How to fit a swimming pool liner

If you have decided to install a swimming pool liner and you intend to do the work yourself, you may be surprised to discover that replacing a swimming pool liner is not as difficult you may have thought. However, there is a fixed sequence of events and you will need to follow each of these tasks carefully. Below you will find a superficial description of how to do this. The idea behind this is to give you a feel for the job in hand. For more comprehensive liner fitting details please see this liner fitting guide section.

Tasks (Preparation)

Job number one is to remove the existing liner. It is important to do this as close as possible to the installation of the new liner. This prevents the pools walls and floor from being left open and exposed.

The old liner is removed after the pool has been drained by cutting around the fittings, but leaving any liner tracks that will be reused. Any of the tracking or beading that will be reused needs cleaning and checking. A vacuum or blower can be used to clean out the tracking.

When new tracking and beading are to be installed they should be fitted at this stage.

After the fitting (or cleaning and restoration) of the tracking has been completed the pool walls and base require cleaning and the walls and floor of the pool need to be inspected for damage. Cracks, debris and any sharp projections need to be identified and corrected.

With pools that have a sand base, the sand will require levelling and compacting again.

If padding, skirting or protective wall battens are required, installing them will be the next job.

Tasks (Fitting)

Swimming pool liner installation normally requires 4 people. It can be done with less, but this increases the likelihood that mistakes will be made.

Firstly, the liner should be transported to the pool area and then be unfolded within the pool. It needs to be laid out with the leading edge going towards the deep end.

Secondly, the liner corners and the pool corners need to be aligned. It is easier if theis is done starting at the deep end and progressing to the shallow end.

Once tasks one and two are complete the sides of the liner can be lifted up to the track and fitted loosely at regular points - again commencing at the deep end. Subsequent adjustments and corrections can then be made as the job continues. Once the liner has been positioned correctly it can be fitted in a more continuous way to the track. It should be checked for alignment continually as this is the critical part of the installation.

Tasks (final fit and filling)

This process can be done in different ways, but most fitters use a vacuum pump to suck the liner in against the pool's side walls whilst simultaneously filling the pool (slowly) with water.

This is a part of the job that needs to done very carefully and very slowly and it benefits from having multiple pairs of eyes checking the liner for bubbles, folds etc. During this task the liner will require continual mini adjustments as bulges, folds and creases are pushed and pulled out using the vacuum. This is a labour intensive task and it needs to be done by hand. In some cases bubbles can be pressed out whilst in others a gentle pulling of the liner will be necessary.

As this process goes ahead the pool can gradually be filled with clean water. The level of the water should never exceed the level at which the bubbles and folds in the liner have not been removed. The vacuum will need to be periodically moved to different points around the pool walls for maximum benefit.

Once the pool is fully filled the final treatment of the liner, beading and track can be completed.