How Do I Install an Inground Pool Liner?
Your pool walls, plumbing and electrical need to be in place first. The full step-by-step guide, with diagrams, is on our blog.
Installing a vinyl liner is a fairly simple task and can be done with just a few people. It happens at a particular point in the build, though, and a few things are worth knowing before you open the box.
Before you start
- Your pool walls need to be up, and your plumbing and electrical in place. Liner installation comes after that.
- The liner is marked with arrows, either on the box or on the liner itself, showing which end is the deep end and which is the shallow end. Check the direction before you unfold anything.
- You will need a few people, sand bags or water tubes to hold the liner in position, a commercial vacuum, and tape that will not damage the print on the liner.
Handling the liner
- Carry the liner, do not drag it.
- Keep tape off the printed pattern.
- Take care throughout, so you do not damage the liner while handling it.
How the job runs
There are two stages. First you position the liner: unfold it from the shallow end, align the corners, hold it in place with sand bags or water tubes, then set the bead into the coping starting at the corners and working outward from the middle of each wall.
Then comes final positioning. You pull back a section of liner, insert a vacuum hose between the liner and the wall, seal that opening along with the skimmer cover, pipe ends and step cover, and work out the wrinkles with the vacuum running.
Read the full guide to installing your vinyl inground pool liner for the detailed steps and diagrams.
Why a careful fit matters
Improper installation is one of the leading causes of liner wrinkles. A liner stretched too tightly or too loosely makes wrinkles almost inevitable as it adjusts to water pressure and use.
Vinyl also becomes more rigid in cold temperatures, which makes it more prone to creasing.
If wrinkles do appear, our guide to getting wrinkles out of a pool liner covers how to deal with them.
Related articles
- What is a liner pad? A protective layer between the liner and the sand or soil base.
- How to prevent holes in your liner.
Still need help?
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