Overlap Liner Off-Center

[cdognight]

I'm (re)installing a pool (27'x48") that was given to me by a friend. i have purchased a new liner and have started filling it. 4-5 inches of water has begun to exploit the fact that I didn't get the center lined up properly. The south side of the pool bottom has quite a bit more slack that the north side...

Here's the south side...



Here's the north side...



With the same amount of overlap all the way around, it looks like the south side might need to be pulled out another inch or two when complete. The north side may actually need another inch of slack. I don't want to have uneveness or wrinkles around the edge of the liner, but at the same time, I have had to perform every step of the installation of this pool at least three times. It's been a nightmare. I thought I might post some pics here and get some sort of miracle reassurance that this is OK and I won't have to drain and recenter the liner, but I foresee the advice I receive as being just that.

Thanks for your help!

[sevver]

Drain it and re center it. This happened to my brother and it ended up pulling the liner off of the wall. Best to do it right while you can and there is not much water in it.

[hrsdennis]

The only problem I see from your photos is that you are trying to get the tile pattern at the top of the liner even all the way around. Here's a clue, tile at the top of an overlap liner is the dumbest thing liner manufactures ever did. The advantage of an overlap liner is that you can focus on getting the bottom smooth and the sides straight. You cannot do that if you are also trying to get an even tile pattern around the top.

From the photos i saw, I would leave the water in the pool. Take off all of the rods and coping a few at a time. Pull the liner up untill it is snug and tight against the wall. Use cloths pins to hold the liner in place wile you reinstall the coping and rods.

I also fold the excess liner back into the pool. This will give you an even two inches of overhang all around the outside of the pool. If this cannot be done then the liner is offset and the pool should be drained.

From what I see this should work but your tile will not be even. You need to make the choice, smooth bottom and sides or even tile. It is very difficult to have both.

Best of luck, Dennis