Wrinkling Slipping And Stretching
Over time, vinyl liners will lose some of their plasticity and elasticity. You might notice your liner beads in several areas or slips out of the track, symptoms that its stretching too much. You should also keep your eye out for loose fittings around your pools return jets and skimmer.
Its best not to try to squeeze more life out of your pools liner. This can damage your pool and necessitate additional, costly repairs.
What Are Swimming Pool Liners
A swimming pool liner is fabricated using multiple sheets of vinyl seamed together. The material is specifically designed and hand-tailored to cover the floors and walls. While liners can be used decoratively, they also have important functional purposes.
First, the pool liner creates a pleasing, silky-smooth texture, preventing painful cuts or scrapes. Second, it retains water and prevents leakage that could seriously damage the pool or surrounding area. Available in a huge variety of colors and patterns, liners also define the overall look of the pool. For all of these reasons both aesthetic and practical a quality liner is an absolute must for both inground and above-ground pools.
Its Time For A Change
There will come a time when, despite all of your best efforts, your vinyl liner doesnt look as good as the day it was installed, whether because its stained, faded, reached the end of its shelf life or you are just downright bored with the pattern. Whatever the reason, the good news is that the replacement cost is relatively inexpensive in comparison to the overall construction process: and you get a brand-new liner, brand-new warranty and a fresh-looking pool that you can continue to enjoy for years to come. Best of all, replacement time is typically one day. Compare this to, say, a gunite pool that requires a more costly and time-consuming resurfacing over time due to breakdowns, etc.
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What Is The Best Above Ground Pool
There are many different types of above ground pools, and each has its advantages as well as disadvantages.The main difference between most types of above-ground pools is size. Some people enjoy having a large pool that they can swim laps in while others prefer something smaller that doesnt take up too much space in their backyard.
For small yards or those with limited space, one option is the Intex Easy Set Pool. This inflatable pool comes with everything you need to set it up and provides hours of fun.
For homeowners with more than enough free space in their backyard, then you should consider getting the Intex Ultra XTR Frame Set.
Maintenance & Cleaning Tips
Once your new liner is installed, you probably want to make sure you get the most life out of it, so there are a few tips you should follow to take care of it:
- Never completely empty your pool
- Only use brushes safe for vinyl liners
- Be careful not to dump chemicals directly on the liner
- Brush away and remove algae immediately
- Keep your chemicals balanced
- Always clean and vacuum your pool well before closing
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Above Ground Pool Liner Cost
An above ground pool liner costs $150 to $800 with most spending about $400 for the liner itself. Pool liners come in a variety of types, thickness, and sizes. A professional pool contractor can determine what is right for your pool based on the size and make of it.
Above Ground Pool Liner Cost
| Size & Shape |
|---|
| 20×40 | $2,800 $4,500 |
This chart is only meant to give you a general idea of what to expect. As discussed above, other variables will affect the overall cost.
Diy Or Hire A Pool Liner Installer
Installing a new vinyl liner is complex and requires an experienced pool builder. For small repairs and rips, DIY is possible, but it’s not easy to patch and could void your warranty. Hiring a pro to install a new liner will ensure the job is professionally done and make your pool almost look brand new.
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Above Ground Pool Liners: Hard Side Or Soft Side
First things first. Soft-sided pools, such as Intex pools, are made of a single piece of material that serves as both liner and pool walls. Thats not what were talking about here.
Hard-sided above ground pools use liners. They offer some support to the liner, so the vinyl doesnt need to be quite as heavy duty as it is for a soft-sided pool. Unfortunately, the reduced durability can make the vinyl more vulnerable to damage, which eventually leads to the need to replace the liner.
Leaking Swimming Pool Liner
Finding and fixing a pool liner leak could cost upwards of $2,500, and your best efforts may not fix it permanently. One way to know if you have a leak is if there is a drastic change in your water level. The best advice is to call a professional who can pinpoint exactly where the leak is occurring. If the leak is small enough, then a patch should fix it. If it is too big for a patch kit, then call a professional immediately. If you wait too long, then the leak could lead to a complete liner replacement.
