CHICAGO, May 3, 2007 (VNS) – With summer just ahead, municipal pools all over the country are being renovated and improved – with new vinyl lining systems.

“From municipal pools to clubs, hotels and universities, experts prefer vinyl liners for today’s pools,” according to Vinyl Institute spokesman Allen Blakey. “There are many reasons, including safety, lower costs and ease of maintenance. They are also designed to be totally watertight.”

“The vinyl makes an old pool look new,” said John Regalado, Director of Capital Construction for the Chicago Park District, where outdoor pools received new liners this spring.

Aside from improved appearance, the smooth, nonporous surface of vinyl liners helps prevent growth of algae and bacteria, experts noted. Cleaning is easier and does not require harsh chemicals. There is no need for annual caulking, and the vinyl membrane further lowers operating costs because it does not change the chemistry of the water, as grout, concrete, and porous materials do.

For the past dozen years, all of the Chicago park district’s pool renovations have used vinyl liners manufactured and installed by Indianapolis-based RenoSys Corporation. Since its founding in 1988, RenoSys has installed more than 2,500 commercial pool liners. Another vinyl membrane manufacturer, Natare Corporation, also based in Indianapolis, has been installing its Natatec PVC liners for 25 years for schools and universities, municipalities, hospitals and hotels.

The largest growth sector, a RenoSys spokesman said, is installing vinyl liners in new pools – such as the state-of-the-art, eight-lane, 50-meter competition pool at the University of Louisville, which opened in 2005.