Pool liners aren’t supposed to live forever, they're weakened by UV rays or damaged through usual wear and tear. For some, this can be a daunting task, so we have gathered some tips as to how best to prepare for a pool liner change, whether you’re doing it yourself or leaving it to a professional.
Pool Liner changes can take a few days, so the best time to plan the change is spring or fall. This will stop you from having to take as much time away from the swimming season for this vital maintenance task.
The very first step in preparing for the pool liner change should take place before you even buy the liner. You may have heard the phrase "Measure Twice, Cut Once", and that applies here. Take your time when taking your measurements to make sure they're as accurate as they can be, and it can be helpful to get a friend to help out as well!
We have an in-depth pool measuring guide on our site, including how to measure if your pool has a deep end, as well as a blog to help you measure your pool’s height. Use these resources, as well as other reliable sources you might find, in order to get your pool’s measurements before you order your new liner.
One of the reasons it’s best to replace your pool liner outside of the swimming season is the time it takes to fully drain your pool in order to replace the liner.
We have a blog on two different ways to drain your pool - the only difference is you’ll be emptying your pool completely, not just lowering the water level. For this reason, it’s best to have a backwash hose that will reach your driveway so it can flow down into the drains in your street.
If you’re replacing your liner in the spring, it might be the case that you have some dirt and debris in the pool that needs to be cleaned out before you remove the liner. Remove any debris such as twigs, leaves, and dirt, as well as brush down the sides of the liner to clean it. This will make it easier to remove, and help you identify any faults that may have caused issues with the liner.
Go around your pool and take out all of the fittings, such as skimmer, return jets, and main drain covers. Remove anything that attaches to the pool, like stairs or handrails. Take the opportunity to clean these thoroughly and check them for any damages that may need to be fixed or replaced. Store them securely until they’re ready to be replaced.
Carefully cut the liner to make it easier for you to remove. Begin at the top edge and work your way down, cutting your liner into as many pieces as needed to make working with the liner more manageable. Smaller pieces are easier to handle and remove! Make sure to be careful to not damage the structure of the pool during this process. It might be helpful to have someone help you with this step - or if you’re using a professional to install your new liner, leave it to them.
After removing the old liner, then it’s important to inspect the inside and outside structure of the pool (that is usually covered by the liner) to make sure that it hasn’t been damaged at all. If you do notice any damage, then now is a good time to get it fixed. Once the base is prepared, and any fixes made, then now is a good time to apply a fresh layer of sand or vermiculite to create a smooth surface for the new liner. It might also be useful to check to see if your cove needs to be fixed; or whether you need to add any sand.
Preparing for a change of pool liner needn't be as scary as you may think. The most important thing is to remember is you're not against the clock, so take your time to get things right and you won't need to replace your liner for another 10-15 years. If you're still too nervous, then there are also plenty of professionals out there that can change your liner for you from start to finish.