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Vinyl Liners: What To Know And How Long They Last
If you are considering a vinyl liner pool, part of your concern will be to ask how long the liner will last before you have to replace it. You may be thinking of the vinyl liners that are used in above ground pools, how they get wrinkly on the bottom and have a very short life span. Those liners are not the same youll get in your inground pool.Above ground pool liners are a cookie cutter fit theyre made of a thinner material and come in the same size, i.e., a 24-foot round cut liner. The vinyl liners present in inground pools is made of a more durable material, custom cut to specifications.
Pool Liner Repair Costs
Professional pool liner repair costs between $100 to $350 on average, with extreme repairs costing upwards of $1,700. DIY repairs and patch kits cost as little as $20 to $50 for minor repairs.
At one time or another, every pool owner will be faced with inground pool liner problems that need repair. Repairing minor issues as they appear will help avoid having to replace the entire liner because the lack of pool maintenance.
Pool Liner Repair
| $100 per 150 sqft. |
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Wrinkling Slipping Or Stretching Liners
The symptoms mentioned above can often be hard to detect unless you are keenly observant. However, you may notice certain areas of the pool liner wrinkling over time. Although this is mainly age-related, other factors like the chemicals used, the suns UV rays, or how much the pool is used can also affect it.
As such, pool owners generally tend to replace the liners to update their pool design or enhance its look. It is evident that cracked or wrinkled liners can damage the aesthetics and overall value.
Issues like a slippery liner can be hazardous to those using the pool. In fact, several pool-related accidents occur due to worn-out liners. To avoid this problem, get it replaced right away.
It is common for pool liners to lose their elasticity over time – so dont worry. If you notice the liner beads slipping out from certain areas, or loose fittings in some places, the liner may be overstretched. Replace it at the earliest to avoid costly repairs and maintenance later on.
How Is A Liner Gauged
Because gauge isnt standardized in the pool industry, one 25 gauge liner could measure 25 mil, while another could be 22 mil. Gauge sizes differ between manufacturers, too. The difference is usually slight, though.
If you stick with respected pool brands and pay careful attention to size and fit, the difference is unlikely to affect your pool liners lifespan. But for a more accurate idea of an above ground pool liners strength, youre better off looking for the mil measurement.
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So How Long Do Above Ground Pools Last
The quick answer
Above ground pools last about 10 years on average.
However, the longevity of your above ground pool will be determined based on a variety of factors. These factors include the type of frame, type of liner, type of filter, the climate you live in, and the quality of maintenance and care you put into your investment.
Some cheap pools can last less than 1 day when not taken care of, while some better-built pools can last up to 20 years when taken care of in the right climate.
How Long Do Above Ground Pools Last Depending On A Solar Basket
A solar basket not only protects your pool from rain and debris but also helps heat your pool using solar energy and reduces evaporation. In fact, a solar basket eliminates thermal loss by 95%. Thus a solar basket turns out to be highly cost-effective.
The longevity of the pool also depends on the type of above-ground pool you have installed. The frame structure determines the type of pool, while other elements like liner, filter system, ladder, or pool deck can be added later.
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How To Install A Pool Liner
Installing a pool liner yourself is complex and may void your manufacturer’s warranty. However, if you have experience working with vinyl material, you could save about $1,000 and install it in one weekend.
How To Clean Your Pool Liner
Help your sanitizer work more effectively, prevent algae blooms, keep bacteria from setting up camp on your liner, and keep your water chemistry stable by properly cleaning your liner on a regular basis. And guess what? You dont have to drain the pool first. In fact, you dont want to drain the pool first.
Draining your above ground pool can leave the liner vulnerable to damaging ultraviolet rays. It may also affect the integrity of the walls, or even cause your pool to collapse. Unless youre replacing the liner, dont drain your pool.
When the time comes to replace the liner, be sure you know how to drain a pool before you start. Youll save yourself a lot of headaches and avoid costly mistakes.
Youll need a few things to keep your liner clean.
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How Long Do Vinyl Pool Liners Last
You probably already realize that your pools vinyl liner wont last forever, but you may not have considered exactly how often youll need to replace it. Vinyl pool liners typically come with warranties of 20-30 years, which can be misleading, because this is not the typical lifespan of an average pool liner. In most cases, you can expect inground pool liners to last between 6-12 years, and above ground pool liners to last 6-10 years.
