Pool Liner Installation & Replacement

Pool liners add a ton of personality to your swim space, but they also have a practical element. As great as a liner might look, it still has to hold thousands of gallons of pool water at any given time. Vinyl liners are built to be durable, but they won’t last forever. Replacing your vinyl pool liner will improve looks and curb appeal while protecting your property from water damage.

Signs That Your Pool Liner Needs to Be Replaced

The average pool liner will typically last between 5-10 years but that’s not guaranteed. The lifespan of a pool liner will depend on several contributing factors including, sun exposure, the thickness and durability of materials, water chemistry, maintenance and the frequency of use.

Some of the signs that it’s time to replace your vinyl pool liner include:

Cracks, Tears & Wrinkling: Over time liners will start to experience wear and tear. Contact with sharp objects can rip vinyl while prolonged UV exposure can make material brittle. If this is the case you will start to see visible cracking or wrinkling. More than just looking awful this will likely lead to water loss. You can’t fix a cracked liner with duct tape! Call a local Puddle technician at the first sign of a crack or tear to get the ball rolling on your pool liner replacement.

Staining: Liners will start to lose their vibrancy over time, leaving them looking dull. Sunlight is the main culprit for this. Prolonged exposure will cause color fading to both above-ground pools and inground pool liners. Imbalanced pool chemicals will also contribute to fading. It’s common to want a replacement liner for cosmetic purposes but this is also a sign that the vinyl is weakening and becoming brittle.

Stretching & Slipping: In the same way that some liners become brittle, others will start to become more elastic. When installed a liner is carefully measured for a perfect fit. When it starts to stretch out it won’t fit properly and that is when it will start to slip out of the coping track holding the liner. If this is the case it’s possible for water to get in behind the liner or for materials to become damaged. When liners start to slip, it’s important to contact a local expert.

Falling Out of the Bead: If your liner is held in place by a track and bead system and it begins to slip out, it might be time for a replacement. These systems use a track that runs along the side of a pool and a bead that snaps directly to the edge of a liner. The bead sits inside the track and holds the liner in place. Just like vinyl beads will become brittle over time. Temperature fluctuations, sun exposure, water pressure and buildup of debris can all cause beads to wear down and become displaced.

Pool Liner Installation & Replacement: When & How

When the weather is hot pool owners want to be enjoying their backyard oasis but that’s difficult to do when your liner is in bad shape. The best time to replace a vinyl pool liner is when the weather is mild, likely during the spring or fall. By opting to have your liner replaced in the spring, you can head into the swim season with peace of mind.

If you’re doing a remodel on your pool, you might as well tackle the inground vinyl pool liner replacement at the same time. This saves on the need to schedule another large project later on. Puddle offers a wide variety of patterns and colors to choose from, making it simple to personalize your swimming pool.

Once you’ve chosen your desired liner pattern, it’s time to get down to removing the old and installing the new.

Removing Old Liners: It’s not enough to just cut into liners and pull them apart. There are complex systems that need to be handled first. Any plumbing, faceplates, ladders, safety rails and more need to be removed before liners can be taken out. Once this is completed vinyl is cut down into manageable pieces for removal.

Measure Pools: When it comes to installing vinyl liners in pools, measurements are key. If measurements are off by a quarter of an inch, it will prevent liners from sitting correctly. Installation experts have different methods for measuring pools based on shape and depth. The shape of the pool will determine how it is calculated.

Drain the Pool: You can’t just pull the plug on a swimming pool and watch the water drain out. An improper draining poses the risk of drowned lawns, water damage and even flooding to structures in the surrounding area. Puddle technicians have experience draining pools safely, ensuring that water is being carried away from vulnerable areas and structures.

Prepare Pool Walls & Flooring: It is important to ensure that the bottom of a pool is level before a liner installation. In the case of a cement base, any cracks or holes will need to be repaired. Rust is common in swimming pools, particularly in areas with affixed accessories. These areas will need to be sanded down to prevent corrosion and any sharp debris will need to be cleared away from the pool floor.

Install the New Liner: Once cleared of debris, liners are placed in the middle of the pool and unrolled. Vinyl is run-up walls where technicians will secure it into place temporarily with clamps. In the case of beaded liners, it’s set into the track until it’s even around the pool.

Smooth Out Wrinkles: Even when a liner is laid flat it there will be wrinkles left behind. High-powered vacuums are used to reach into the space between the liner and walls, sucking out air and flattening the vinyl.

Add Water & Final Touches: Once the liner is secure it’s time to start filling the pool with water. This can be done over time with a garden hose or, in rural areas, by way of water delivery. This final stage is also the time to replace faceplates, gaskets and accessories.

Expert Pool Liner Installation & Replacement: Working With You For the Best Results

Puddle technicians provide expert vinyl liner replacements and installations for residential and commercial swimming pools. A new liner can give new life to your swim space, as well as protect pools and surrounding areas. Our team of highly trained and experienced technicians will work with you to choose the appropriate liner for your pool providing guidance on material durability, UV resistance, maintenance and warranty coverage.

The way that you maintain your pool will have a huge impact on the condition of the liner. Everything from how often the vinyl is vacuumed and scrubbed, to water chemistry and sun exposure will impact the condition of a pool liner.

Proper water chemistry will reduce or prolong the lifespan of your liner, namely chlorine and pH levels. High chlorine levels will degrade materials, breaking down the structural integrity of vinyl. High pH levels will lead to scaling and mineral buildup while low levels will make liners brittle and at risk of tearing.

By understanding the lifespan of your liner it’s possible to plan ahead for a replacement before you find yourself dealing with water damage. So, let us walk you through it! Puddle technicians provide valuable information about preserving the condition of pool liners, as well as offering options for routine cleaning and maintenance programs. Speak to a local expert about the best way to keep your swim space looking great for years to come!