Using a Used Pool Liner

Hello I was given a used pool and a used pool liner, both 24 feet, the liner has been out of the pool for a few weeks. It is an overlapping pool liner. Is it possible to have it stretch out enough to reuse it, this is all I can afford. Thank you.




Hi. In some cases it is possible to use a used pool liner, it just depends on the age of the liner. The older the liner is the more it will shrink when emptied and the less elasticity it will have to stretch back out.

Most of the time a liner two years old or younger can be re-used. Anything older than this is probably not worth the effort.

If you have a fairly new liner that seems pliable and you think it might work here is how I would go about installing it.

I would put up the sidewall and spread the sand. Once the sand is smooth you would unroll the liner and hook up the skimmer and return. This should be your starting point because if you don't line the openings up now you never will.

Go directly below the skimmer and push the liner to the cove area below it. Now go directly across from the skimmer, push the liner up against the wall at the bottom and then pull the liner over top of the wall. This will tell you if you have enough liner to work with.

A liner that has shrunk beyond re-use will not be big enough to pull over the wall opposite the skimmer. If it looks OK you drop it down and go back to the skimmer and cloths pin the liner to the wall all the way around. You then center the bottom as best possible making sure the skimmer area is straight and the liner is still touching the wall at the bottom.

You then start some water going and continue work on smoothing the bottom. The hotter the day and the more direct sunlight you are working in the better your chances for success. I stiff brittle liner can become very workable in direct sunlight. In 110 plus degrees they can just about melt into a pool. Outdoor temps make a big difference so choose your work day accordingly.