Installing Vinyl Pool Liners

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Most people don’t give a lot of thought to vinyl pool liners which is rather unfortunate. You wouldn’t buy a new car without understanding its features, warranty, gas mileage, etc., so why would you purchase a pool or replace a liner without being educated on the product as well?

The wall material and pool floor are both made up of a vinyl membrane that is typically made to custom fit the pool. There are various styles available such as overlap, beaded, J-hook and expandable for above ground but beaded is the only option for in-ground vinyl pool liners.

The walls of the pool are generally made from thermoplastic or galvanized steel and secured together to create the perimeter of the pool. These sturdy materials also offer support to the liner so it doesn’t cave from the weight of the water. Due to the structural designs, those that use vinyl pool liners are often limited in their shape.

In Ground Installation

Before embarking on an entire replacement, you may want to consider repairing or resetting your liner first. If these options don’t work, a replacement will be needed. Replacing in ground vinyl pool liners is a project that will take every bit of a full day and a few helping hands.

Precise measurements are crucial and understand that a new liner will often take up to three weeks to receive so don’t wait until the beginning of summer when you want the pool open to place your order. The pool will have to be completely emptied and the old liner will need to be removed (and recycled). Any imperfections like rust will need to be sanded, wall joints need taping and you should foam all walls that are corroded or pitted to ensure a smooth outcome. Face plates get removed and the track gets inspected for any needed repairs.

Once the walls and floor are prepped, the liner can be placed in and locked in track. You will need to use a vacuum to smooth out wrinkles and plates are cut out once the liner is set.

Above Ground Installation

Installing above ground vinyl pool liners will require the help of a few people as well. To remove the existing liner, you will need to remove U channels and screws holding it in place. After this is done, apply foam to any rust or weakened areas and replace all sand that you find contaminated with algae.

When you drape the new liner over the pool, make sure that there are no twists in it and secure it in place using U channels. Some people need to use a shop vac to remove air between the wall and the liner, others don’t. The most important thing is to just make sure that you have all the slack that you need to stretch the liner into place.

You should watch vinyl pool liners closely when you are filling them. If you simply turn on the hose and leave it alone, there is a very good chance you will come back to some serious wrinkles. This would require you emptying the water so you can start all over again which is not something anyone wants to do!

Essential Swimming Pool Supplies to Always Have on Hand

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photo credit: Wiertz Sébastien

It is interesting that many people are under the assumption that swimming pool supplies consist of chlorine, vacuum and a solar cover but there are many more things that you need to take care of and protect your investment.

Chemicals

Algaecides – These solutions treat current algae problems and control future algae growth. For best results, water should be balanced before using one of these treatments.

Chlorine – Available in tablet, stick or granular form, these are the most popular swimming pool supplies most are familiar with. Chlorine keeps your water safe and clean.

Balancers – It can be challenging to achieve a proper pH in your pool, balancers can help. When pH balances are not consistent, you can deal with eye irritation, plaster-etching, equipment corrosion and damage to the surface of the pool.

Saltwater – These swimming pool supplies increase filter efficiency and reduce organic contaminants by limiting phosphates.

Clarifiers –Nobody enjoys having cloudy water; fortunately, these pills help your filter by grouping fine particles together.

Winterizing Kit – These kits typically include non-chlorine shock and granular algaecide to keep your pool algae-free during the winter.

Other Chemicals – Other chemical swimming pool supplies include stain remover, odor eliminator, filter cleaner, water conditioner, metal remover and test strips.

Other Essential Supplies

Filters – There are basically three different varieties of filters being DE, sand and cartridge. These are important tools because they are responsible for keeping your pool clean. DE filters are recommended to clean body oils and suntan lotions while sand varieties have become incredibly popular because they are effective and require minimal maintenance.

Pool Cleaners – When you start shopping for these swimming pool supplies, you will probably be quite surprised at the selection that is available. Some vacuums are hand-operated, requiring you to manually clean with an extension while others literally crawl around your pool, picking up dirt, debris, twigs, pebbles, sand and bugs.

