In ground pool liner - install it yourself

Last year, I redid the pool liner in my in-ground pool. With the help of friends and some hired help, here is the process. If you have specific questions, send me a note and I'll try to answer them if I have time. Overall, complete success.

[@robwasnj]

It looks like in the end you got it to work but wow, I've been installing liners for 40 years and own an inground pool business, the way you went about this created a lot more work than necessary. Closing off the steps with plywood before turning on the vacuum (so it seals) in addition to not letting all the material get dragged down into the hopper by placing weights in the wader makes the job so much easier. There's also a lot of other things that someone watching this video may not know about that could create a disaster, number one being a drywell, if you have a high water table and fail to hookup a pump first the entire pool could be compromised. You also said you saved 5,000 dollars... not sure what you were quoted but we typically do jobs of this size from 3-4K and we're in and out in one day (short of wait time for getting the liner from our measurements). Anyways, thanks for sharing, I always watch videos like these to see how others work and sometimes even after 40 years of experience still learn something new.

[@d3kelley]

3-4k?! I was just quoted 10-15k for new liner installed.

[@robwasnj]

@@d3kelley Just for a liner? How big is your pool? I could see that if there's a lot of other work, like new steps, maybe replacing some wall panels, ;perhaps changing out the skimmer and pipes but for a liner only that's really up there in cost.

[@JayPoe80]

I’m not a pro but have been reading and watching a ton about pool liners and this one just didn’t seem right. The order of events. The prep. Glad they got it done and are happy with the results. 👍

[@joysanchezcruz8774]

wow, this is a good one, thanks for sharing

[@ricktanguay2310]

A few observations: The original liner was a "white based liner" and that is why you had so much algae and fungus growing under the liner. Your new liner was "blue based" and you should have much less or no fungus growing under the liner. Next time, go with the 27/27 line instead of the 27/20 liner. It will last longer and you won't be so apt to create wrinkles on the slanted sides of the deep end when you are standing in that area.The skimmer lid does not get sucked down in the summer. Fact is the lid expands when it get hot which makes it stick to the skimmer collar. If you splash cold water on it and wait about 15 seconds, it will pick up easily. You can also sand off about 1/8" material on two of the edges of the lid and it will lift off easily then without having to splash the water on it.The new liner should have been set in the shallow end of the pool at the breakover first. Then you set the liner bead in all around the shallow end. After that is set, walk the liner towards the deep end and set the liner in the bead starting above the light and working both ways away from the light toward the deep end corners.Your liner should have be rotated about six inches counter clockwise before the vacs were started and it would have fit much better with less work trying to get those wrinkles out.Lastly, the Hayward new style return line faceplates use a black rubber gasket under the liner, not on the top under the faceplate. Just one gasket is used per inlet fitting . I did find your video quite amusing though.My credentials: 54 years hands-on inground pool installations. Lost track a few years ago at 1,700 installs. Your pool pro could learn something from my suggestions above.

[@robwasnj]

Interesting that us pool guys watch these videos for entertainment. I don't quite have as many years hands on pool experience as yourself but I have been doing it for 40 years. I actually found it hard to watch the whole video and fast forwarded through a lot of sections getting frustrated watching how they did it! I guess the end result was ok but I can offer many suggestions myself to the "pro". First off, as you said the liner should be placed on the breakpoint. Second, why not put weights in the shallow end to hold the liner in place before pulling it out over the hopper? I saw him trying to yank and kick the liner back up to the shallow end to no avail. Shop vac skimmer lid adapter, really? A tube going down the wall in the wader is much more effective at putting the liner where it's needed, we usually so that and as the vac picks up suction start kicking the liner back with our feet (at least he wore socks) and let the vac assist in the process which brings me to the next point... the steps. Because of those open step cutouts suction was really limited, how they did it was just nuts and I'd not be surprised if the tile isn't straight in those areas due to the water pulling down the unsuspended sections more than the surrounding ones that were clipped into the coping.. We have boards that cover those areas which have a piece of extrusion attached to hold the liner, we then tape and seal them to the step top. Also, using a higher volume vacuum like those used in woodworking helps tremendously. In summation though, yes, they got the liner installed and there may be no wrinkles BUT that liner will likely not last nearly as long as one installed by a true pro because the material isn't distributed as it should be and now stress will be put where the wall meets the floor. When we install liners they literally look like they were painted into the pool before any water is even added. Steps, lights and fittings are all cut prior to the addition of any water. Honestly, I'm all for DIY projects and do many things outside of my realm too but in this case the owner stated he saved himself 5 grand, I don't get that because WITH a liner included in the price we would have done this job for way less than 5K! As a pool guy Rick you also know there's a lot of "gotcha's" in liner installs, high water table probably being the worst but also bad light niches, bubbled step strips, skimmer/wall gaps, etc that can all lead to leaks later on and all which we address when we change a liner. Even not taking proper care cutting out a main drain with those stupid thin hayward frame rings can cause a leak. The list goes on.

[@sagacious47]

How do I install the pool drain?

[@justinwallace390]

Rick and Robwas: Thank you for the experienced knowledge and tips.

[@myzacky96]

Great Job, be proud!

[@PracticalOutdoorist]

Great Job!! You guys did well. Subbed

[@astrox9097]

Hi sir, how are you?

[@josephmathiau5987]

would have been helpful to be up closer with the camera when they were performing some of the more intricate steps like the stairs and skimmer/returns.

[@mateostabio]

How much did the liner cost?

