How To Install An Above Ground Pool Liner
A new pool liner is a great way to refresh the look of your above ground pool without spending a lot of money, especially if you DIY it. In fact, installing your own above ground pool liner can save you $1000 or more! Whether you have just purchased a brand new complete pool package from Dohenys or are replacing the liner on your existing above ground pool, our handy guide will make the installation process super simple. You can complete this project in about a day with a little preparation, the right materials, and our step-by-step guide.
Preparing The Liner To Be Installed
Install the liner on a warm, windless day. A warm liner is much easier to work with. The ideal temperature is 60-95 F. When too hot, the liner becomes easy to over stretch or puncture. If the liner core temp is too low, it can crack in the folds. Storing the liner in temperatures lower than 55F is not recommended for this reason. After you have checked the label for size, print, and style accuracy, open your liner box carefully so the liner is not damaged. Do not use sharp objects to open the liner box. You can unfold the liner inside the pool, or outside on the grass. Make sure there are no sticks, rocks, metal pool parts, or sharp items in the area that can puncture your liner.
PRO TIP: If cooler, warm the liner in advance in a climate-controlled room. Take the liner out of the box and unfold a few folds. This will allow the liners temperature to be raised and make it easier to work with.
Note: Installing the liner is easier with multiple people. Time to call in some friends. 2 people at minimum.
- Spread the liner around the inside of the pool. If you are doing this from inside the pool, step lightly to minimize footprints in the sand, or make cardboard snowshoes with duct tape. Again, no sharp items.
Now it’s time to split up based on your pool’s shape. You can click the shape to skip to that section:
Remove The Previous Liner
If you are replacing an old swimming pool liner, naturally, you will need to remove the old liner first.
1. Cut the liner into sections, this will help to ease the removal process. You can cut the liner into 2-4 pieces and 6 below the bead track to first remove the bulk of the liner, and then you can return to remove the remaining liner.
2. Once the previous liner has been removed, you will then need to inspect the pool floor and wall for anything that might damage the new liner.
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Set The Liner With A Vacuum
This step is really helpful to remove any small wrinkles you’re having trouble removing and for preventing them in the future.
First, seal all the returns and openings with duct tape to create an airtight seal.
Then, insert the hose of a commercial duty shop vac into your skimmer until it is in between the liner and the wall a few inches down the pool wall.
Next, turn the vacuum on and wait for the liner to stick to the wall like shrink wrap.
Try to keep wrinkles smoothed out during this process. You may have to turn it off periodically while you straighten out spots that are folding.
Additional Information On Liner Types
All of the previously mentioned liner types are only used on flat-bottomed above ground pools. There is a fourth type of pool liner called an expandable liner, which is mainly used on Doughboy pools. These are overlap style liners, but are designed to stretch into place in order to fit a pool with a dished out bottom or deeper area of the pool.
If you have a rectangular above ground pool by Kayak or Fanta Sea, you will need to purchase a specific beaded liner for your pool. And, for older pools made by Esther Williams or Johnny Weismuller, a proprietary replacement liner with a larger top edge bead is normally used.
BONUS TIP: If youre unsure what pool liner type you have, look under the top rail. This will help you determine if you need an overlap, beaded, or unibead liner.
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Is It Bad To Have Wrinkles In Pool Liner
Liner wrinkles are part of owning a vinyl liner pool. Liner wrinkles dont usually cause serious problems, but they can be difficult to remove. Your best option is to catch them as the pool is being filled and keep your pool water in good conditionbut if they do show up later, were here to help you clear them up.
Can You Put An Overlap Liner On A Beaded Pool
Importance. The beaded pool line can be changed to an overlap pool liner. All you need to do is just add coping on the top of the pool liner and then the bead receiver. On the other hand, you can also change from an overlap pool liner to a beaded pool liner, by just adding the bead receiver to the swimming pool.