Heaters – The size of your pool will ultimately dictate your heater choice. Some are more energy-efficient, while others will heat the water much faster.

Pump – Similar to filters, these swimming pool supplies are also important to the health of your pool. There are many to choose from, some with unique features like see-through covers or super-sized baskets.

Solar Heating – A quality solar cover will be more effective at heating your pool and holding the warmth until it’s time to use the water. Solar sun rings are becoming quite popular as well.

Winter Covers – A winter cover is essential to get the most life out of your pool. You will find that there are covers offering up to 20-year warranties.

Alarms – Whether you put an alarm on your pool gate or use one that installs to your pool, these could save the life of a child or an animal who gets a little too close to the edge and falls in.

Although there are a ton of swimming pool supplies to choose from, it is always recommended to purchase quality products. These may cost a bit more but they will keep your pool cleaner and safer. Not to mention, vacuums, filters and pumps will help prolong the life of your pool as well.

How to Clean Swimming Pool Liners

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photo credit: Stacy Lynn Baum

Despite proper chemical usage, swimming pool liners can still end up with stains from time to time. Quite often, it is leaves from your beloved shade tree that contribute to these blemishes so when you spot them sticking to your liner, be sure to remove the immediately; waiting until you vacuum tomorrow will likely be too late.

Choosing the Right Cleaner

Even the toughest stains on swimming pool liners can be cleaned by using the right product. When you visit your local pool supply store, you can ask them to direct you to a quality cleaner. If you are shopping online, simply choose a mild cleanser, this will create the minimum amount of suds and won’t bleach the liner.

You also want to avoid products with conditioners because they often leave an oily residue which affects the water. Active ingredients to look for in a cleaner include phosphoric acid and ethylene glycol monobutyl.

Cleaning Organic Stains

Organic stains are typically greenish in color, often with algae present; those caused by leaves are included in this category. Organic stains can be addressed with a quality cleanser and a hard scrub brush. It is very important that you be familiar with the type of liner that you have, some varieties do not appreciate a hard brush, and others won’t be affected by it. There are also certain chemicals you can add to the water that will deep clean swimming pool liners by releasing specific enzymes. Depending on the stain though, these chemicals will not always get rid of it completely.

What About Rust Stains?

No one likes to notice rust stains on their liner but hopefully if you do, you catch them early on. These reddish-brown stains are not fun to deal with. The most common causes of these types of stains are metals that contain iron, manganese and copper.

Rust stains typically need to be addressed with chemicals that are specifically created to remove metals from the water. Understand that your pH balance can be thrown off when using these products to remove rust stains from swimming pool liners.

Dealing with a Cloudy Pool

There are specific supplies you can use to help get rid of a cloudy pool which may be the result of recently cleaning your liner.

Vacuum – You can suck dirt out of the water, sending it to your filter to be cleaned and then added back to the pool.

Shock – Sometimes the only way to get your pool back to normal is to shock it. This involves a mass amount of chlorine and the process often take a few days to work so don’t plan on doing any swimming for a while.

Backwash – You will backwash three times after you have operated the filter for a full 24 hours. This will purge floating fragments that could be keeping your filter from doing its job properly.

When all else fails, testing kits are available. These allow you to test the temperature as well as the chemical balance in your pool so you can then make the necessary adjustments that you need to resolve the cloudiness.

Replacing In Ground Pool Liners

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Despite the fact that you very well may take extremely good care of your pool, liners will need to be replaced at some point. Regardless if yours is faded and desirable anymore, it could have holes and rips or you may just want to upgrade with a different design. Whatever the case is pool liners can be replaced with a spare afternoon and a few helpful friends.

Liner Removal

After you have drained the pool, the first step is to remove the old in ground liner. If there happens to be a gray-locking strip present, you will need to remove this and make sure that it’s completely clean before using it with your new liner.

