Basically wanted to post this for others that might consider replacing their own liner. We recently did this and were surprised at how easy it ended up being. Long story but end results were great. Even the original pool light bulb still works fine. Note: This was done last July, about 10 months ago and nothing has changed on our opinion of doing this ourselves.
First some background that you can skip.
18 years ago, bought a complete inground pool install kit and became pool owners. 28x14 vinyl, 6ft deep end. West coast of Florida area. No enclosure. Had a few friends help with digging and cement stuff, took a couple months as did much of the work myself in spare time. Rented backhoe, borrowed a mixer, and did the work as homeowner/contractor, reading a lot on the internet, filing all permits, etc. The only thing we subbed out was moving the septic field from backyard to front. Also paid for cement to be pumped for decking (as well as wall supports), which we finished with friends.
We are not construction people. I started life as an auto mechanic, then electronics, and ended up in computers. Thin 6'1" and 180 lbs. Wife is office manager. A workout for us is lifting a beer or mixed drink.
Now 18 years later, and both of us at 63 year old, liner needed replaced. Figured did it once so with the help of friends, just the liner should be no big deal. Wrong. At install time, babies started popping and we were on our own.
What saved us was the common close pin. Remove the spring and you have two wedges to lock liner in place as you go. Dozen or so was all we needed. Was able to easily secure liner as I walked around inside of pool, and didn't need others to help support line as I went. Had to do a rough fit first, then took it down to reposition. Note the close pins holding up liner in photos. Doing this ourselves allowed us to do it on our schedule, not others. That can be very important.
After all was done, thinking when we are in our 70's would we still do it again? YES, probably, but would pay someone else to do the bottom clean up prep work.
Took photos of everything along the way, (only a few of them posted below), which helped with replacement parts and made install easier. From unpacking liner to start filling took about 4 hours. Prep work after old liner was removed took a about week, taking our time.
Draining nearly complete
Cut it out
Tear out nearly done. Before floor prep work.
Example of some cement work that needed to be addressed.
First test fit. Note the close pins holding liner in place.
Adding water!
Final test complete! Liner used was Merlin Key Largo Tile 27 Mil wall, 20 Mil Floor, and was selected based on original liner life. If it lasts 10 year's I'll be happy.
First some background that you can skip.
18 years ago, bought a complete inground pool install kit and became pool owners. 28x14 vinyl, 6ft deep end. West coast of Florida area. No enclosure. Had a few friends help with digging and cement stuff, took a couple months as did much of the work myself in spare time. Rented backhoe, borrowed a mixer, and did the work as homeowner/contractor, reading a lot on the internet, filing all permits, etc. The only thing we subbed out was moving the septic field from backyard to front. Also paid for cement to be pumped for decking (as well as wall supports), which we finished with friends.
We are not construction people. I started life as an auto mechanic, then electronics, and ended up in computers. Thin 6'1" and 180 lbs. Wife is office manager. A workout for us is lifting a beer or mixed drink.
Now 18 years later, and both of us at 63 year old, liner needed replaced. Figured did it once so with the help of friends, just the liner should be no big deal. Wrong. At install time, babies started popping and we were on our own.
What saved us was the common close pin. Remove the spring and you have two wedges to lock liner in place as you go. Dozen or so was all we needed. Was able to easily secure liner as I walked around inside of pool, and didn't need others to help support line as I went. Had to do a rough fit first, then took it down to reposition. Note the close pins holding up liner in photos. Doing this ourselves allowed us to do it on our schedule, not others. That can be very important.
After all was done, thinking when we are in our 70's would we still do it again? YES, probably, but would pay someone else to do the bottom clean up prep work.
Took photos of everything along the way, (only a few of them posted below), which helped with replacement parts and made install easier. From unpacking liner to start filling took about 4 hours. Prep work after old liner was removed took a about week, taking our time.
Draining nearly complete
Cut it out
Tear out nearly done. Before floor prep work.
Example of some cement work that needed to be addressed.
First test fit. Note the close pins holding liner in place.
Adding water!
Final test complete! Liner used was Merlin Key Largo Tile 27 Mil wall, 20 Mil Floor, and was selected based on original liner life. If it lasts 10 year's I'll be happy.
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