how to replace an inground pool linerhow to replace an inground pool liner

Check A and B measures at top of the wall and bottom of the wall, to be sure walls arent leaning. Inspect the surfaces of the wall where the faceplates attach skimmer, returns, light and steps. Plan your installation, to order all gaskets and faceplates ahead of time. Maybe it's time for replacement. Method 1 Buying the Right Type and Size 1 Choose an inground vinyl liner if you have an inground pool. is there such a thing as an inground pool liner made of kevlar. What Is A Pool Liner Replacement Going To Cost? Clean off the pool deck if needed, to keep the pool clean. Extend your second measuring tape from the spot where the pole hits the pool edge to the first measuring tape to find the sidewall slope. Fiberglass Swimming Pools. Or you can try calling a few Handyman services, they may take on such jobs. Check your local govt. Do I need to do the same with the return or just under the liner ? Highlights. I tried patching it and kept losing water. Our first goal is to listen to you and understand what your needs are. So, my opinion is that the liner does not fit the pool, and that is the reason for the liner popping out of the track, and because its too small, (not as tall as the wall), it drops down very low, and at a foot below the track, its almost impossible to pull up again, without draining most of the water. This is where two sections of track join, right? It is not uncommon to need to shift the liner a few inches, if it ends up slightly out of alignment. do you glue it to keep it in place ? If they charge for labor separately, it can run from $30 to $50 per hour. Install the screw hider strips and youre done! A top-rated pro can do that for you. Hi Duane, no not at all, above ground pool steps are installed with water in the pool. If all air leaks are sealed, in under a minute the Cyclone will pull the liner tight against the walls and floor. Shallow End: Measure the depth from the top of the liner track to the bottom of the wall on each side of the shallow end. Discharge the pool water too close to the pool, and it can weep into the pool, or put pressure on weak walls. Most vinyl liners range between 20 and 35 mil. First, well re-tape any seams on the wall where wall panels are fused together to ensure that they will continue to hold up and taping will allow the liner not to get sucked into the seams. . Or if not, heres some help: Accurate measurements are key to getting a liner that fits like a glove. A deep-blue liner is the most popular, although light blue is another popular option since it doesnt readily show signs of fading. If you have a pool light, now is the time to install the ring and new gasket, and reinstall the light fixture into the niche. Learn how to choose a fun, safe one without breaking codesor bones. How to Replace a Liner Pool with Fiberglass. We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. Caution is key in this process since we dont want to tear the new liner; its just as important to us as it is to you! I have a question. Once the liner floor is lined up nicely, head to the shallow end and begin tucking the liner into the bead track. Once the liner is completely cut out, the surface of the pool will be exposed. 03:06 The reason why your pool liner is pulling away usually deals with air in the pocket between the liner and the pool's casing, or because it slipped off the track due to shrinkage. Pay particular attention to where the wall meets the floor. It neednt be absolutely perfect, as most patterned liners will hide minor floor imperfections, but try to get it as level and even as you can. What Are The Top 5 Problems With Vinyl Liner Swimming Pools. Unlike above-ground pools, there is only one type of liner for an inground pool. Now you can start the filter system, balance the water chemistry and enjoy your new inground pool liner. If you can shave off the hooked edge, and then sliding should be easy. Determine the Hopper Width: Subtract both sidewall slopes from the full pool width to determine the hoppers width. I do understand what it is. Good luck! Its important to measure as accurately as possible because most replacement liners are cut to fit based on the figures you provide. Theyre so neglected. Ive just had a quote to replace an inground liner which includes, the installers to lift the pavers, dig out the paving base & pool backfill to access the plumbing to the skimmer & inlets etc. Because my liner seams are about 2 to 3 inches from the wall on the surface of the floor. But you'll need the right pool brush to get the job done. After the installers left and the pool was filling I noticed a small 2-3 inch lion lump in the bottom of the pool. Replace your own inground pool liner, and save thousands of dollars over local installers! Important: We cant stress this enough. Take the new liner to the center of the pool and unfold it. inground pool liner Pool Liners Ripped Torn Faded Liner Recommended Resources Liner types and above ground pool decks November 14, 2017 Run a garden hose into the deep end and turn on the spigot. When the pool is full, install the faceplates and gaskets very tightly with a proper size screwdriver. Now do I cut the new mouldings on a 45 angle @ the bottom corners and round them off, or just but the side mouldings to the top of the bottom one ?