Plastic in ground pool liners need a little help from a good pair of scissors to loosen them up. Cut about six inches down from the top, all the way around and then you should be able to pull the liner out. Be very careful that you protect the track when you’re pulling the liner out. If you have to, tape a piece of cardboard or something similar over it.

If there are any cracked pieces in the track, replace them with new tracking or it will not hold your liner properly. If there’s debris in the track, a shop vac or a hex key can come in handy to get it clean.

Prepping the Pool

In ground pool liners should never be installed without the surface being properly prepared. If you have a fiberglass pool, silicone sealant can be used to seal cracks and a steel trowel will knock debris loose and smooth the walls.

If you have a sand floor, remove any that is discolored or full of algae and then use a plastic trowel to smooth the bottom after you add more. On the other hand, if you have a vermiculite or cement floor, sweep, vacuum and inspect it for cracks. Lastly, remove face plates; ideally, those made of plastic will be replaced.

Installation

Pool liners need at least four people to install, you and a buddy cannot handle it no matter how strong or talented you think you are. Not to mention, if everyone lines up, you won’t have to drag the liner to get it into proper position and risk damaging it; you’ll be able to carry it to where it needs to be and gently lower it down.

Pull the liner toward the deep end, keeping it up in the air. Align the corners and insert them into the track. As long as you get the corners secure, the rest will fall into place much easier. Work your way around the pool, stopping every couple of feet to feed the liner into the track and then secure the corners at the shallow end.

Once this is done, continue circling the pool, adding more liner to the track at similar intervals until the entire thing is attached.

Filling the Pool

Removing excess air is an important part of installing pool liners. Either run a shop vac through the skimmer mouth or behind a section of liner and suck out the air before you turn the water on. When you start filling the pool with water, you may want to leave the vacuum running until you are confident that wrinkles aren’t going to be a concern.

Measuring for Pool Liner Replacement

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At some point, pool liner replacement will be on your list of projects that you need to do. A quality liner can offer a pretty impressive lifespan when taken care of properly, often 15 years or longer but at some point; it will need to be retired. It does not matter if you installed the pool or if you purchased the home and the pool was already there, it is highly unlikely that you know the exact size of your current liner.

How to Measure a Pool Liner

Pool liner replacement is not a project that should be jumped into. You cannot eyeball or guess at a liner and hope for the best. Although overlap liners offer a little extra material, if you want one with a design, you will need to go with a beaded or J-hook variety, both of which require you taking precise measurements.

Whether you are dealing with a square or a round pool, the process of measuring is basically the same. You want to determine the diameter of the pool so you will place the measuring tape at the edge of one side and then measure the distance straight across to the other side; this is often easiest to do if you have the help of a second person to get the most accurate results.

The diameter will be the distance of one side to another. Therefore, a measurement of 30 feet would mean that you have a 30-ft pool and that is the size you will need to be looking for when you’re shopping for a pool liner replacement.

Now, in the event that you have a pool that is oval-shaped, measuring is slightly more complex. For these types of pools you need to determine both the width and length since one will be shorter than the other. When you measure, do so from the widest and longest points.

Choosing the Right One

If you are like most, this is likely your first time shopping for a pool liner replacement and you are probably pretty overwhelmed at the selection that is available. How do you know which one you should be buying?

Well, if you have an in ground swimming pool, you more than likely have a beaded liner. However, if you have an above ground, you may have a beaded, J-hook, overlap or expandable variety. You should determine which one you have but you do not have to feel obligated to stay with the same style.

There are many people who have an overlap liner who decide to replace it with a beaded one so that they can purchase a liner with some type of design. As long as you properly install a track, you can transform your current pool to use this type of liner.

On the other hand, if you have a pool that offers a deep end, your selection for a pool liner replacement is limited. You will likely need to stick with an expandable variety. This is the only type of liner that offers the extra material to make up for the depth while remaining smooth throughout. Otherwise, you would need to have one custom made.

