replacing a 16x32 pool liner

[PoolDoc]

. . . membership updated.

DIY liner replacement is certainly possible. But . . .

1. You have to be prepare to put suction on the liner, to hold it in place while you fill.
2. You need warm sunny weather to make the liner stretchy enough to fit into place.
3. You've got to be prepared if you find wall and/or floor repairs are needed: a pool without a liner can be ruined in a few rainstorms!

I'd recommend making a catalog of YouTube videos on the topic, and spending a couple of hours watching them. Pick the best ones, and then have a watch YouTube 'party' (with beer?) for your the friends plan to lasso into this project.

Make SURE you have a plan, and material sources for floor and wall repairs, if needed. Once you remove the existing liner, there's no turning back!

Good luck!

[dandimand]

Going to try and post pics trying to find the button

[dandimand]

[GaryT]

I have done this twice. The critical part is measuring for the liner correctly.
Where are you in Canada? I am in the Caledon, ON area and can help if you are close.

[dandimand]

I'm Located in the vancouver area . What I want is to find a liner for this pool and then have it installed or perhaps install myself with help from friends etc.....

[GaryT]

You should be able to get a liner for about $1500.
So, whatever you're quoted above $1500 is going to be labour.
It only takes a few hours to install and another hour or so
to do the skimmer cutout and the return cutouts
after the water is within 6 inches or so of the openings.
As mentioned YouTube should be helpful.
Of course, there are various thicknesses of liner.
I think you would want the thickest. I think it's 30 mm.

Do you have a vermiculite bottom, or is it sand?

[dandimand]

I'm not sure what the bottom is yet as I was told not to remove the old liner til the new one is here in case its a bottom that could get weathered by rain etc... . Would I be ok to remove the liner as it will help for the measurements etc... ?

[PoolDoc]

If you unhook it, and then replace it, it should be OK.

FWIW, I've never seen any data or evidence supporting the idea that thick liners last longer. Liner life is seems to be affected by (a) exposure to sun, (b) pool conditions (holes & washouts can 'kill' a liner), and (c) plasticizer loss (= embrittlement and loss of elasticity).

I think quality of the vinyl sheet material itself is the big factor. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way at all to distinguish 'good' sheet from 'average' sheet.

Almost all liners will last as long as the 'real' part of the liner warranty, so there's no help there, either. One AG builder here prefers thin cheap liners and thinks they usually last as long as thick expensive ones, providing the surfaces under the liner are intact.

Buying from a known vendor (one with a REAL location) and a 10+ year history of selling liners might be your best bet.