How to Fit a Swimming Pool Liner – DIY Guide

There are four main reasons why you might want to (or have to) fit a swimming pool liner. You may want to fit a swimming pool liner:

• To a brand new pool.
• As a replacement for an existing liner in a pool that you already have.
• To enhance the appearance of an above ground pool (that does not necessitate a liner).
• Because you want to switch from a tiled pool lining to a modern vinyl liner.

Preparation

Depending upon which of the above describes your circumstances, the pre-installation preparation will vary. You may also have the option (depending upon your pool type) of selecting either an overlap or beaded liner. (Overlap liners will only work on above ground swimming pools, whilst beaded liners will fit to pools of all constructions.)

However in all cases you will need smooth side walls and a base that are free from projecting matter and any obstructions that could puncture the new liner or prevent it from fitting flush against the pool’s horizontal and vertical surfaces.

E.g. in the case of an existing pool with a fitted liner, it will be necessary to drain the pool and remove the liner by carefully cutting around all fittings and releasing the vinyl-liner’s beading from the tracks. In most cases some basic tidying up and sometimes some remedial repairs will be required to complete this part of the process. It is also important to keep the period of time that a pool remains both empty and without a liner as brief as possible, i.e. a few days at most.

Liner Fitting

As with the preparation above, the complexity of fitting will be determined by prevailing circumstances, e.g. the condition of the pool, the construction of the pool and the type of liner that you intend to fit.

If a beaded liner is being fitted as a replacement to an existing pool that already has tracks fitted, then these tracks will probably be adequate for the new pool liner’s beading (although some repair or cleaning may be required).

If the pool is an above ground pool, and you intend to have an overlapping liner, then tracks are not required.

If the pool is a new one that is fully submerged (i.e. below ground), then a perimeter track must first be fitted around the top of the pool’s side walls. This track will take the liner’s beading and it will provide a smart and tidy termination of the liner. Fitting this track will take time, preparation and a degree of precision, and getting it level and firmly secured is critical to the success of the project.

Once the pool is prepared and any tracks etc fitted, the liner should be unrolled, first across the width of the pool, and then down its length. This is a job ideally for 3 or 4 people, but an absolute minimum of two.

It is good practice to unroll the liner towards the deep end of the pool first.

Once the liner has been opened out across the base of the pool it will be necessary to jiggle it about in order to get it correctly aligned. Particular attention should be given to getting the corners (or any curves) lined up.

Once things look right it is time to start lifting the liner up against the side walls and loosely fitting the beads into the track (or overlapping the vinyl if it is an overlapping liner). The starting point for this should be the deep end of the pool and the bead fitting process should continue simultaneously down both sides of the pool working towards the shallow end.