- I have end caps if butted. Leaving your pool empty for very long could damage the pool walls or floor, if freak weather and floods move in before you have a chance to refill the pool. Next step is to hook up your Cyclone Blower Vac to set the liner. The gasket goes under the liner, and the plate goes on top of the liner. You could also use a push broom or pool brush on a pole, to gently push the vinyl in directions away from the angle of the fold, or wrinkle. The same is true for inground pool liners. Normal evaporation can lower a pools water level by to an inch per week. Asking a pool professional the right questions about pool liner replacement can minimize miscommunication and help homeowners find the right professional for the job. Even things that seem completely solid, like concrete. Do you have workers compensation insurance? Founded in 1996, Pool Warehouse is proud to call East Tennessee Home. No tripped breakers! Our old one was shrinking, faded, and popped out of the track in specific spots. Important: Do not skip the pool shock. We have an 1836 inground pool that is 8ft deep. This professional-grade telescopic pole is what the pros use to clean pools thoroughly. However, there are those cases where in some small and shallow pools, with no deep end, if the liner is an exact fit, it could be done without a vacuum I suppose, but Id like to see how it fits first, before I put water in. Be careful to keep sand out of the main drain ring and cover screw holes. Hiring a professional to repair a vinyl pool liner can range in cost depending on the extent of the damage, pool type, materials, and labor. Wait until the water is up to the screw holes before screwing in the bottom step strip. Above-ground vinyl pool liners usually run from $100 to $600, with installation costs between $250 to $800 on average. Everything reacts to heat and cold by expanding and contracting. One bag of vermiculite will be included in the repair contract that covers most standard pool repairs needed to keep your vinyl liner pool in working order. We follow every step that you see above and make sure everything is done correctly since a liner is a delicate material. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from pool repair services near you. Then cut out the vinyl inside the ring. It may take several kettles, depending on the size of your liner. The screws will not need replacement if they are not damaged. Carefully pull the liner from the track by lifting up and outwards, the plastic track may be brittle and can crack if stressed. Lay the pole down onto the coping on the side of the pool. Remove your shoes, then standing inside the liner, use your feet to help spread it out. When I opened it again, the liner had come down in 4 places and it was down about a foot in two places. The moment of installing the new liner in the track is easier with 3 people or even 4. It was going into winter time. You may also want to do some work on the path of water around the pool, to avoid a similar situation, if caused from a high water table. And tears. Above-ground pool liner cost ranges from $100 to $600 for materials, plus $250 to $800 for installation. Vinyl pool light niche gaskets are found in the category of light niche parts. Set up the vac on the edge of the pool, in the middle of a long side. It is however recommended to replace the faceplates and gaskets, except for the step gasket, which is a very thick and durable rubber seal. If a homeowner has experience with pool liner repairs or if its a quick fix above the waterline, a DIY repair may be the way to go. When the plate is re-installed, cut out the vinyl inside the faceplate and flood the lines with water. Is he cutting and creating new heat welded seams on site? New this pool thing thanks, Hi, for inground vinyl pools, that sounds like the coping you are referring to. should the seams in the liner be fitted where the walls and the floor meet. If you have a sand bottom, you can sometimes push wrinkles in, to the floor, if they are very small folds. Maybe itll just develop a teeny, tiny tear that you cant even see unless youre right up close. I am concerned that the liner will be easily damaged around the bottom perimeter of the shallow end. You can use a sharpie marker or a grease pen. Your helper can do the same on the opposite side of the steps. Everything I read says the take the new liner to the deep end with the arrow facing the shallow end to start installation. Rectangular Pool: Measure the short and long sides in two spots each to check your results. If thereisany ground water, we will need to drain it out of the pool. Fill in any holes with a Concrete/Sand mix, a Vermiculite/Concrete mix or just plain Vermiculite