Polymer vs steel with SWG in NY

[wnypool]

All,
I am about to take the plunge and purchase a polymer pool with a salt water generator. I live south of Buffalo NY where winters can be harsh. Most of the information I've seen suggests a galvanized steel wall pool with an SWG is a bad idea. However I'm also somewhat fearful of frost heaves that can crack polymer. Is there any real reason to be concerned?. Two pool builders who have built both types recommend steel and two others recommended polymer. The steel guys say the corrosion concerns are overblown and that repairing surface rust is much easier than a cracked polymer wall. If I'm getting a new liner every ten years, I can address any rust during s changeout. Should I reconsider steel as a solution or stick with polymer. I'm also planning on 48" walls if that makes any difference.

 

[Swampwoman]

Welcome to TFP.
I'm in West Michigan and we can get some heavy winters. I have Polymer walls on my Grecian vinyl liner build from 2001 (built by previous owner.). We changed the liner last year and they were pristine.

In your shoes, my preference would be polymer. Of course, they're as good as the installer, so I'd choose a company that is confident in its polymer installations

While its true you can grind out/patch steel when changing the liner, its also true that many liners develop pinhole leaks long before noticed and long before an actual liner change.

Mine had a small leak behind the side ladder - quite common I hear, from the ladder rubbing.

I've read a fair bit of industry literature on the swg/steel wall phenom, which has emerged as an issue with SWGs increased popularity. I really feel your thinking was on the right track to begin with fwiw. I'm not sure I'd trust PBs who were not at least able to present some strong evidence of their assertions, but that's me.