how should I "cut in" skimmer and return holes in the liner?

[hrsdennis]

Hey guys, glad to see you are still alive and well. Having a good 4th I hope.

For the skimmer I poke two holes in the liner. Top right and left screw holes. I insert the top two screws through the faceplate, gasket, liner and wall. With my drill in one hand and the skimmer in the other I get these screws started. I then go to the bottom corners and start those. When all of the screws are in place I cut the liner.

As for the return, cut the hole first. Do this from the outside of the pool. Cut the liner the same size as the wall opening. With the blade on the outside of the pool, not much chance of messing up.

Later, Dennis

[zephans]

Thanks for the help Dennis, Matt, and Waste. I survived mounting the skimmer and return. Turns out directions (which I swear I read twice) did mention how and when to cut the liner. Your advice did help tweak a couple steps to be better.


FYI: I did have to mount the skimmer before the liner was installed. That meant I had to carefully pull back the liner to screw in the 4 supplied wide mouth mount screws. What sucked is I then found that those screws are supposed to go into holes that don't exist on my stainless skimmer plate. So I pulled back the skimmer and drilled a couple holes for these special screws. I put a washcloth and a couple very cottony puppy pads below my drilling location to catch the metal shavings so they wouldn't get caught between the wall and the liner. In hindsight I wish I'd just done hrDennis' method and skipped these holding screws. Once I saw how sturdy the 18 main faceplate screws secured both front and back I really think the other 4 were optional (and much less risky to omit than drilling 2 holes in stainless steel with liner already installed). I cut with 1/4 left on the bottom in case there is stretch. I can always trim it further later if needed. I can't put it back once cut .

FYI: Only difference with return cutout instructions to Dennis' suggestion is the directions said to leave 3/4 inch between hole edge and cutout. Pushing the return nozzle through made this extra into a mini-gasket. I think both ways would work fine. (I already did instructions methods).