Swimming Pool Help Center

Tips for keeping swimming pool vinyl liner in top shape:

Is it difficult to install a liner?

What information do I need to supply in order to get a quote on a liner?

How do I know if I have a beaded liner?

What are the advantages of a 30 mil liner over a 20 mil liner?

What should I be aware of when purchasing a 30 mil liner?

What is the advantage of radius corners in a rectangle?

I have a shaped pool. How do I measure the shape?

What part of the liner is under warranty?

Is there a difference in the materials used in manufacturing a liner?

What can affect the life of a liner?

What additional items should I consider upgrading when I install a new liner?

I have decided to purchase a replacement liner. What do I do to order?

How do I tell what type of bead is on my liner?

On what type of pools do we find overlap liners and beaded liners?

How do I measure a radius corner?

I want to use a cement sand mixture for my vinyl liner pool floor. What is the mixture?

Briefly describe how to install a liner.

Keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6. Chlorine works better when pH is maintained at proper levels. This will also result in the water being more comfortable for swimming.

Maintain the free chlorine residual between 1.5 and 2.5 ppm. If it dips below that the liner may get stained due to algae and bacteria growth. If it goes above 3.0 ppm, the liner may absorb water and develop unsightly wrinkles.

Total alkalinity should be between 80 and 120 ppm. This will help keep the liner from getting dry and fading.

Routinely stabilize the pool with cyanuric acid in a range between 50 and 100 ppm. A level below 50 ppm combined with low pH and/or high chlorine can cause wrinkles.

Keep calcium to at least 200 ppm to avoid corrosion. If it gets higher than 500 ppm, scaling may occur.

Allow one chemical to circulate through the pool system before adding another. Doing this reduces the risk of bleaching caused by certain combinations of chemicals in high concentrations.

Clean the waterline with vinyl-liner cleansers, which are available from pool retailers. Do not use common household cleansers as they may abrade the liner.

When closing the pool, circulate the pool�s water for several hours after final addition of chemicals. This helps avoid bleaching caused by chlorine settling in the deep end.�Clean and vacuum the pool thoroughly at the end of the season and cover with a dealer - recommended cover.

As is the rule with any pool, never drain the pool completely. Empty pools increase the risk of getting wrinkles or shrinking vinyl liners.


	It is not difficult to install a liner. There is a process to be followed. Basically you have to ensure the pool bottom is in good shape (it may require troweling), the walls are clean, and the liner is put in the correct deep end and shallow end. See the balance of the FAQs for hints on liner installation.

     1. What are the approximate dimensions of your pool?
     2.   Is your pool an above ground or in-ground pool?
     3. What is the wall height of your pool?
     4. If there is a walk-in step in your pool, does the liner go over the step?
     5. What thickness of liner would you want us to quote on (20, 27 or 30 mil)?
     6. Would you like a quote on a pattern or plain liner?
     7. Do you have a standard or overlap bead on your present liner?
     8. If your pool is a rectangle, do you have radius corners?
     9. Is there a ledge in the deep end of your pool?
    10. If the pool is an above ground pool what is the perimeter of the pool.
    11. Where are you located (State/Province/Postal Code/Country)?

NOTE: When measuring the liner do not measure the length of any of the slopes. The distance on the bottom measurements have to equal the distance of the top measurements. e.g. If you have a 16 ft. x 32 ft. pool the bottom measurment has to equal 32 ft.

Link to additional tips for measuring a liner


	A beaded liner fits into the coping retainer strip and an overlap liner goes over the wall and is clamped to the top of the wall. The standard beaded liner profile resembles a "J " or a crochet hook from the side.


	The thicker 30 mil liner should normally be installed in an in-ground pool and a 20 mil is normally installed in an above ground liner. The 30 mil liner has more plasticides and will last longer. As well, it is less likely to puncture from dull objects such as stones, etc..


	Some companies do not offer a 30 mil liner or try to cut costs by offering a 30 mil wall and a 20 mil bottom. Our 30 mil liner is 30 mil throughout (walls and bottom).


	When building a pool with 90 degree corners the radius gives the liner support. Liners cannot fit into the corner of a pool. The sun heats the top of the liner in the corners and a heat build up results in the corners deteriorating. This will shorten the life of the liner. This is particularly bad on the south side of the pool. The 30 mil liner will prolong the life of the liner in this case.


	We can fax you instructions on how to measure your shaped pool. We suggest using " A B triangulation". It sounds harder than it is.


	Most manufacturers warrant seam separation only. If a seam is going to separate it will normally happen when the liner is installed.


	It is important to ensure the manufacturer has an excellent reputation and does not buy poor quality vinyl to cut costs. A poor quality liner can degregate quickly.


	Chemicals, sun, thickness of the liner and the quality of material.


	- Consider adding fiber optic lighting at this time. It is easy to install. - Consider replacing all of the face plates on the skimmer and inlets. - See if the coping needs replacing. - Check your plumbing lines.


	Request a liner order form and fill in the dimensions. Fax or mail the order form to North West Wholesale. Fax or mail credit authorization, or fill in the order form on our secure server. (The order form can be printed and faxed).


	Click here for the link to look at a picture of a standard bead and drawing of other beads.


	Normally an in-ground pool has a beaded liner and an above ground pool has an overlap liner. There are, however, in-ground pools with overlap liners and above ground pools with beaded liners.


	Follow this link.


	A seven to one mixture. This method can be used for existing sand bottom pools if vermiculite is not an option.

Tape all seams at panel joints (in the pool) and all returns to ensure you seal all potential air leaks. Broom sweep and/or vacuum the hard bottom of any foreign objects (e.g. dirt, pebbles, etc.). Secure bottom main drain gasket to main drain. You are now ready to install the liner. Vinyl liners are best installed in warm, sunny weather. Remove liner from carton - open liner across width of pool, (inside shallow end). Insert beading into liner retainer being careful not to stretch liner bead. Remove the vacuum bag. Set up vacuum with hose through skimmer - tape around hose and seal hose from pool (you are trying to make it air tight). Switch on vacuum - help liner into position. NOTE: - Do not cut main drain, skimmer, stairs, or returns until completely satisfied with liner fit. Where fiberglass walk-in stairs are involved, stair area must be sealed off (tape back of liner to stairs) or seal top of stair with �" plywood - tape around edge - secure liner to edge of plywood. When 18" of water has been filled in the deep end and you are satisfied with the fit, secure main drain faceplate. Leave the vacuum running continually until 2 ft. of water is in the shallow end. At this point the vacuum may be shut off and the hose removed from behind the liner. Do not install the outlet and skimmer face plates until water reaches 1 " below bottom of inlets and skimmer.

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