Pool Liner Replacement – How, When and Why?

Have you had your pool for a decade or longer and never even thought about what state the liner is in? These critical pool components don’t last forever, and if you haven’t examined your liner for signs of failure recently, it might be time to consider replacing it. Keep reading to learn when you need to replace your pool liner, why it’s important to do it, and how to get the job done.

When?

There are several red flags that pool owners can look for to figure out if their liner needs to be changed.

Pool liners will fade over time due to the sunlight that they are constantly exposed to. Some high-quality liners have UV inhibitors incorporated into their plastic to slow this process down, but it will eventually happen regardless of which liner you install. Not only does this spoil the look of your pool, but it also stiffens the liner and makes it harder for it to expand and contract as needed when the pool’s temperature changes.

The most obvious sign that a pool liner needs to be replaced, though, are open cracks. Some of these may be very small, but you’ll know they’re there if you run your hand or foot over the surface and feel the telltale roughness. Once a liner develops these, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

Why?

Your pool liner isn’t there just to make your water look appealingly blue – it also protects your pool’s foundation from the erosion damage it would otherwise incur over time.

Water that is in direct contact with a surface will eventually wear it away, even if that surface is made of hard stone. Once your liner develops a crack, water can get in and wear away the stone foundation underneath. That foundation might then start to crack.

Once that damage happens, it will only get worse, and it can be extremely expensive and difficult to repair. You don’t want to let things get to that point.

How?

There are many contractors out there who will happily replace your pool liner for you for a fee. These professionals will usually also purchase the liner for you, which may be helpful for some pool owners who don’t feel confident choosing one on their own.

However, since hiring someone to do this will usually cost thousands of dollars, many pool owners choose to replace their pool liners themselves. To do this, you’ll need to measure your pool and buy a liner of the appropriate size, then drain the pool and remove the old liner. After that, it’s a simple matter of smoothing the liner over the surfaces of your pool so that the entire structure is covered and there are no wrinkles present.

DIY pool liner installation isn’t that hard, but it is time-consuming and can be stressful if you’re worried about the damage you might cause if you make a mistake. It’s up to every pool owner to decide which option is best for them.

All pool liners reach the end of their lifespan eventually, and when they do, time is of the essence. Don’t wait for the inevitable foundation damage to set in before you put a new liner in – if you act right away, you can save yourself from having to make much more costly and intensive repairs later on.