Expandable Pool Liners

by Paul
(Idaho)

I am thinking of buying a used 18x30 doughboy pool. It is an older model but in great shape. I can't find an 18x30 expandable liner online. Can I use an 18x33 expandable liner? Thanks

Hi Paul. Before using an oversized liner I would contact In The Swim and see what the cost of a custom liner would be. They can make a liner any size you need it.

An oversized liner will leave you with a lot of wrinkles at the ends. Wrinkles this size are hard to clean. The liner will also wear out faster. Trying to keep the liner clean will be abrasive to the wrinkled areas eventually causing liner failure.

Expandable Pool Liner Replacement

by Phil
(Colonia, NJ, Middlesex)

I have inherited an old pool when I bought my home (age unknown) and I replaced the top rails since they were rusting about 3 years ago. I now think I need a new expandable pool liner since there is a lot of water on the ground around the pool and not much in the pool itself.

I think I need an expandable liner since once area of my pool goes to a six foot depth. Pool companies want to charge me around $1000 to replace the liner.

Can I buy one online and replace it myself to save money and will my wife be satisfied with the installation? (will it look like a professional did it?)



Hi Phil. You might want to visit this page Holes in Vinyl Pool and if at all possible find the hole and patch it. Changing a vinyl liner in an expandable above ground pool can be an expensive process.

If you followed the directions on this page Expandable Liner Installation and used a Doughboy brand expandable liner you should end up with good results.

The only problem with ordering expandable liners online is you will probably wind up with a lot of wrinkles. I have yet to install an expandable liner made by any other company that went in as nice as a Doughboy.

I would suggest contacting several local installers and see what liner they recommended for your pool. Ask them how many wrinkles they expect to have when they are finished. Hopefully you can find someone who can confidently say that they can install a wrinkle free expandable liner, because not all pool installers can. If you find that person you can then ask them if the liner brand makes a difference. If you can find a recommended brand that is less expensive than Doughboy you might consider it. You can then consider whether this will be a do-it-yourself liner installation or if you are going to hire a contractor.

With the right liner and the right installation process you could probably do just fine installing it yourself. I'm sure you could do just as good as many so called professionals.