Installing new liner

[jilted]

I searched and didn't find any real good basic install tips and things to be careful about.

I've watched countless videos on youtube and pretty much grasp all the prep and shop vaccing the air out etc but just want any tips on doing all the return flange cuts, skimmer cuts, main drain cuts, light cut, and stairs cut.

Stairs is the main one I can't seem to find anyone talking about!

I'm trying to absorb as much as I can so I don't make a $1200 mistake trying to do this myself!!!!! :-)

Thanks!

[Watermom]

I haven't see him around too much lately because I'm sure he is really busy right now with pool installations, but one of the support team members 'Waste' aka Ted may be able to offer some advice. I will send him an email and ask him to look at this thread, but, cannot guarantee that he will. It is worth a try, however.

[jilted]

Thanks! Send me a PM if necessary for any contact info.

[jilted]

Liner is completely out.. what a mess! (mostly my fault because it was swamp water haha)

One small hole in the hopper's poolcrete and a little stream of water from underneath is constantly flowing back in. It's been doing it for hours now. Once it gets to be a couple inches deep i sump pump it out again. Any ideas? I sure hope it stops soon! I have people lined up to help Sunday morning with the new one.

Pretty sure I have everything I need. New gaskets for the bottom return and skimmers. Salt. CYA. Bleach.

[waste]

Sorry I'm late

Can you tell me your plan? (when you want to drop the liner, how you'll fill it...)

With the water still coming in through the floor, you have a "high water table" which will effect the way you go about dropping the new liner.

I hope that you aren't planning on dropping the liner tomorrow , there is info that I have to tell you before you drop this new liner.

I have to go to work at 0600 tomorrow, but 'ought' have Monday off to take the time to tell you a few things to be sure to do.

The more you tell me about your pool, the better I can advise you on how to properly drop the liner, so it can last you 15+ years. (shape of pool, type of corners and step and cutout locations)

I'll look in on this tomorrow and see how you answer. That way, I can ask a few more questions and be able to best give you a 'game plan' on Monday.

[jilted]

I was planning to drop it in the AM everything else is prepped and it looks like the leak is getting very slow now.

you can email me at liner@funkbum.com (yeah I set up a temp email address haha!)

[jilted]

Here's the drawing that came back with the new liner

Corners are 45's
Fiberglass stairs are at the 8' section on the top (not the 8' section on left)
5 returns in the liner, one in the stairs
1 main drain
2 skimmers
1 light
polymer walls
poolcrete bottom

everything is very clean
gaps are re-taped
i have new gaskets for skimmers and main drain
i got new front pieces for the returns (the old ones have cracks in them)

in my plumbing, I do have a line that is behind the liner to drain any water that gets behind it
it's located at the floor of the shallow end at the 5' section to the right of the 8' section by the stairs

Any tips you can give me would be great, I have to do it tomorrow I can't get any help during the week.

Thanks!

[waste]

HI

I hope you got the liner in today!

Let me know how it's going, if there are issues, tell me BEFORE you start cutting the liner!!

I sincerely hope the drop was 'perfect' but, if it wasn't - we can make everything GOOD before you cut the liner

[jilted]

I don't have any other experience to compare to but I think the drop was good! That part was really easy with 6 people. The back side of the liner had markings to let you know where the corners were which helped a lot. I cleaned the bead track thoroughly on Saturday so there were no last minute issues there. Things seem to be shaping up well and it is filling up... slowly!

We are pretty much committed now as we did install the main drain after there was bout 18" of water in the hopper. Tomorrow it should be close to doing the light and getting ready for the steps, and followed shortly by the returns and skimmers.

I will say that all the tear down and cleanup was by far the worst part of the job.

Also, the ladder is cemented in place!!! What?!? We had to make a couple wood shims to push it away from the wall. Quick fix and worked well.

Here's a before and after image. The bottom in the shallow is smooth now and the water weight did a lot of the work with the remaining wrinkles in the deep.

My biggest concern at the moment is getting the steps right... there must be 60 screws :-)

To be continued...

[jilted]

filled up to about 8" in the shallow to pull the liner down by the steps then drained it back some to put in the step gaskets and the pool light gasket
no issues there, pretty easy with 2 people

there are only like 3 little wrinkles that I'm not having any luck getting out but to be honest, I'm super excited that its that close to perfect!
actually, in the picture above... the 3 bigger wrinkles on the left towards the deep end... that's them but very small now

also used the "behind the liner" suction line to pull out the remaining water that made its way up from the deep end

i used back flush to drain it down to clean the crap out of the filter since there was some serious muck in the pool a few weeks ago that I attempted to clean!

so it's filling again... next steps... returns in the morning, start circulation, skimmers after lunch, open the skimmer suction lines

then get some bleach in there like super fast... then CYA and salt