Pool Liner Install

by Nick
(Lee's Summit, MO. USA)

Is there anything that I need to know about buying an above ground beaded pool liner, I was told by some of the local companies where I live that most liners bought through the mail and on the internet are not good liners and the seams tend to rip and, or, tear and they are seconds and come with defects when they are sent.

I'm not scared of the install, just want to make sure that I buy a good liner. Any suggestions on certain brands? Should I use a pad underneath, wall foam, pool cove?

Thanks for your time.




Hi Nick. Internet liners are not flawed, defective or seconds, that is just not true. They may not be as good a quality as a name brand that cost twice as much, but they are still a good value. Most of these liners are made by just a couple different companies and they are all about the same quality.

Keep this in mind when comparing prices. A 25 gauge liner, like the ones sold on the internet, is about the same thickness as a 20 mil liner you would get at the pool store. They are just two different ways of describing a liner. I would stay away from the 20 gauge liners because they are very thin, about 16 mil.

Beaded liners can vary a lot in size, and they will not all fit your pool the same. If your pool manufacturer makes a liner for your pool, and if the price is reasonable, that's the one I would go with. That is assuming the one that came with the pool fit properly.

Wall foam is nice if your wall is rusty or rough with calcium deposits. It is also a nice insulator if you heat your pool. It is, however, an extra expense that most people do without.

If you are looking for a softer, less abrasive base for the liner a pad would help. If your current base has never caused you any problems I would leave it the way it is. The same goes for the pool cove. Pool cove is great for display pools and pools set on concrete. If you have never had a problem with your cove washing out then it is probably just fine the way it is.

Pool Liner Install

by Tom

I am installing a replacement 18'x33'x52" Swim Line above ground pool liner. I have it in the pool area with a few inches of water in the bottom. The bottom seam is near the side walls but the seam on the far ends is about a foot from the ends with only a 2" overlap.

I measured the bottom seams and the width is fine at 18', but the length is 31'. I think they put the wrong size liner in the box. Is it supposed to be so far from the wall and let the water stretch it. This is what the R&S pool place told me?



Hi Tom. It is very common for liners to appear small like you describe. They do need to be stretched into place on a warm sunny day. My method is to stretch the liner in over top of the completely assembled pool and let the sun and the water do the stretching and also remove the wrinkles. When the water is just a couple of inches from the side wall I remove the rails, a few at a time, and put the liner in place. If done this way you should have enough liner to overhang on the ends.