Vinyl Formulation: Laminated vs Coated

Cover-Pools and Herculite Products developed an exclusive pool cover formula with over 20 years of experience that is superior to all other cover fabric for a pool environment. Most pool covers use a coated vinyl, leaving thin areas that create a greater risk to water exposure. Cover-Pools exclusive laminated vinyl is composed of two equal layers of vinyl evenly protecting the scrim from exposure.

Download Vinyl Formulation: Vinyl vs Coated Fact Sheet

Laminate vs Coated Fabric Overview

  • Cover-Pools and Herculite developed an exclusive pool cover formula with over 20 years of experience.
  • No other fabric exceeds our exclusive fabric formula in a pool environment.
  • Although coated covers may appear thicker due to a larger scrim, laminated covers have more vinyl.
  • Coated vinyl has areas where the vinyl is thin providing a greater risk to scrim exposure.
  • Laminated vinyl uses two layers of vinyl evenly protecting the scrim from exposure.
  • A diagonal weft-inserted thread adds strength and provides rip-stop protection.
  • A pool cover protects your pool, laminated vinyl protects your cover!

laminated and coated comparison


Developing the Ideal Pool Cover Fabric   

Cover-Pools Incorporated has been manufacturing pool covers for 50 years. Partnering with Herculite Products we formulated and developed a material specifically for the pool environment. In collaboration with Herculite’s chemists, Cover-Pools visited pool covers across the United States to examine the regional and chemical impact on covers with different vinyl formulas.

From this research, we developed and produced an exclusive formula that Cover-Pools has been using for over 20 years, with minor modifications as technology has improved. Every component of the vinyl cover is made in the United States from the best materials available. We have installed thousands of pool covers that prove our material is durable. While we continue to test new materials introduced by fabric manufacturers, we have yet to find a product superior to our current, exclusive fabric formula.

Laminate vs. Coated Vinyl Construction   

Cover-Pools uses a laminate vinyl while other pool cover manufacturers use a coated vinyl. Both types of covers apply vinyl over a reinforcing thread called scrim, the main component supporting the fabric. If the scrim becomes exposed to the pool water, it can break down, weaken the cover, and allow water to migrate down the thread causing the cover to fail.

Coated Fabric is made by drizzling molten vinyl over the scrim. The scrim must be tightly woven to prevent the vinyl from leaking through. This creates a bond between the scrim and the vinyl, which makes a great fabric for resisting wind in such uses as truck tarps. However, the coating is often uneven forcing the scrim near the cover surface leading to a larger possibility of water exposure and abrasion.

Laminated Fabric is made with two layers of vinyl that are exactly the same thickness. An adhesive is applied to the vinyl and the vinyl is pressed onto the scrim with open space between the threads. The uniform vinyl surface that this creates along with the adhesive additives protects the scrim from water exposure and abrasion making laminates an excellent product for the pool environment.

Thickness & Weight

Reinforced vinyl (vinyl with reinforcing thread) is classified by weight per square yard. Cover-Pools uses 18-ounce per square yard. Coated material may appear thicker due to the thick scrim; however, laminated material will have a greater percentage of vinyl than scrim creating a larger barrier to protect the fabric’s main component from water and chemical exposure.

The tighter, thicker scrim in a coated fabric will absorb more water once the vinyl has been worn off, which causes the cover to fail sooner than a laminated vinyl.

Testing and Tear Resistance 

The scrim in a cover prevents tearing and gives the vinyl strength. In addition to the scrim, Cover-Pools adds a weft-inserted thread that runs diagonally through the scrim weave to provide rip-stop protection. Our 18-ounce, laminated vinyl has better tear resistance than a typical coated fabric weighing 18 ounces. Using ASTM Test # 191-5134 for tear strength, Cover-Pools fabric test results for tear strength are 100 lbs. warp (front to back) and 100 lbs. fill (side to side).