If you spend little time on its care, your liner may need to be replaced sooner than this and likewise, with proper care and maintenance, your liner has the potential to last for much longer. Here are a few considerations that will help you get the most life out of your vinyl pool liner:
Keep the Water Chemistry Balanced
Its important to monitor and maintain your pool waters pH and alkalinity levels. In addition to keeping your pool clean and safe, the chemical balance of your pool affects the lifespan of your liner. If your pool water is often acidic, it can degrade your liner more quickly. Its also important never to add undiluted granular chemicals, like chlorine, directly into your pool because they can settle on the bottom and attack the vinyl. Instead, always dissolve the granular chemicals in a bucket of water before adding it to your pool water.
Avoid Punctures
Monitor the Water Level
Cover Your Pool
Install the Liner Right
When To Replace A Vinyl Pool Liner
Its difficult to say exactly how long a pool liner will last, but most have a life expectancy between 15 and 20 years. Reasons vary as to why you might need to replace the liner instead of just having a patch job done but, in any case, be sure to check your liner regularly to ensure you don’t lose too much water or cause additional damage.
Here are four reasons to replace your liner:
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How Does Wall Strength Compare
In-ground vinyl pool kits are installed with curved and straight wall panels made from either coated steel or polymeric thermoplastic. Both are guaranteed for 25 years but can last much longer. My 30-year-old steel walls looked great when we replaced the liner a few years ago, and I saw no signs of deterioration, no dents, and no rust.
The shell of a concrete pool can be expected to last 50 years in most cases. The waterproof plaster coating will need to be redone many times, just like a pool liner, but when designed and built correctly, the shell should last a long time.
Fiberglass shells are typically warranted for 30 years and are a fairly rigid structure, when designed and built properly. If manufactured or installed out of level, stress can be put on certain parts of the pool. If the backfill settles or shifts, so can the pool. Hollow or weak spots behind or under the shell can also cause problems.
If we did a Mythbusters style wall strength comparison, perhaps firing projectiles at the walls of all three pool types. I would suppose that concrete pools would be the strongest. Id also hypothesize that our in-ground vinyl pool kit walls would be stronger than the fiberglass pool walls.
How Do You Measure Durability
No industry standard exists for precisely measuring the strength of pool liners, but the thickness can give you a sense of durability.
Very thick liners can be cumbersome to install and tougher to get wrinkles out of. Poor fit or installation mistakes can affect your vinyl as well, so the thickest liner around may be only as good as its installation.
Two units of measure refer to the thickness of above ground pool liners : mil and gauge.
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And Then Theres Coving
The bottom of an inground pool doesnt have sharp corners where the floor and walls meet. Instead, its a gentle slope. To create this same effect in an above ground pool, youll use coving. Its usually made of foam, and attaches to the pool wall.
The liner pad can go under or over the coving, and then the pool liner sits on top of both. You dont have to use coving in your pool, but it can help protect your liner from stretching, wrinkles, and any damage that could be caused by the liner being wedged into a tight corner.
How Long Do Vinyl Liner Pools Last
10 years
. Simply so, how much does it cost to replace a vinyl pool liner?
Pool Liner Replacement CostInground pool liner replacement costs $3,000 to $4,000 on average with prices ranging between $1,400 and $4,800 for materials and labor. Above ground swimming pool liner replacement runs between $350 and $1,600 with most spending $700 on average.
Secondly, how often do you have to replace a vinyl pool liner? When should I replace a pool linerPool liners last anywhere from five to 12 years, depending on which type you use. Most homeowners can choose between three types of vinyl pool liners: 20-mil, 27-mil and 28-mil. Mil refers to the liner’s level of thickness. The thicker the liner, the longer it will last.
One may also ask, how long does a vinyl inground pool liner last?
Vinyl pool liners typically come with warranties of 20-30 years, which can be misleading, because this is not the typical lifespan of an average pool liner. In most cases, you can expect inground pool liners to last between 6-12 years, and above ground pool liners to last 6-10 years.
Are vinyl pool liners durable?
Modern vinyl liners are extremely durable. Vinyl is a nonporous surface which means it won’t require as many chemicals as a concrete pool. Vinyl’s smooth surface also makes it harder for contaminants like algae to take hold and wreak havoc on your pool.
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