Mosaic-pattern liner: when it's worth it and how to choose

What it is and what you gain

The mosaic on the membrane is a printed pattern: small squares in two or three shades of blue, turquoise or grey that, seen from the edge, look like glass or ceramic tiles. The surface itself stays continuous and smooth. Compared with plain liner colours, you gain:

• No grout lines to turn black, crack or harbor algae.
• The same watertightness as any liner, since the membrane holds the water, with a written 10-year guarantee.
• A pattern that breaks up the surface, so dust, small leaves and light stains show less than on a plain colour.
• A soft touch with no sharp edges or broken pieces.

Water colour and pattern scale

The water takes on the average of the mosaic's shades. A mosaic in blue tones gives water close to a light blue liner, but livelier and with small glints; a mosaic in turquoise and white gives bright, island-style water. From a distance the pattern fades and what remains is a slightly rippled texture on the floor.

Pool size matters. In a small yard, a bold pattern with lots of contrast can tire the eye; soft mosaics in close tones work better there. In large pools, the pattern adds a depth and richness that a single colour lacks.

Look at the sample from two or three metres away as well, not just in your hand, because that is how you will see it from the terrace or the house. A pattern that looks multicolored up close often gives a calm, uniform result from further away.

The border at the waterline

A border, or frieze, is a strip with a different pattern, usually in darker or stronger tones, that runs around the pool at surface level. It has two roles:

1. Aesthetic: it frames the pool and gives the look of a traditional tiled pool.
2. Practical: sunscreen, body oils and dust gather at the waterline, and a darker or patterned strip hides the yellowish line between cleanings.

A border makes sense mainly in skimmer pools, where the water level sits about 7 cm below the edge and the strip is visible. In an overflow pool the water comes right up to the top and the border can hardly be seen. Whether to add one, and with which pattern, is discussed at the site survey. We explain how to clean the waterline in stains on the liner.

Which homes it suits

• Classic and neoclassical homes, and Mediterranean-style villas with arches and pergolas.
• Small hotels and guesthouses that want the look of a tiled pool without the grout maintenance; see also pools for villas.
• Courtyards with tiles, terracotta or marble, where the mosaic carries the style through.

On plain, modern houses the pattern is usually too much; solid greys work better there. One practical point: the membrane is laid in strips welded together, so at the seams the pattern may not line up perfectly. It is rarely visible from the edge, but it is good to know in advance. For how the welding is done, see reinforced PVC membrane.

In this shade we install, for example, the Haogenplast liners Matrix Blue, Matrix Silver, Matrix Black-Blue, Matrix Black-Silver, Printed Next Generation Pacific, Printed Next Generation Snapir Blue. Every range and colour is on the Haogenplast liners page.

Questions

See also