Dos and Don’ts of Pool Liner Installation

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photo credit: Shockingly Tasty

While you may think that pool liner installation is a basic, straight-forward process that you can figure out as you go, it’s not! Although it’s easy enough that you can handle it without hiring a professional, it is difficult enough that a lot of things could go wrong. The last thing that anyone wants to do at any point of a pool liner installation is have to start over! Below are a few basic dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you take on this project.

Do Get Help – You cannot tackle a pool liner installation project all on your own or with only one friend. You need several people to be available, at least for the process of placing the liner. Once you start adding water, they can always leave and you can monitor and work out wrinkles on your own.

Don’t Guess on Measurement – Retailers are not going to allow you to return a liner if the box has been opened and you cannot make a liner that is the wrong size fit no matter how hard you try. Take the time to take proper measurements so that you can ensure an accurate fit.

Do Prep the Pool – It is interesting how many people go through the trouble of replacing a liner but they don’t take the extra time to prep the pool. Before you even begin with a pool liner installation, you need to make sure that the surface area is smooth. This means sanding rust, applying foam wall where needed, smoothing sand bottoms or vacuuming out concrete ones. Skipping this step is like waxing your car without washing it, it just doesn’t make sense.

Don’t Drag the Liner – This goes back to having extra hands available to help, you need to be able to carry the liner to where it needs to be, not drag it over edges, railing, tracks or pavement and hope that no damage is done.

Do Replace Damaged Tracks – If you are installing a beaded pool liner, understand that the track plays a huge role in the outcome of installation. Take a few minutes and clean the current track, a shop vac will help. If there are damaged pieces, replace them. If your track can’t properly secure your liner, the installation is in vain. It only makes sense to take the necessary steps to ensure that the project is done correctly the first time so you’re not dealing with repairs in the near future.

Don’t Pick a Cloudy Day – It can be tempting to wait until a cloudy day for your pool liner installation since it will feel cooler but this is not a wise decision. Your liner needs the warmth of the sun to help it stretch to its full size and offer a tight fit.

Do Monitor Filling – When the pool liner installation is complete and it comes time to fill it with water, your project is still not done. You need to be available to monitor the pool every 15 minutes or so to address any wrinkles, add faceplates and check that the liner is fitting as it should be.

Installing an Expandable Pool Liner

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If you are like many others, you have probably heard the term expandable pool liner but aren’t quite sure what it means. Simply put, this is the solution to your depth problems. Most people buy a pool based on price and needs. A shallower pool will typically cost a lot less and you probably don’t think you need something deeper. On the other hand, some purchase a shallow one because they have young children and have no need for something so deep.

Whatever the case is, digging a deep end and adding an expandable pool liner can add as much as three extra feet in depth to your current pool! That probably sounds a lot better than buying an entirely new pool right?

These types of liners basically install similar to other overlapping varieties. You can handle doing the project without hiring someone but you certainly will need some help from friends.

Prepping the Pool

The first step in installation is removing the current liner that you have. Since an expandable pool liner can only be used on an above ground pool with a deep end, you need to remove the railing, U-channels and face plates to get the old liner off. Old pool liners should be disposed of with a recycling company; you can store yours in the garage while waiting for a pick up.

Now, the walls and ground need to be smooth. Assuming you already have a deep end, you will replace any sand that has algae. If you are having a deep end added, you will do this now. To ensure a smooth installation, any patches of rust must be sanded smooth and foam wall should be applied where needed.

Installation

An expandable pool liner can be one of the hardest to install because of the depth variation. When the pool has been prepared, you’ll unroll the liner on the grass and fold the sides to create a long cigar shape. Before you drag this liner, make sure you inspect edges of the pool and any rough or sharp areas that could rip or poke a hole in the liner should be taped.

Place the liner over the pool and then walk around from post to post, pulling the liner up just a tiny bit at a time. It is not uncommon to find yourself a little more than halfway around the pool to discover you’ve run out of liner. This is why an expandable pool liner should only be installed on a sunny day; the sunshine will soften it just enough so you can stretch it a bit.