mixed with water. with the hot air. Good Luck Ive had similar situations Ive worked with before PS while the pool is drained, you could measure the pool for a new liner, just in case you need it (now or later)- and because its more accurate to measure when empty. The clips are just to hide the area where the sections are joined. Measure the Corner Radius. Even if your measurements were good, and you got the right size liner, if you install it poorly, you could end up with a big, watery mess on your hands. Hello iam installing my new liner this year , i know you replace the main drain and skimmer gasket under the liner and top . And sometimes, certain conditions or events occur that can speed the aging process, or just outright cause damage that can only be addressed with the purchase of a new liner. Green water is OK! Then the liner vacs are turned on (larger pools need two vacs running), and all the air is sucked out from behind the liner, and it fits tightly like a glove. In order to replace a pool liner, the pool first needs to be drained. Copyright 2022 In The Swim. In 99.9% of liner installs, you just clean-up the wall fitting or skimmer sealing face (on the pool side), and replace the gaskets, one under the liner and one on top of the liner, under the faceplate, which should also be replaced. There are several ways to seal up the step. A month after, a wrinkle was discovered in the deep end floor about 6 up from the bottom. Sources: Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, YardSharing. These prices can vary depending on liner material thickness and pool size and shape. I just had a new liner installed in my inground pool. Then we will schedule an appointment to discuss everything in further detail and also provide you with pricing! in the area of the trouble, the liner is probably not as deep as the pool actually is, or the shape of the floor, or actual depth changed after the liner was measured. If your steel walls are rusty, or to just add a soft feel to your walls, 1/8 thick wall foam is added to the walls before you install the new liner. Should I put wall foam on the bottom of my in ground pool? So you just need to buy or rent a thin submersible pump of 1.5 hp or so, something substantial, not a cheap little pool cover pump, but a real sump pump- connect a discharge hose or pipe, and lower it into the dry well, and then plug it in. Actually, they should come back and do it for you, if the liner was just installed, unless its just a small spot that you can handle. When done measuring, check that A and B measurements add up to the total of all length and width measures. Step 1: Preparation Before we even begin the process of replacing a liner, we need to make sure that we have a few consecutive days of clear weather. At Pool Warehouse we only offer the highest quality vinyl swimming pool liners. Dont pull up on the liner as you make your initial screw holes, leave a little slack. If you see a patch in this area, that is likely what happened which would be entirely their fault and responsibility. Measuring instructions online, whether written or in a video, only go so far. Hi Mike, sorry to hear many wrinkles can be flattened-out if you have a sand floor, or moved toward the wall, slowly with the water level lowered to just a few inches over the wrinkle. Before or after filling with water. Vinyl Pools Inground. In fact, someone has put a patch on one of the pullings already which I never saw until I started swimming playing with my kids. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, pool liner replacement can range from $1,000 to $5,000, with homeowners spending $2,327 on average. Is it possible to do this without installing a new liner? Dont flood a downhill neighbors garden, garage or basement! Paying for your swimming pool can be an overwhelming process in itself. It would be wise to replace these gaskets when you replace your liner. The wall material should hang straight down, and although loose and wrinkly, any folds should be running vertically. We noticed that the liner is not tucked in the track. Repairing or replacing a vinyl pool liner costs an average of $2,127. A vinyl liner installation is easily done with two people, having a third or fourth person on the job is helpful, especially when you are pulling the liner across the pool, and locking the bead into the track. A Cheat Sheet For Perfectly Balanced Pool Water and Crystal Clear Swimming. Replacing a liner in a larger pool will cost more than it would for a smaller pool. Floor wrinkles can be pulled out by leaning over the pool edge and pulling on the liner, or using a push broom or pool brush to push them towards the wall. Try laying on the deck and leaning way over the edge, grabbing a handful of vinyl (you may have to shut off the vacuum temporarily), and pulling towards the wall, and releasing the liner slowly into place. Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1995. If you decide to go with a pro, you can skip all the measuring stuff. Sanitizer level should be near zero, and the pH should be between 6 8, to protect your local watershed, but it need not be clean and clear. If the liner is brittle, faded and old, it may snap or break when trying to reset the liner with a vacuum. Download Article 1 Boil a kettle of water. The weather does play an important part on the liner installation also. Hi Cindy, in most cases, a liner vac is necessary, to prevent wrinkles in the floor of the liner. Float the pool light across the pool, and hook/duct tape your string/wire to the pool light cord. Make sure you know how to drain a pool before you begin. When the liner is completely vacuumed and in place, we will have to cut out the sections of vinyl where the main drain, skimmers and returns are located. Newer liners can be easily repaired, but if the material is dry and fragile, it becomes difficult to repair and a new liner is the only option. Remove the cover, cut up the liner and inspect the pool really well, and if it all looks normal, then yes it is just the 5-steps mentioned here to replace your inground liner. Using a garden hose to fill a pool can take a day or more, depending on your water pressure. If you have anything other than a rectangular pool, you may want to hire a professional to ensure accurate measurements. A liner with a solid color is typically less expensive than a liner that features a patterned design. Not an ideal installation, but sometimes it happens out there. You can also use two pool poles at 90 deg angles to each other, to help hold the vertical pole in position, on larger pools. Once the floor is ready install the liner quickly before debris blows into the empty pool. If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. When estimating new pool liner cost, its important to note that the differences in pricing for above-ground pools and inground pools can be significant. Our end goal is to allow as much ground water to present itself as possible. And there your liner sits, holding thousands of gallons of water, being ignored every day. Minor leaks can usually be repaired, but severe leaks can cause damage to the pool subfloor, which can cause it to crack. Hi Amy, no cutting of the liner to make it fit,just cutting out the drain, skimmer and returns, and lights, and steps, but never cutting the liner to make it fit the pool. Clean off the walls, sand and paint any rusty spots. Poor inground pool liners. Might take a couple of adjustments, sometimes, to get it to lay flat in the track. But little by little, the pool liner develops tiny tears and stains. Carefully remove, with a large #3 Philips screwdriver, the faceplates for the skimmer(s), wall return(s), main drains, pool lights, and pool step sections. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. What type of warranty do you offer on your work. The average pool liner lifespan is 5 to 9 years. Hello, When the liner is replaced and the pool filled with water I thought you had to wait 3 days before adding chemicals and starting the filter pomp, is this correct? I purchased a new liner through In the Swim. Bumps, wrinkling, and the liner popping out of its track can happen when the liner stretches out. Or are you raring for the challenge of replacing your inground pool liner? You just suck all the air out to set the liner? Add water slowly into the pool until it reaches at least six inches deep. Hi Holly, yes I know what you mean, especially if you use a large 3 or 4 shop vac hose, it can stretch the liner in that area. When the temp is in the high 90s and the sun is beating down on the liner it tends to stretch out and expand the liner, making it harder to get a wrinkle free liner installation. But I have no deep end,so how do I know how to line up the liner correctly, because on a lagoon style pool the walls curve in and out, and I see nothing on the new liner that shows what goes where. Be cautious working around an empty pool. My previous liner was not cut, and watching videos I do not see anybody cutting the liner. Most patterns have a mottled pattern, to help hide dirt and mask wrinkles or imperfections. If saving $1500-$2500 appeals to you, you could do it yourself. Without water in the pool, be gentle on the step section, it could crack. Darker colors will absorb slightly more solar energy. Yes, turn the vacs back on, and look closely for any wrinkles that may need persuasion, or pushing towards the walls, as you fill. My question is: will this procedure work adequately or will it be a waste of time and water? 