Noob from OKC taking on liner install

[okcnewbie]

Hello from okc. I'm going to attempt to measure, repair return fittings and install vinyl liner in my old in in ground pool. Here goes nothing.

[Watermom]

Good luck and keep us posted.

Start thinking about the chemistry end of things. Read this:> http://pool9.net/ssr/ It would be a good way to start up a freshly-filled pool.

(Until you registration is completed, you won't be able to see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and then paste it into a browser window after you log out.)

[PoolDoc]

. . . membership updated.

Good luck on the project. I'd STRONGLY suggest buying the liner from someone who has good help and installation info, and who can be contacted by phone.

[okcnewbie]

Thank you watermom for the link.
My first order of business before the liner comes in is to repair the return lines. I'm planning on cutting through the concrete this evening to help me see what's below. All I know at this point is at least one of my returns leak. Behind the liner is foam and plywood.

[zmanh]

I'd love to hear more on your progress, process, do's, do not's, etc. I plan on replacing my liner next season. The measuring guides alone on the various websites I have looked at looks like quite a task in itself. I am sure you know, but there are quite a few good videos on you tube that show the process. Good luck.

[okcnewbie]

So far I have managed to line up vermiculite in the area for about 21 dollars for 4 cu ft. I also have put a pool float on order.
I ordered a 28/28 liner and foam with some liner lock. Should be delivered next week.
Right now I'm just a little worried about how bad the wall structure will be when I get to look at it.
My rationale for do it myself was, "would I take 1000 to 1500 hundred dollars to have a wrinkle or two in my liner?

[GaryT]

I had a return line leaking water behind the liner.
Upon closer inspection I discovered that I had cracked the thread with the winter plug.
I put a bit of silicone on the crack each spring.
Saved digging up the cement

[okcnewbie]

Gary- I wish I could be so lucky. I actually bought a couple of rubber plugs from a leak detection website. The plugs fit a few inches beyond the threads. I was going to try and isolate the two returns but I'm afraid to do much more digging close to the pump/and filter. If I dig anymore I risk damaging the suction lines that are under the cement.

[okcnewbie]

I rented a cement saw from home Depot and cut a couple 1 1/2 foot strips out of the concrete directly over the returns. Let's just say Tim the tool man would love this tool. .... Very cool. Started digging down to the return and didn't finish last night. There are many roots from nearby bushes. I still can't see how the fitting is stabilized. So far all I can see is PVC.

[PoolDoc]

Diamond blade concrete saws are SO much better than those nasty carborundum blade saws I used in the 80's: incredibly noisy, incredibly dusty, & incredibly slow. I have a little 4" diamond circular wet saw I use occasionally.

[okcnewbie]

Dug down to both of the returns and removed them. A sharp chisel made quick work of the dirt and roots. I'm going to run the returns outside of the cement about 1 ft underground. I guess I should use PVC.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lZuFuHzyI-0/U77onNMLY3I/AAAAAAAAHX4/0L-mUFT7Gcw/s800/20140709_195120-ed.jpg

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[okcnewbie]

Installed the new return lines. I probably should have installed a new skimmer as well. Liner is supposed to be in this week. I ordered and have a pool trowel to help me work on the bottom of the pool.

[okcnewbie]

Pictures of my little rig for testing for leaks and some of the new plumbing. ......(sending)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v7zPDdJvONU/U8afOSLw2XI/AAAAAAAAHdk/ygFW0egJyUQ/s800/20140712_080459%2520ed.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X7CxogJLs1k/U8afOcoJMEI/AAAAAAAAHdo/TgY70z4coZk/s800/20140712_194929%2520ed.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ahbz0ENmjbQ/U8afOlPhPhI/AAAAAAAAHds/YQAlGpruwx8/s800/20140712_194940%2520ed.jpg

[okcnewbie]

K2006 on order. Stockpiling some bleach and borax in progress.

[okcnewbie]

I had some washout around a couple of the wall panels. Had to take the panels down and reinstall. Skim coated the entire bottom with Vermiculite/Concrete mix. I did ok. Not perfect but acceptable.
I used pennies to help hold the liner in place while installing. Unfortunately the liner is not the right dimensions. One of the sides is 16 inches too long. There are arrows in each corner.
My pool is a fairly standard hopper as far as the perimeter goes. 16 x 32. One of the longs sides is appr. 33' 4".
Sending some pictures.

[okcnewbie]

I just finished sending the pictures to the liner supplier. Something tells me I'm not getting the replacement liner as fast as I would like. The jury is still out and I'm trying to remain optimistic.

[zmanh]

Other than problems with liner fitting, how did the install go? Did you learn any do's or do not's that you can pass on? Did you use vacuum to pull liner in and help with wrinkles? Also, how about gasket material behind any cutouts for return, skimmer, etc.? Thanks

[okcnewbie]

I'm glad to help if I can.
I have a regular beaded liner and I set the shallow end corners first. Then worked my way to the deep end sticking a penny in every 2 to 3 feet. If the liner perimeter was right this would have went perfectly. I have diagonal corners and I used a little liner lock to hold them in.
I didn't replace the gasket in the main drain. I installed the screws in the main drain and skimmer before setting the liner. I was nervous about this but I'd definitely do it again.
I did use two shop vacs to help set the liner. I found it easier to just tape off the skimmer and vacuum from a different place.
There was supposed to be a gasket at my skimmer but there wasn't. The previous installer also had two different size screws going into the face plate. They didn't even go all the way in. I'm convinced this is what caused the backfill dirt behind the two panels to washout.
I have a vermiculite bottom and decided it needed redone. I found medium verm at a plant services company. I used about 16cu ft and 2 1/2 bags of cement to do the bottom and touch up the sides. This was the hardest part for me.
I should have swept better but once the water was in you couldn't tell. I don't have a light in my pool.
If you can lay flooring and are quite handy then this isn't too much to take on.
If you have any other questions (now that I'm an expert. .. lol) feel free to ask.

[okcnewbie]

Replacement liner is on the way. I'm pretty sure I won't be installing the new liner for a year or two.

[Waldog]

I'm confused... didn't you need a new liner? Where's the pics of the pool?

[okcnewbie]

The new liner I installed doesn't fit correctly in one corner. The problem is at the channel. I had to install the liner to prevent any problems that could occur with an empty pool. The corner looks terrible. The improperly fit liner still looks so much better than what we've had the last several years that I'm not in a hurry to empty the pool right now. I'll try and email more pics.

[Watermom]

Instead of emailing them, you can use Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, etc and post them yourself. Link to them with the http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/images/editor/insertimage.png button. (This gets them on the forum faster than emailing them.)

[FormerBromineUser]

BTW, I was reading about your closing and your water turning dark. After adding polyquat and waiting 48 hours, did you bring the FC back up to shock level?