Once you get the liner tight, start at the beginning and get it even tighter. Eventually, you will be able to pull the liner above the railing.

Filling the Pool

You may already know that an expandable pool liner is prone to wrinkling so the process of filling it back up with water has to be slow and monitored. The letting down process is directly opposite of what you’ve been doing. Every 15 to 20 minutes, you will need to go around the pool from post to post to release just a little bit of pressure. You want to give the liner a little slack but at the same time, you want it to remain tight.

What to Look for in a Beaded Pool Liner

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photo credit: Víctor Gonzalez

When you start shopping for a beaded pool liner, you may be surprised to find that there are quite a few varieties to choose from. Of course, this will likely cause more stress to an already confusing process. Understanding a little about these essentials will help you make the right decision.

Overview

A beaded pool liner differs from other varieties by the way that it attaches to the wall. Unlike overlap liners that drape over the wall and are then held in place by the rail, this variety uses beads that will be snapped into place around the entire inner perimeter of the pool.

These types of liners generally use 25-guage vinyl (sometimes higher for more durability) and are usually fairly decorative. A beaded pool liner is ideal for above ground pools that have a large deck and are always used for those which are built in ground.

Even if you currently have an overlap liner, you can center your pool by installing the receiver (track) that is needed to feed the beads into. You can purchase a general beaded pool liner in 48, 52 and 54 inch varieties.

Popular Designs

One of the most desirable traits of a beaded pool liner is that they can be quite decorative, ultimately enhancing the appearance of your outdoor living space. A few popular designs include:

Caribbean – Who doesn’t want to feel as though they are someplace tropical right in their own backyard? These liners offer a brilliant display of colorful sponges, coral and fish.

Tuscan – An intricately designed mosaic with just a hint of color can transport you to beautiful Italy where you are surrounded by the laughter of great friends and a neverending supply of wine.

Boulder Swirl – This type of beaded pool liner offers just a subtle hint of texture to the water.

Liberte – This is a very traditional, architectural look that offers a timeless appeal. Varying shades of blue with just a hint of brown creates a calming environment.

Athena – You don’t have to be in Greece with an oversized three-tier fountain in your yard to appreciate this rich beaded pool liner. Unlike others that use brown shades in the design, Athena sticks with varying shades of blue and almost whitish-silver accents for a beautiful rustic garden effect.

Features to Look For

You want the beaded pool liner that you choose to last well beyond the immediate future. Therefore, you need to make sure that you buy one that is thoughtfully designed to stand up against wear and tear and environmental elements.

A beaded pool liner should be made with ultra-violet inhibitors to protect it from the sun. Not only can the sun’s rays fade the liner, they can make it significantly weaker which could result in rips and holes. The beaded pool liner that you choose must also be able to withstand the chemicals you put in the pool and it should be resistant to fungus and bacteria as well.

Installation Tips

The hardest part of installation is getting the lines centered. Keep in mind that unlike an overlap variety where you trim extra away, a beaded pool liner has to be installed precisely because it snaps into the track. Not only that, the design would be uneven which would take away from the appearance of the pool.

An Easy Guide for Basic Pool Liner Repair

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Before you enter into a panicked state, become stressed or feel your blood pressure rising, you should know that basic pool liner repair is a lot simpler than you’re probably imagining. An acquired imperfection does not necessarily mean that you need a new liner and it certainly doesn’t meant that you need to hire someone to come fix the problem; many concerns can be addressed by you.

Leaking

This is a common reason why many people find themselves seeking information on basic pool liner repair. Although most liners are resistant to punctures, many are only 20 mil thick unless you opted for a heavy-duty option. This means that with time, the liner will lose its resiliency and small holes can occur.

If you notice the leak early enough, all you have to do is buy a vinyl liner patch kit and follow the instructions printed on the package. No, you don’t have to empty all the water if the leak is deep; there are wet patch kits available too.

