Converting a vinyl liner pool to fibreglass
Tired of replacing stretched, creased or leaking liners? Many liner pools can be converted to a strong, seamless fibreglass shell. Here's how to tell if yours can, and how the job runs.
Vinyl liner conversion, Moama NSW · filledWhy convert
Fibreglass versus another liner
Vinyl liners stretch, crease and fade over time, and a damaged liner leaks. When that happens, the usual choice is a new liner or a conversion to fibreglass.
A fibreglass conversion replaces the liner with a fibreglass membrane bonded to the walls and floor, finished in gelcoat. Fibreglass adds strength to the pool, it doesn't stretch or crease, and if it's ever damaged it can be repaired so the fix blends in. You also get a choice of 8 gelcoat colours, which you can preview on our colour visualiser.
We work across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Pools we have worked on include a steel-wall liner pool in Moama in New South Wales, shown on this page.
Is my pool suitable?
It depends on the walls and the floor
Fibreglass has to bond to something solid. Most liner pools have cement-sheet or steel walls, with a concrete or sand floor. This is what each combination usually means.
Cement-sheet or concrete walls, concrete floor
Usually suitable for conversion. Once the liner is out, there's a solid surface on the walls and the floor for the fibreglass to bond to.
Thin steel or tin walls, sand floor
Usually not suitable as it is. When the liner comes out, there is no solid floor, and fibreglass can't be laid over sand.
Sand floor, but you want to convert
If a concreter pours a new concrete floor first, we can then fibreglass the floor and walls. This is how the Moama pool shown on this page was done.
Sand floors
The new concrete floor option
A sand floor is the most common reason a liner pool can't be converted as it is. The fix is a new concrete floor. After the liner is removed, a concreter pours the floor. Once it's ready, we prepare the floor and walls and fibreglass the whole pool as one shell.
The pool in Moama is a good example. It was a steel-wall vinyl liner pool. The liner came out, a new concrete floor was poured, then the pool was fibreglassed and finished in gelcoat.
We'll tell you at inspection whether your pool needs a new floor, and explain how it fits into the timeline and the scope of works in your report.
Steps and ledges
A good time to add built-in steps or a ledge
Because a conversion rebuilds the inside surface of the pool, it's a good time to add built-in steps or a ledge, finished in the same fibreglass and gelcoat as the rest of the pool.
Tell us what you'd like at inspection. Steps and ledges are included in the scope of works and the fixed written price in your Pool Condition Report.
How the job runs
From inspection to swimming
1. Photos and inspection. Send us photos, including under the coping where the liner track sits. We'll usually be able to tell you straight away if a conversion looks possible. Then we inspect the pool for free.
2. Pool Condition Report. You get a free written Pool Condition Report with photos, our assessment of the walls and floor, our recommendation and why, the full scope of works, colour options, the warranty, the expected timeline and a fixed written price.
3. Liner out and floor sorted. The liner is removed. If the pool needs a new concrete floor, a concreter pours it before we start fibreglassing.
4. Preparation. We clean and prepare the walls and floor, and brace the pool if required.
5. Fibreglass and gelcoat. We laminate a new seamless fibreglass membrane in vinylester resin, apply a vinylester base coat, then finish with a UV-stabilised gelcoat top coat in your chosen colour.
6. Fill and swim. Once the work is complete, the pool is filled.
You usually don't need to be home while we work. We need access to the pool area, power and water. See every step of the process.
Questions
Common questions
Can every vinyl liner pool be converted to fibreglass?
Not every one. Fibreglass needs a solid surface to bond to. Pools with cement-sheet or concrete walls on a concrete floor are usually suitable. Pools with thin steel or tin walls on a sand base usually can't be converted as they are, because there's no solid floor once the liner comes out.
What if my liner pool has a sand floor?
If a concreter pours a new concrete floor first, we can then fibreglass the floor and walls. We'll explain the options at inspection.
How do I tell what my pool walls and floor are made of?
Look under the coping for the track that holds the liner. Send us photos of the pool, including under the coping, and we can usually tell you straight away. We confirm it at a free inspection.
Can you add steps when converting a liner pool?
Yes. A conversion is a good time to add built-in steps or a ledge.
What warranty comes with a vinyl liner conversion?
A full fibreglass resurface comes with a 5 year written warranty on workmanship and materials. It starts on the completion date on the final invoice once paid in full, and transfers to a new owner if you sell.
Next step
Find out if your liner pool can be converted
Book a free inspection and get a free written Pool Condition Report with a fixed written price. Or call us on 03 5975 5955.