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Out With The Old & In With The Unibead: Simple Steps For Installing A Unibead Pool Liner
When it comes to installing a new vinyl liner in an above ground pool, most pool owners base their purchase on the looks, the colors and pattern of the liner. However, there are different types of above ground pool liners available, and each liner type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Unibead pool liners are the ultimate in versatility since you can use it to replace an Overlap Pool Liners as well as Beaded Pool Liners. There are many pros of using UniBead Pool Liners for your pool. First, they are easy to install and ensure an even installation with printed waterline borders. Using a UniBead liner eliminates any need to use coping strips The only drawback can come from taking improper measurements. Following some simple steps makes installing your UniBead pool liner a snap, and ensure it is even all the way around your pool.
*all Liner Replacements Include New Coping And New Skimmer And Return Gaskets*
Choosing the Correct Liner
This first step in replacing your vinyl liner is choosing a new liner that will match with your exsisting pool. We recommend that you stay with the style liner that you previously had in the pool.
Draining the Pool Before We Arrive
What to Expect from the Replacement
Atlanta Area Contact Info
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How To Prepare Your Pool Liner For Installation
Plan to install your liner on a warm, 60-95 degrees Fahrenheit and windless day. The warm weather will make the liner easier to work with. If it is too hot outside, the liner can stretch too easily and become punctured. If the liner is too cold, it can crack in the folds. Do not store your liner at temperatures lower than 55-degrees Fahrenheit.
Open the line box carefully to avoid damaging the liner and avoid using any sharp objects to open the box. You can either unfold the liner inside of the pool or outside on the grass. Open the liner in an area free of metal pool parts, rocks, sticks, and other sharp items that could tear the liner. Spread the liner around inside of the pool with the help of a friend or two.
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.
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Remove The Old Liner And Accessories
Keep the top rail installed so it stabilizes the pool walls. Remove the skimmer and return, using a screwdriver and pliers.
Using a utility knife, cut the liner a few inches below the top rail. Cut the liner into smaller pieces, so its easier to remove and discard.
Remove the liner pad and coving, if you have them, so youre left with bare sand or dirt inside the pool walls. If you dug a hole to drain excess water, fill it in now.
Installing An Expandable Pool Liner
Doughboy® Pools have a long and rich history in America. They are one of the only aboveground pools with a deep end section. They are also the only aboveground pool to use an Expandable pool liner.
Expandable pool liners stretch into shape as you fill the pool, by slowly releasing the vinyl liner as the pool fills with water. Other liners are fully lining the walls and floor before filling begins.
Doughboy® sells their own expandable pool liners, or you can buy replacement expandable liners made by GLI, Swimline or Lomart.
In The Swim expandable pool liners are available in 11 stock sizes, for Doughboy® pools with a 60 or 72 deep dished out area, at prices from $159 to $429, depending on size, depth and pattern.
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Which Is Best: Overlap Or Unibead Liners
OK, so you’ve settled on an above ground pool model that you and your family absolutely love. What’s next? Well, if you want my professional opinion, your next decision should be what kind of pool liner you want to install. Your liner is a waterproof material that forms the inner wall of your pool and helps keep the water inside. There are many liner brands and types. Some have simple colors or patterns, while others feature detailed designs, ocean scenery, and even faux stonework. They can be either light or dark in color, depending on the type of mood you’re trying to create. However, what’s actually more important than what your liner looks like is how it installs. You see, there are a few different styles of pool liners out there, all of which have their own installation method, benefits, and drawbacks. In the following article, we’ll compare two of the most common ones: overlap liners and unibead liners.
Bubble While Installing Vinyl Liner
I found your site after I had already started with my liner install. I unfolded and laid the liner in the sun, and then refolded and put it in the center of the pool and attached one side to the pool with coping strips.
I did this as I worked my way around the pool and making sure the seam was on the birm at the pool wall. I stretched the liner out the best I could, and it was quite warm out so you know. The top rails and everything were removed and everything is going fine, except for one side of the pool, Id say a section of the liner say about the width of 3 of the posts, the liner is tight and bows inward towards the pool, like there is air behind it, because it is tight there.
