12'x20'x4' inground pool vinyl liner replacement

[kathylu]

Hi all Just sending an update...forgot to mention that the local pool store wanted another 1200 bucks for installation of this 12x20x4 liner..no steps...no cutouts! Found 2 great companies (they actually responded..lol). One has exactly what my folks want (solid old school aqua) and I'm ready to order but the bead is a bit smaller than the profile dimensions shown on their websites. A question to the experts out there...the liner is clearly trashed but the bead seems pretty solid...did the bead shrink? Are there guidelines for a universal bead (or pool liner bead guidelines in general)? Need advice ASAP...gotta get this ball rolling! Thanks for any wisdom! Kath

[waste]

The bead shouldn't shrink, there are 3 'standard' beads - if you can identify which you have, you can make sure it will fit your receiver. You might be able to cut a small piece and take it to a pool store for comparison or I might be able to help you figure out another way to identify it (if my old friends from the pool biz will help me)

[kathylu]

Thanks for the reply Ted Great minds think alike! I just over-nighted a piece of the old liner bead to the company I'm planning to order with. The salesman (very nice and professional) said he could send me a sample of every bead they have but it made more sense to show him exactly what I'm dealing with. Will keep you updated (I may have to upgrade my membership so I can post some before and after pics ) Thanks again Kath

[kathylu]

Hi all the liner is ordered (turns out it was a standard bead) and is (hopefully) being manufactured this week. Another question to you awesome people out there...I have to do some major sanding (and spray painting) to these steel walls and repair/leveling of the sand bottom. How far in advance can I prepare the walls/floor and is there a particular sand I should get for the floor? I anticipate the linier arriving within the next 2 weeks. Thanks for your wonderful and informative site! Kath

[kathylu]

Hi everyone...not sure if this will be a double post...if so sorry about that. Just sending an update, the liner is ordered and hopefully being manufactured this week. As I mentioned, I sent a sample of the old liner bead and my salesman said it was a standard bead. I need to do a lot of prep work before this liner can go in...removing the old liner, sanding and spray painting the walls as well as filling in holes and leveling the sand bottom. I have 2 more questions for you awesome pool folk...how far in advance can I start this prep-work (I anticipate receiving the liner in 10 days or so) and is there any special sand I need to get for the floor? I'm assuming children's sandbox type sand because there are no pebbles etc. Thank you for this wonderful and informative site! Kath

[waste]

Hey Kath!

You can address the wall issues at any time, sand them down and Rustolium *TM* spray paint them, to keep the rust at bay. I'd wait until the liner is delivered to fix the floor, any rain or strong winds will effect the floor, so you want to only have to retrowel it once, just prior to putting the liner in. I can give some tips on retrowling sand, but it will take me some time to type it and I'm not sure when my next day off is.

I wouldn't use 'play sand' it's too expensive - go to a building supply place or quarry and get 'dead sand' or 'mason's sand' @ ~ $.10/ pound. You can use 5 gallon buckets or the plastic tote bins to put it in. If you need a lot of sand, you can line a pickup truck bed with plastic and have them use a bobcat to toss a scoop in the back (a bobcat scoop is ~ 2000 lbs.).

[kathylu]

Ted Thank you my friend...APPRECIATE ALL YOUR tips ...this site is a Godsend I'll update you on my progress. Thanks again to Watermom and Jim too..advice well appreciated!

[kathylu]

Hi everyone Tomorrow is the big day...wallls are sanded, rust-free and spraypainted, coping repainted and sand added to the floor. My first liner installation tomorrow. Wish me luck! Thank you for this forum...awesome! Kath

[Watermom]

Hope you'll find 2 minutes to report in! Good luck.

[waste]

I hope all is going well with the install!

Don't forget to take pics!