicer and to make a few extra dollars."

Upgrading

However, there's another reason vinyl-liner pools are becoming more popular: improvements by manufacturers.

Installers say their product has improved considerably over the last decade, making consumers more amenable to the idea of going with a package pool rather than a gunite.

When asked to compare the quality of vinyl-liner pools today against those of 10 years ago, the survey's leading answer, at 36 percent, is that they are "somewhat better now." Another 24 percent say such pools are "much better now." Thus, 60 percent of respondents believe the quality has improved in the last decade.

Dealers cite improved quality of materials and craftsmanship, as well as the ability to create just about any design one could with a gunite pool.

"Vinyl-liner market shares are going up because we can make freeform walls and can get as imaginative as you want," Edwards says.

Also, when it comes to vinyl-liner pools, customers simply have more choices these days.

"[Liner] pattern options are confusing nowadays because there are just so many," Herendeen says. "Now you have to take samples to [the customer's] home like you're installing carpet. I have 60 liner samples right here on my wall. It makes the process a little longer, but think the customer really likes it."

It's not just the plethora of pattern choices that makes the product so enticing, say builders. "The quality of the product seems to be top-notch these days," Bonsail notes. "The welding system they are using for the walls seems quite a bit better than years ago."