You may be surprised at just how easy it is to complete a basic pool liner repair. It is important to note that as a rule, rips and holes that are larger than one or two inches need to be repaired on both sides to offer the most support. If the hole is quite large and it’s underwater, you can use a wet repair kit but dry methods are recommended for flaws of significant size.

Fading

While some do not consider fading to be a cause for concern, it actually is. The sun and chemicals both play huge roles in the appearance of your pool liner which ultimately reflects on the aesthetic of your outdoor living space. To reduce further fading, avoid chemicals that offer high concentrations as they remove plasticizers. That’s right, not only does a fading liner look bad, it is constantly weakening because it’s lost its resiliency. In no time at all, you will be looking for basic pool liner repair tips for holes and rips.

A solar cover can be helpful in extending the life of your pool. The good news is that modern liners are typically created with a more durable chemical makeup that is resistant to problems caused by the sun, algae or chemicals.

Improper Fit

This is a common concern with those who have recently replaced their liner with one that didn’t provide a perfect fit. Liners should fit your pool precisely; if it’s too large, small or was installed off-center, you are going to have a problem with the bead coming off the track.

You may be surprised that this is a basic pool liner repair that you can handle yourself as well. You basically just need to stretch the liner so the bead is back on track. This can be done with the heat from hot water or a hair dryer. If you use a hairdryer, please do not stand in water when using it and do not reach to grab it if you drop it. Take proper precautions to not electrocute yourself.

It typically takes a lot of tugging and elbow grease to get it in place. When you do get it there, use a liner lock to keep it there so you won’t have to deal with this repair again.

Which Above Ground Pool Liner is Right for You?

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photo credit: Leo Reynolds

If this is your first time shopping for an above ground pool liner, you’re probably surprised at the options that are available and the decisions you need to make, these essentials are no longer one size fits all; today they come in an array of styles to meet your exact needs.

If you are not sure which above ground pool liner you have, you simply need to evaluate its configurations where thickness and design are concerned. When you are shopping for a replacement, you must make sure that you purchase one for an above ground pool. Also, don’t put off replacing your liner until next season just because you’re not sure which one to buy. Replacing one that is worn out will significantly extend your pool’s life.

Choosing the Right Above Ground Pool Liner

Overlap – Here’s a very popular and practical choice; these liners install just under the pool’s top rail. When installing this variety, the entire top rail needs to be removed. Then, the liner is added with the edges draped over the top of the walls. The liner is held in place with long clips; the rail is replaced to how it previously was and any overhang of the liner is trimmed.

J-Hook – Also known as Uni-Bead, this type of above ground pool liner will feature hooks that extend over the wall of the pool. This style will have the hooks already attached right when you take it out of the box however, you can remove the hooked section by tearing along the perforation and then you can use it as a beaded liner as well. You will find that if you have an overlap type of pool, this is a preferred choice because it offers the opportunity for a decorative border. You will need to provide accurate measurements when ordering a J-Hook liner.

Beaded – This is one of the more popular styles primarily due to the borders and designs that are available. Since the liner does not overlap the pool, measurements must be precise, especially if you are ordering an above ground pool liner with a border. The last thing that you want to do is have to trim some of the design away. It is helpful to evaluate the bead size of your current liner and stick with one that is the same. If you’re not exactly sure of the size you have, you can always send a piece of the liner to be evaluated by the retailer; this will ensure a proper fit.

Expandable - These offer a great alternative to buying a new pool just because the kids are grown and now you want something deeper. Since this type of above ground pool liner is prone to damage and wrinkling it is recommended to spend a little more for a 25-guage, with a 30-guage being the preferred choice. Expandable liners should be installed on warm, sunny days and you need to take the time to smooth any wrinkles as you go.

While the above are all popular options, you also don’t want to overlook having one custom made either. Of course, if your pool is an unusual shape or size, this is typically your only option. A custom made above ground pool liner will ensure the perfect fit. Keep in mind that most companies will not accept a liner back once the box has been open so double check the dimensions for correct sizes.