20,000+ gallons is a lot of water, be sure that you are not eroding or over saturating a hillside. Next time you buy pool supplies, throw in a few fun pool accessories. every 5 feet or so, use pennies and popsicle sticks to shim the liner, or you can also use duct tape, to hold the liner in the track, slightly stretched and TAUT in the track before you move another five feet apart from each other and do the same thing. The wrong diving board can injure your family or cost you a pretty penny in fines. They have to be absolutely accurate. If you have any corners at all, you can use it as a starting point. http://bit.ly/InyoBlogSHOP at our online store! Thank you! After the light ring is installed, when the pool is nearly full of water, then you cut out the vinyl inside the light ring and can install the light. Dont use an electric drill, if you drop it in the pool, you could die! All Rights Reserved. Clean the pool deck areas around the pool, and/or wet them down, to prevent debris from blowing into the pool. A vinyl liner is a water retention system. A pool liner replacement costs $1,200 to $2,500. The wrinkle grew to about 4ft by the end of August 2018. because theres no corners to line up. Water Issues. Cut the string with your razor knife and duct tape it to the inside of the niche. Hi Claire, no that is not required normally to replace an inground liner. A pool liner can bulge and tear with age, which can cause leaks. This doesnt just protect wildlife, it can protect you from fines. The last thing well do during this step is spray adhesive on the gaskets of the skimmer and main drain to keep them intact while hanging the liner. Once this is accomplished, the hole must be brought up to the proper grade with gravel. A thicker liner can cost $300 to $400 more, but it will last much longer than a thinner option. Use a kettle or can with a long spout, such as a watering can. 479 Share 140K views 2 years ago #PoolRepair #VinylLiner In this video we show you how to patch a hole or rip in your vinyl liner pool. Is this going to become a problem in the future. You try to clear your lawn of all obstacles before you mow. So there is no glue or any adhesive. Around the deep end of the pool, you can choose to trowel in place, a safety ledge of 4-6 where the wall meets the floor. Fiberglass Pools have quickly become the most popular pool in the industry! Older liners shrink somewhat when water is removed. Continue all the way around the pool, locking the liner snugly into the track. You need all of the screws if missing one, find a factory replacement fast. During the winter it totally empty out and then I ran into money problems. I would call the company out and have them use liner lock to secure the liner back into the track important to keep water out and stop it from coming out of the track more. Pool liners are usually made from vinyl, but fiberglass liners are another option, although theyre harder to reproduce. For the vacuum hose, I usually use a mid point of a long wall, somewhere equidistant to all points. If a professional drains the pool, it can cost between $500 and $700. A submersible pump can be set in the pool to drain it slowly, in 10-30 hours, depending on the pump size. Be aware that using wall foam may actually increase the risk of liner punctures. Although the repair itself is generally inexpensive, it can take . Sand can be used as flooring, but should only in areas that are surrounded by sand, such as plots of land that are on a beachfront. The most durable would be the thicker liners, of 25-ga or 30-ga thickness. Once youve got that new liner in, though, youll be all set to go back to ignoring your liner and enjoying your pool. Im pretty confident that the position of the liner is correct. Is your pool liner damaged beyond repair?Get free, no-commitment project estimates from pool repair services near you. High levels of chlorine can cause the liner to fade and deteriorate. They become brittle over time, or stretched thin from holding all that water over the years. However! Inground pools are overall less expensive than inground pools, partly because of the materials, their larger size, and their more attractive, less . Any separation or suspected leakage can be filled in with silicone or other elastomeric sealant. And yes I understand, most pool builders also want to sell the liner, and measure the liner etc. Most pool liners need replacing after 10 years. There are two gaskets used, one behind the liner, and one on top of the liner. Shallow End: Use the telescoping pole to feel where the slope to the deep end begins. Order the correct gaskets (they differ by Manuf. Where the sides meet the bottom the lines are wavy and uneven. And, most pools have square measures with both ends and both sides being the exact same length. Pool liner looking a little worse for wear? Two people work in opposite directions, locking the liner bead into the track. Hi Greg, you do not need glue. We had an inground pool liner installed by a pool company not even a year ago. Very difficult to remove and replace, but it can be patched with epoxy putty, or painted. How much is a pool liner? The liner wasnt down everywhere in the pool only in the area where I had trouble within a month of them installing it. thanks. Wait to drain the pool until you have everything ready to go, and a good weather forecast. When the water level reaches the point where its almost reached the first step, or bottom step, its time to screw on the step strips, the 3 long plates and about 50 screws, that gaskets the liner around the steps. Less common among