LINER REPLACEMENT Vinyl

[Turaj]

Hello...looking for any tips on how to evaluate proposals. Liners being proposed are GFI or Latham and based on my research both are good.
Most companies want 50% order liner now for spring installation. One is asking me to store the liner over the winter. Is that the norm? I guess if something happens over the winter it is on my dime if at my home ...anything else about this? Any tips would be welcome. First time doing this and not a small investment. Thank you in advance. Glad to have found this forum.

 

[Davegnh]

I have no experience in to this but that seems odd to me. So they charge you 50% upfront and you sit on it for 6 months? What if it gets damaged by mice what if it's defective and you don't find out for 6 months. Personally I'd push back on this practice.

 

[Turaj]

I have no experience in to this but that seems odd to me. So they charge you 50% upfront and you sit on it for 6 months? What if it gets damaged by mice what if it's defective and you don't find out for 6 months. Personally I'd push back on this practice.

I have no experience either...they are want 50% at time of booking a spot for spring installation and they order the liner at 2023 prices. Two are major companies and will store it for you...so I assume any issues are on them. The third is a solo guy that does repairs and liners and was recommended to me. Says he has no where to store it and despite the fact he is quite a bit cheaper my reaction is sort of negative for me to store it all winter. Not even sure how they come delivered and where I would put it. So that may let that bid out. Thanks for the thoughts. Others?

 

[Lanzz]

I used a guy who is a solo operator and all he does is liner replacements. I set up the install in October 2021 for install in April of 2022. He did not require a deposit and he stored the liner - I would not have liked paying half up front, but I would have done it given his reputation. If you are paying half... I kind of like you being in possession of the liner - mitigates your risk of the installer flying the coop and you being out the money. For example, if he is charging you $8K for the job, the liner is probably $3K to $4K of that - so if you pay him $4K up front AND you have the liner in your possession, then your only risk is him showing up in the spring.

 

[Turaj]

Thank you Lanzz

I used a guy who is a solo operator and all he does is liner replacements. I set up the install in October 2021 for install in April of 2022. He did not require a deposit and he stored the liner - I would not have liked paying half up front, but I would have done it given his reputation. If you are paying half... I kind of like you being in possession of the liner - mitigates your risk of the installer flying the coop and you being out the money. For example, if he is charging you $8K for the job, the liner is probably $3K to $4K of that - so if you pay him $4K up front AND you have the liner in your possession, then your only risk is him showing up in the spring.

Thank you Lanzz...the more I think about this I think I would prefer that given they all want 50% down and will order the liner in 2023 I would prefer them have possession of the liner (these are big companies) and store when they deem it safe..I have to assume they take up some space and has to be inside as we are in cold state. I have very little space available for anything let alone the liner. This guy also said it is his last season next spring of doing liners....too much work!! He does repairs on pools and so will still be in business but if something happens over the winter that he cannot do the work I need to start over now with a liner (so company gets no profit there) to find someone to do the work. With a larger company there will be a number doing liner installs. Above reasoning also makes sense in that i would have the liner but I think unless you get on the books here this fall for spring you run the risk of losing valuable swim weeks/months. If that liner that I store in the spring is damaged in any way....who is really liable given it has been in my home for months. Dave above pointed that out and I tend to agree. I think it is not general practice to ask the homeowner to store it...maybe I am wrong?

 

[Turaj]

I used a guy who is a solo operator and all he does is liner replacements. I set up the install in October 2021 for install in April of 2022. He did not require a deposit and he stored the liner - I would not have liked paying half up front, but I would have done it given his reputation. If you are paying half... I kind of like you being in possession of the liner - mitigates your risk of the installer flying the coop and you being out the money. For example, if he is charging you $8K for the job, the liner is probably $3K to $4K of that - so if you pay him $4K up front AND you have the liner in your possession, then your only risk is him showing up in the spring.

Also amazed that your guy purchased the liner and stored it without a deposit. That is pretty risky given most liners are cut to order and I assume non returnable unless defective.

 

[Newdude]

I had to pay 50% upfront for my looploc cover. I assumed at the time that was their cost and they were out nothing if I refused to pay for the install once the cover came. Then they could sell the cover eventually.

I didn't need to pay 50% of the liner cost upfront on my build as ALOT more than than that was paid upfront. At each stage, I prepaid the next one.

 

[Turaj]

To follow up...found out today that my liner will weigh about 200 lbs and comes in one piece...I really had no idea. To ask a homeowner to store that is crazy and that puts the liability on them if defects are found in the spring. No thanks. That proposal is rejected. Thanks for the thoughts on this and in some cases confirming it is not a good idea.

 

[Lanzz]

Also amazed that your guy purchased the liner and stored it without a deposit. That is pretty risky given most liners are cut to order and I assume non returnable unless defective.

Turaj - I offered to pay a deposit - I agree, I would not have taken that chance either. He was a great guy and did great work, but he sure put a lot of faith in the customer...