[@collincollin8275]

$1,500ish if you order online and take all the measurements yourself.

[@jasongeo2]

MY point is the title is wrong. Should not say install it yourself. Should say" Install it with some friends and a guy that done it before"

[@1rafaelespinoza]

kool , Congrats tks 4 sharing this job

[@bostonbredportugee3016]

Don't be mislead! This a homemade video of a Professional with friends doing the install. Not a homeowner giving it a try. Homeowner video.

[@suzanneribas3746]

This might be a strange question but... Where do you get the water? Do you have it trucked in or is it from the house? Costs of water?

[@JayPoe80]

When we had our pool liner replaced the company used three of four large inflatable water storage pools. Pumped out and reused the water.

[@nathancollins2]

Did you add your main drain hardware before you started adding water or did you have some water in the pool before cutting it in?

[@joefalcione8059]

I think we needed to add the water before making the cut.

[@anniejordan7972]

How much cement work did you have to do? Our pool looks very similar but I think we need to recement a lot at the bottom because its so rocky!

[@jasongeo2]

LOL.....So much for doing it yourself, and you needed a professional to guide you.

[@ReliantFilms]

The difference is myself and some buddies did do it and I chose to have a pro onsite in case we had a problem, saving me about 5k. You must be an armchair warrior, the kind of person who talks more than actually doing shit in life.

[@adriansoriano3491]

I bet this guy has no pool

[@joefalcione8059]

If I had to do it over, I would have put the foam around the pool. It would help hold the temperature better.

[@kckeithc]

Christina Chiu the foam is not necessary, a lot of people don't put it in because it can slip down after time and create wrinkles. I've replaced liners on pools before that had the original liner in for 20+ yrs and never had foam, so it doesn't necessarily add life to the liner.

[@guest45013]

@@kckeithc WOW 20 YEARS? HoW DOEs foam just fall down, with water in the pool ?

[@Lumpygrits76]

I know this is 3 years old. But curious about what the cost of having water delivered per gallon.

[@cenplexconstructions5862]

hey thanks for the video, is your a pool a standard size or did you get this liner custom made?Did they come out to measure it or did you measure it?

[@willdavis3646]

cenplex constructions m

[@TH-bs8dv]

Do you have tips or video on how they put in bottom drains? Thanks

[@CAKEwasTRUE]

Here, Have a View!

[@CCWSig]

Dumb question, are the liners generic sizes, like pond liners? or are they custom made for the shape and depth of the pool?

[@joefalcione8059]

Custom Made. If you're not sure how to measure it, it's best to hire a pool builder to come out and pay them to just do that.

[@guest45013]

@@joefalcione8059 never assume the pool was built to the specs for a good fit.Each pool is not ..MEASURE.

[@jayverrone5502]

Great video!! I have a question: Could you tell me about the long-term effects of algae, leaves and other organic matter left on the vermiculite underneath a new vinyl pool liner?

[@TheOle7]

I just brought a house and the liner is mess up, looking to replace it but people charged around 3-4K for it

[@mikeczwerinski849]

That’s cheap

[@justinwallace390]

Did you return those Hayward generic gaskets?

[@ReliantFilms]

I think so, most of them anyway.

[@davewarren8598]

Were got your liner

[@TheOle7]

how easy is it to replace the liner?

[@deniceaguilera5130]

how much did you pay for the liner

[@ReliantFilms]

The liner was $1k

[@wayneguy6043]

What did it cost to fill it? $1,600?

[@secomeco724]

How much did you pay for that liner and can you put the link for the website or the company name please

[@darrenmichael8160]

They are out of business now or sold out to www.intheswim.com only reason i know this is because thats where i bought my liner 5 years ago and went to get another and they were gone. I bought mine for $750 from them but cant find that good of a price now.

[@secomeco724]

Thanks brother

[@secomeco724]

How much it cost you to do this

[@ReliantFilms]

Total cost was 2k.

[@JuanHernandez-ox5tl]

How much did you pay the expert who helped you?

[@ReliantFilms]

$500 for the day...

[@JuanHernandez-ox5tl]

@@ReliantFilms ok thanks

[@JuanHernandez-ox5tl]

Wow

[@kamalkurl]

what is the size of this pool?

[@gmalalhout1966]

How much the liner

[@Adi-S]

Saved about $5,000? Are you kidding me? Got a top liner 27/27 for my pool, lazy L, 20 x 40 for 3,800 installed!

[@mariejean-baptiste2450]

Which state, do you still have the contact, mind sharing?

[@83wasagoodyear]

In New Jersey they want almost 6k to replace the liner 40x20

[@justinwallace390]

Well, you got a good deal

[@jasonriggins4798]

Saved 5k ? You lost ur mind....

[@jasonriggins4798]

Does look nice though. ..

[@joefalcione8059]

Thanks, but your point? I had 2 estimates from two pool builders in hand. They wanted 4-5k for the work and up to 2k for the water. I knew they were full of shit but those were the quotes. I spent 2100 on this in total.

[@kckeithc]

4-5k sounds about right. People work to make a profit, just like a mechanic or carpenter and you'll pay for the water some how.

[@guest45013]

What part of USA you in ?

[@83wasagoodyear]

Over 5k in Jersey

[@robertsherman9394]

I'm not trying to mean. But this a crappy video. No light assembly instructions, no best tips on vacuumimg... doesn't teach you much at all....

[@suzanneribas3746]

This might be a strange question but... Where do you get the water? Do you have it trucked in or is it from the house? Costs of water?