inground liners is the gauge measurement. Any other questions or concerns, reply back! Articles and resources for swimming pool owners and DIYers. Be sure to order new pool light gaskets, and possibly a new light ring as well, if it looks aged, yellowed or is cracked or warped. While hiring a pool professional to install a pool liner is more expensive than a DIY project, keep in mind that a professional has the experience to install a liner correctly. Use duct tape to seal up where the hose goes behind the liner, and to seal up the skimmer lid or a pool light cord. Once you know whats going on in the water, you can follow the same steps to open an inground pool, including using all the same chemicals. Here are a few ways to save money without compromising on quality. The distance from the middle slope to the back slope is the length of the hopper. Five or ten gallons spilled wont hurt the floor of the pool, but dont remove the floor of the liner with inches of water still left in the hopper. Be sure to crank those screws down very tightly, using a #3 Phillips. Pay a decent wage, and you should have no trouble putting a small team together. If the liner is in OK shape then go for it, pulling the liner out of the way, re-trowel the floor, and then re-set the liner with a strong vacuum. Leaks can also cause the metal walls to rust, which will affect the structural integrity of the pool. You will need to drain ALL of the water out of the pool. If city water is used to refill the pool, it can run from $60 to $120 on average. A pool liner thats improperly installed can wrinkle or cause damage to the bead tracks. Inground pool liners are made from durable vinyl and are attached to your pool with a steel or aluminum frame. Use a dust pan, or wet/dry vac to remove all of the little pebbles, grit and granules. Step 3: Mark the level inside the bucket. Sometimes a repair is the best choice to prolong the life of the liner, but there are telltale signs when a liner needs to be replaced. Quality & Innovation - Fresh Designs & Styles. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money on a new inground pool liner only to find it doesnt fit. The Bucket Test - Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and set it on the steps of your pool. I just installed a new liner but there appears to be a small pebble on the pool floor that didnt get vacuumed prior to install. Use a rigid measuring tape, being careful to measure from the bead or track, to the flat floor. Be careful not to melt the liner (which I did once!) Apparently this is required to cut out the pipe holes in the liner. So by the end of the process, your pool will look brand new. If there are wrinkles in the liner, turn the vac off and work the vinyl, trying to pull the wrinkles toward one wall or the other. You can also use a cover pump, or a wet/dry vac or even old towels, to get up the last few gallons. Find a Pro +. Prices can differ from the national average because of the thickness and design of the liner material, labor costs, costs related to draining and refilling the pool, geographic location, the season, and the pool type, size, and shape. Make sure all valves on the filter system are closed to prevent sucking air through the pipes. Determine the Back Slope Measurement: From the deep end to the back side of your pool, the wall slopes up and out. I seen in a video to tape cardboard over one of the skimmers and insert the hose there do you recommend that practice? Getting into the water may make this easier. I still dont have the money to have it installed however I could probably do it myself. If you have a main drain, you will need to install the faceplate ring and the lid at this point, after the liner is set. Some pool service companies will work with you, but many may not wish to sometimes pool service technicians may do it as a side job on a Sunday, if you ask them in the right way, I suppose. Installing now. There are multiple steps that we take to ensure that the old liner is taken out and the new liner is applied correctly. Absolutely. Screw on your faceplate screws very tightly, with the large Phillips (#3) head. Check the weather, flood waters and high water tables can cause problems for an empty pool. These are fairly standard, but its best to use the form provided by the dealer that you plan to order the liner from. Once the corners or other markers are established, and the liner appears to be hanging correctly, proceed around the pool, away from each other and lock the liner into the track. But everything eventually wears out over time, even the heavy-duty vinyl used in your liner. First, shut off power and open up the junction box. Hello, Also an old liner may develop wrinkles when re-set, or perhaps not fit as well. Maintaining proper chemical balance in your pool water can help extend the life of your liner. Pinterest. How long will it take to install the pool liner? Im waiting on their arrival to look at it again, but wondering what to or why this is happing to us as far as the liner goes.