All of the other sides hang OK, all sides have the same amount of overhang, and there is about 10 inches of water in the bottom of the pool. I was wondering if I should attach all of the coping strips, and top rails and just let the sun and the weight of the water stretch this last section into place, or would that be a bad idea. Wish I had read your install prior to doing it this way. Thanks In advance for your reply. Rock
Hi Rock.
I would think you need to get the coping strips on, and the stabilizer rods in place, as soon as possible. You have a pool that is exposed to the wind and could easily blow down. The pool needs some structure.
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Step Four: Fill The Pool Let Out The Liner
The last step to installing an expandable liner is the one that requires close attention. Begin to fill the pool with water, and allow the liner to become taught and stretch.
Images from Doughboy® Video Click to View
For every 1/10 of water added, release the liner 1/10 of the way. This is done gradually, releasing several clamps, allowing the liner to slip a few inches into the pool, and reclamping the liner to the top rail. If wrinkles appear, reach over the wall and pull the liner towards the wall.Filling from a truck, although costly, will make this step last only 1-2 hours. If filling from a hose, youll need to let out the liner a few inches, every few hours until completely full, which can take 24-48 hours.
When the expandable liner has completely stretched into place, there should be just a few inches of liner left on the outside of the walls. Remove the top rail sections, place the coping strips over the liner to secure it to the wall, and trim off excess vinyl material on the outside of the wall.
Last step is to screw on the skimmer and return faceplates , and cut out the vinyl inside the faceplate, to flood the filter system and plumbing.
~ Congratulations! Youve just installed your own expandable pool liner. There may be a few wrinkles, thats considered normal with this type of pool, but if you are patient and allow the liner to stretch, wrinkles will be minimal.
BONUS TIPS:
Davy MerinoInTheSwim Blog Editor
The Benefits Of Using A Vinyl Liner Pool
Vinyl liners are one of the most popular options due to the many benefits that can be reaped from using one, including:
– Cost-effectiveness – 10-15 year lifespan – Affordable price
Even if the liner were to become damaged, a vinyl liner replacement is an affordable and much less time-consuming installation in comparison to other pool liners.
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How To Replace Your Above Ground Pool Liner In 8 Easy Steps
If you find yourself needing to replace your above ground swimming pool liner, either because of tears or excessive staining, you dont need to hire a professional.
As long as you have a little time on your hands, you can save yourself some serious money by doing it yourself.
Hiring a professional can cost well over $1,000 on top of the cost of the liner!
And since we are all about getting stuff done ourselves and saving money around here, Im gonna show you how its done!
Add And Smooth The Sand
If you used sand previously, check whether theres still enough to support the bottom of the pool. If not , lay enough sand to create a 3-inch bed across the entire inside of the pool.
Level the sand bed using a push broom, then pack it down with a tamper. If you dont have a tamper, you may be able to rent a soil compacting tool from a local hardware store.
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How To Remove Air From Behind The Liner
taking care to keep the liner centered is crucial. While the liner may appear slightly off center, it is normal. If you notice any vertical wrinkles on the wall, they indicate that the floor has rotated. If the liner is too centered, use the methods above to remove air from behind it. Otherwise, you will need to buy a replacement liner and coping strips.
It may help to warm the pool liner in a climate-controlled room beforehand to make it easier to work with. Also, it’s better to work in groups 2 people should be enough to do the job properly. Make sure to step lightly to avoid leaving footprints in the sand. To prevent stepping on sand, create cardboard snowshoes with duct tape and use them to walk on the liner. And avoid using sharp objects, especially in the sand.
Once you’ve marked the center of your pool frame, you can measure the liner’s height. This measurement will determine how far the liner needs to be rolled. Remember that liners are made to be stretched three feet. If you buy one that’s too short or too long, you’ll want to round it up to make sure it fits properly.
