A vinyl liner is the waterproof skin of the pool, and Raleigh pools replace one every 5 to 15 years.
A liner replacement is not a cosmetic upgrade. Once a liner tears, wrinkles or stops holding water, the walls and floor behind it are exposed to constant moisture, and Wake County's clay-heavy soil keeps that moisture moving. This page covers what a replacement involves, what it costs in Raleigh in 2026, and the questions that separate an itemised quote from a surprise invoice.
| Job | Published 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Above-ground liner, full job | $700 - $2,500 |
| 16 x 32 inground liner | $2,100 - $3,000 |
| 20 x 40 inground liner | $3,000 - $5,500 |
| Refill water | $60 - $350 city, $400 - $900 trucked |
| Wall, floor and gasket repairs | $100 - $3,000 depending on scope |
A liner replacement is two jobs in one: removing the old liner and preparing the shell, then fitting the new one. In order, the work is drain-down, old liner removal, inspection of the walls and floor, repairs, liner installation, trimming around the skimmer, returns and light, then refill and water balancing.
The moment between removal and installation is the only time anyone can see the actual condition of the pool. That is why the repair list matters: rusted wall panels, a soft vermiculite floor, failed gaskets and cracks in the wall are invisible from above the waterline.
Published national figures put a liner job at about $5 per sq ft installed, and $7 per sq ft in premium markets. Ranges by pool size:
| Pool size | Surface area | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 24 | 288 sq ft | $1,300 - $2,300 |
| 16 x 32 | 512 sq ft | $2,100 - $3,000 |
| 18 x 36 | 648 sq ft | $2,400 - $3,700 |
| 20 x 40 | 800 sq ft | $3,000 - $5,500 |
A standard rectangular inground pool lands between $3,000 and $5,500 for the replacement itself, or $4,000 to $6,500 when the refill water is included. Large or custom pools run $6,500 to $9,000 and up. The national average for a liner replacement sits near $2,590, with most homeowners paying between $1,244 and $3,977.
Labour is roughly 40% of the total. For an inground pool that is $1,000 to $2,500; for an above-ground pool, $250 to $800. The liner material runs $1,200 to $2,100 for a standard inground pool, and a premium 30-mil liner can reach $4,000 before labour.
Extras that appear on a good quote as separate lines, not as surprises:
Hidden repairs found after drain-down commonly add $400 to $2,000. Ask for the repair schedule before the new liner is fitted.
Wake County soil is clay-heavy, drains slowly and can shift over time. Around an older pool that means groundwater sitting against the shell after heavy rain, and movement that works on walls, floors and coping.
Raleigh Water supplies the city and also serves Wake Forest and Garner, so refill costs and any drought-stage restrictions come from the same utility across those towns.
Measurement and ordering typically take 2 to 5 days, then 5 to 15 days for the liner to be made or shipped. The on-site work is usually a few days: drain-down and removal, repairs, installation, then refill. Stock above-ground liners arrive faster than fabricated inground liners.
No. A vinyl liner is fitted to the shell and trimmed around the fittings, so the pool has to be drained. That is also why liner work tends to be seasonal: the pool is out of service until it is refilled and balanced.
Yes. Published figures put liner replacement at a fraction of a concrete or fibreglass resurface, which can reach $10,000 to $30,000. A liner swap is a repair; a resurface is a rebuild.