replacing pool liners

[Bill Sinclair]

Hi it’s me again . Replacing a pool liner is do-able, but challanging if you’ve never done it before. The biger the pool the greter the challange. You don’t mention the size. If it is a 3 ft pool less than 12 feet liner is 1 person job although 2

or more makes it easier. but 4 and 5 ft pools oer 12 ft can be frustrating. especially if it is over 20 ft or oblong.. If it is I seriously recommend bringing in a pro.Mine is 24 ft and I lived through it. First, get accurate measurements and get your lin

er. Leslie’s mailorder is your best unless there is a Leslie’s store in your area. (800-537-7665 for advise and locations) once you have your liner in your possession you can start. You need the following:
first and foremost a good strong shop vac. do

not start without one, several dozen spring type clothes pins, duct tape and several willing friends.
start by checking the weather forcast. The wind is your enemy. A pool with no water in it and no top rail is a kite. if the forcast is for mild weath

er then take off the top rail. This requires removing scores of little screws. keep them in a safe place you will need them. You may leave the bottom of the old liner if you’d like but I would cut off the side walls they will only get in the way. There wi

ll be a coping all the way around the pool clipped onto the top of the sidewall. carefully pull these off and keep them ( they are typcally 4 or 5 ft long and hold the liner in place).If you have a through the wall skimmer and return remove them now ( If

you do you should be prepared to replace the gaskets they may tear or break removing them . your local pool store should carry them) I would recommend retamping and re-banking the sand before you re-line. The sand should be banked up the side of the pool

about 6 to 8 inches all the way around. When ready have some of those friends help lift the new liner over the edge ( or up the steps if you have a deck) then un fold it and begin spreading it out. This is daunting with a large pool. have your friends wo

rk evenly spaced around the liner to pull it evenly toward the walls. then every body but one go outside the wall while the one inside feeds the liner over the wall to the helpers on the outside. they will pull the liner over the edge and clip it with clo

thes pins to the top of the wall. once this is started the inside person can get out. work your way around the pool till the entire liner is over the edge. Now the fun begins. you have to center the liner and pull push or drag it till it is centered. the

n tape over the skimmer hole securely with duct tape. then put the hose from your shop vac in the return hole and tape it securely. turn on the vac and watch the liner suck itself into position. you will need to make adjustments here and there until it is

just right with no wrinkles. ( the pros do this very quickley and make it look easy ) You can start filling the pool to keep the liner in place. it may take several attempts before it is smooth and wrinkel free like the pros do. ( mine still has a few w

rinkles ). When the water is a few inches from the bottom of the skimmer hole stop filling. At this point you must be absolutely certain that the liner is exactly how you want it to be forever. there is no turning back after the next step. This is where y

ou cut the hole for and install the skimmer and return. ( ps you can turn off the vac after a foot or so of water is in the pool.)
re-install the coping and top rail while the pool is illing and you are done. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t

. It is worth the couple hundred dollars the installers chare to have them do it.

good luck, . . . . . Bill