Everything You Need to Know about Above Ground Pool Liners

Do you have an above ground pool that no longer looks as good as it once did? Does it leak from a puncture due to a root that you did not know was there until the pool settled deeper into the ground? If so, you are not alone. Above ground pools are a cheap alternative to having an in ground pool, but it does unfortunately come with maintenance. Luckily, there are above ground pool liners available if you need to upgrade, repair or replace the liner that came with your pool without having to replace the whole pool.

Do You Need a New Pool Liner Replacement?

Chances are your pool is exposed to all of the elements year round. Do not worry, you are not the only one who does not always cover their pool during times when it is not in use (although we highly recommend one of these above ground pool covers!). However, leaving it uncovered can lead to certain problems.

The use of chemicals in the pool to keep it algae free and avoid cloudy pool water combined with sun exposure can lead to the pool liner becoming discolored or bleached out in some areas. If this happens your pool will not look as good as it did when it was new. It may be purely cosmetic, but at this time, a lot of people do choose to replace the liner and give their family fun spot a makeover. Replacing a pool liner is often intimidating if you had someone else take care of your initial above ground pool installation but it really doesn’t have to be.

Over time not having a cover for your pool may also cause it to start cracking, especially if your pool is not always filled properly with all the water that it should have. You will have to deal with it by repairing it or replacing it. Otherwise, the problem will get progressively worse and you may start to lose water.

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Is Pool Liner Repair Possible?

If you have a small puncture hole or a small area in the pool liner that has started to crack, there are pool liner repair kits available through most above ground pool dealers and on Amazon. A lot of the time, you will be able to use the repair kit in either an empty pool or a full one. Within the kit you will most likely get some clear vinyl patches and some blue vinyl patches as well as the vinyl adhesive that you will use to glue the patch into place. These patch kits will also help if the above ground swimming pool has seams that are starting to come loose.

Repair Kit for Above Ground Pool Vinyl Liners

To use a vinyl repair kit, you will need to apply adhesive to the patch and then apply it to the damaged area. Hold it in place for a few seconds and it should stick. If the repair job is under the water, it is a little trickier because you will have to avoid letting the adhesive on one side of the patch touch the patch’s other side.

If you have a puncture in the bottom of your pool due to a root, you may want to drain your pool completely so that you are able to remove the problem as well as repair the liner. If you choose not to, know ahead of time that the pool liner repair kit will not be able to take the pressure from whatever punctured the original liner any better, so another repair will be in your future.

Once you have removed the problem root, you may also opt to get a pad that goes under the above ground pool to protect the liner from damage. On Amazon, you can find a Gorilla Floor Pad. It is relatively inexpensive and extremely hard to penetrate. It simply sits on the ground between your swimming pool and any potential roots that may be underneath it. This can add life to your pool liner and may also be a good idea if you choose to replace the entire liner.

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Proper Pool Liner Installation

If you decide that pool liner replacement is your best option, the installation is not difficult, but it will take some time. You can search for “Intex Pool Liner installation” and find videos that tell you how to remove and install a pool liner on your Intex above ground pools or check out the video below. However, a basic idea of the required steps are easy enough to follow for most people.

The first step is removing the old pool liner. This means you will need to drain all of the water out of your pool. To do this, you can unplug the drains on your pool, use a hose to syphon water out, or use a suck pump. Do not worry if you cannot get all of the water out. Since you are throwing that liner away, you can cut it with a utility knife after digging a trench under the pool. Simply cut out an area of the liner where your trench is located and then cut around the bottom of the pool across from your trench. Pull this liner toward your trench and the rest of the water and any debris will flow out. Take care to not damage the hard exterior wall. From there, you will need to remove anything else that may be holding the pool liner in place such as hoses, gaskets, or skimmers.

Once the old pool liner is out, you will then need to re-level the ground under your pool and remove anything that may be holding the liner in place at the top of the pool, including the joiner plates if you have them. After that, remove stabilizing strips or plastic strips that are on top of the pool’s wall. You will then be ready to install.

Installation simply requires that you spread the liner out so that it is even all the way around. Before you put water into it, get as many of the wrinkles and air pockets out of the way as you are able. Re-secure the liner by using the plastic strips, stabilizing strips and joiner plates that you may have removed, as well as the hoses and other stuff that you removed. While filling the pool, you will also need to work the pool liner around to further eliminate the wrinkles, but rest assured, you will be enjoying your pool again real soon.

Decorative Pool Liners for Above Ground Pools

If you are going to change your pool’s liner anyway, you may also choose to get a pool liner that is more decorative. Decorative pool liners are available in a variety of colors and they will fit any type of pool that has a pool liner. This gives you a little more than a standard blue liner because you can get them with designs around the top of the pool liner and marbling or grainy patterns for the floor.

Above Ground Pool Liner Cost

If you are concerned about the price of an above ground pool liner, you should know that it is probably less expensive than you may imagine. For the repair kits you can expect to spend about $20 to $30 USD. However, it is important that you remember, this is often a temporary fix and any dirt or algae that is on the pool’s old liner may impact how well the adhesive will hold.

When it comes time to replace the whole pool liner, you will spend anywhere from $100 to $250 USD on a new pool liner, with some costing more or less. This price will change depending on whether you choose the decorative liners or not and the size of the liner that you need. In the end, make the choice that you are happy with and pay the price. It will be well worth it.