Many professional builders actually prefer 20mil liners because they have more elasticity which helps them fit better in some cases. Thicker liners tend to be less pliable and much heavier which can make the installation more difficult. A proper fitting 20 mil liner will outlast an improper fitting thicker liner.
Ultimately, the decision on the thickness of vinyl liner to buy is a matter of preference, but it will stay with you for up to 10 years (and as little as 5) so it's good to consider all the factors. A thicker inground pool vinyl liner will be able to withstand more impact and is more resistant to punctures.
Step 2. 25 units - A 25 Gauge liner is 0.0223 inches thick. A 25 MIL liner is 0.0250 inches thick or approximately 12% thicker than a 20 Gauge liner.
Good quality standard gauge (20ga or mil) above ground pool liners will realistically last an average of 3-5 years. Heavy gauge liners (25ga or mil) will average 5-8 years before needing to be replaced.
Liner Durability
If you have an above-ground or in-ground swimming pool that sees heavy use it's often better to go with a thicker vinyl pool liner. Both 20 gauge and 25 gauge vinyl pool liners are typically made with double-weld seams to enhance durability.
A 20 gauge liner means that the liner has a 20 mil bottom and a 20 mil sidewall. So a "Gauge" liner is typically a little bit thicker walled liner than its "Mil" counterpart.
20 mil pool liners: The Good
Minimising opportunity for punctures or drying out. They are also strong enough to withstand the weight of the water.
Oftentimes people ask us which liner material is “better:” the 20 mil or the 27 mil? In reality, there is no “better” liner. The most important choice is not the thickness of the material, but the liner pattern that you choose.
A typical vinyl liner lasts between 10 and 15 years, though there are many factors that can affect its lifespan. Living in an area susceptible to ground water problems can reduce your liner's life, as can not keeping the water in your pool balanced.
The typical lifespan of a vinyl liner is anywhere from 15-20 years and where your liner falls in that range depends, most crucially, upon your proper maintenance of the pool's chemistry.
Deep Blue- A darker liner is more likely to absorb sunlight, and therefore can help to warm your pool water. Darker liners will also make it more difficult to see debris and dirt in your pool.
Particularly for an amateur, that makes overlap liners much easier to install. You can even change the pool's bottom, cove size, and bottom thickness, and still the liner can be made to fit. Beaded liners have no room for adjustment. You either built the pool right, or you didn't.
An inground pool liner is more expensive to purchase and install, costing between $400 and $2,300 (CAD 500 and CAD 2900) on average. Meanwhile, replacing an above-ground pool liner typically costs between $150 and $800 (CAD 190 and CAD 1,015).
A 20 Mil liner is . 020 of an inch thick, and a 25 Mil liner is a little thicker at . 025 of an inch thick.
Vinyl is typically the choice of liner because it is durable, cost-effective, and fairly thin. The best above-ground pool liners use vinyl that ranges from 20-30 gauge, such as seen with the Smartline Boulder Liner.
Deep blue is the most popular color for pool liners.
Dark-colored liners, like our Blue Raleigh liner for in-ground pools, provide a bold look, which makes them a favorite among pool owners. Darker liners naturally help keep your pool warmer by absorbing sunlight. They also hide dirt and debris more easily than some lighter-colored liners.
If you are interested in a thicker, more durable liner, the 27 mil “all-over” is the thickest available. Some of our competitors call the 27 mil liner a 34 gauge – we use the industry standard term “mil” so as not to confuse our customers. This liner will have the extra thickness on the wall and on the floor.
Thicker is more durable, but the right fit is where the longevity of your pool liner is determined. Most of the above ground liners are thin, although most manufacturers call their thickness 20 mil. This is because they emboss them.
Underneath the liner is a sand or cementitious floor, troweled into place. The floor sidewalls come up to meet the walls, which are commonly 42” x 8 ft panels made of galvanized steel or thermoplastic. These walls are supported from behind so that they won't bow out against the weight of the water.