Vinyl Liner installation

[Tej71]

Hi there,
We have a in ground kidney bean shaped pool with sloping sides and a gradient from the shallow end to the deeper end. We just had a new vinyl liner installed last week and the pool is now full of water but we already seems to be having some issues (liner floating away from the sides - and already coming out of the track). Installers tell us this is ‘fine’ - I’m not so sure.
The new liner never sat flush to the walls, I noticed that it was baggy when the pool was being filled up - is this normal? It seems like it would be so easy to rip the liner by accident…
The installer told us that we had an irregular shaped pool and they came back several times to measure the pool before ordering the liner. I can’t help but wonder if the liner is simply the wrong size… This replacement was a rather expensive undertaking for us so want to make sure it’s done properly.
Any advice most gratefully received!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Show us pics of your pool and the problem areas.

 

[Tej71]

Sure. Here is a (terrible) pic of the pool and the area where the liner has come out of the track.

 

[Newdude]

Those little wedges that they used come in a strip. 120 ft is $21 on sale today.

It will take minutes to do your whole pool and it will stop both old and new spots.

There's a visual at the bottom of this link:

Liner Replacement - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The popped out areas should massage back into place. You may need to pull the existing wedges to spread out the slack a little. Wait until you have a roll of liner lock before you mess with it. It requires zero skill so don't be thinking you need a 'professional'. Like the guy who could have done your WHOLE POOl in minutes for $21. Probably even less from the wholesale supplier.

 

[Tej71]

Thank you!
So the popped out area isn’t a big deal - that’s good to know. But if it can pop out once, in one spot, can it pop out everywhere else with this set up?

 

[Newdude]

But if it can pop out once, in one spot, can it pop out everywhere else with this set up?

It will only pop put where it's a little loose. My pool had it in a couple places with straight walls. It's relatively normal and also why I believe we should all be fully liner locked.

So the popped out area isn’t a big deal

Correct but it still needs to be fixed, and as fustrating as it is to DIY something you paid someone else to do, this is an easy fix to save yourself the stress of dealing with the crew that you weren't thrilled with. In my case, everytime I made the crews come fix their mistakes, they left 3 new and improved foul ups.

 

[Tej71]

Ah - also good to know.
When you say fully liner locked, does that mean one continuous strip all around the liner, as opposed to the chips? We had the continuous strip on the previous liner - it felt more secure.
I’m not sure how to approach the installers to ask about putting that in….

 

[Newdude]

When you say fully liner locked, does that mean one continuous strip all around the liner, as opposed to the chips?

Exactly.

I’m not sure how to approach the installers to ask about putting that in….

At this point, unhappy with their work, I'd DIY. You literally push the wedge in the crack above the liner. You work your way around and it takes a couple minutes.

Or. Demand (polite but firm) they come install it all around.

 

[Tej71]

This is so helpful - thank you so much!

On a side note, I’ve noticed the liner, above the water, is not flush to the wall. But below the surface, with the weight of the water, the liner is pushed against the wall. Is that also normal?
Apologies, but I can’t really take pictures to illustrate the issue.

 

[Newdude]

, I’ve noticed the liner, above the water, is not flush to the wall. But below the surface, with the weight of the water, the liner is pushed against the wall. Is that also normal?

It's not right but it does happen. Basically the liner is a bit too big. There is a sweet spot where they stretch tight just right and to be honest I'm surprised more don't have issues. Especially with yours and the irregular shape.

 

[Tej71]

That makes sense.
Is there a way to remedy this - or are we stuck with a baggy lining that may not last as long (bearing in mind the installers said it was ‘fine’)? Should we be on the look out for any specific issues?
And thanks again for your invaluable advice/feedback!

 

[Newdude]

Is there a way to remedy this - or are we stuck with a baggy lining that may not last as long

The only fix is replacement. Some have been successful fighting for it, others fell short and had to deal.

No company is going to want to eat it, that's for sure. Best wishes either way.

Should we be on the look out for any specific issues?

So long as the track gap is the same all around, one strip of LL will hold it in place. If the gap is wider in spots you can trim the mushroom head off to double it up only using the wedge piece before pushing the LL strip in. That'll at least hold in in place. Check that link I posted and you'll see how it can't come out once it's firmly in there. (Unless it gets pulled so hard downward that it rips but that's a too small issue, not a too big issue). Many pools have been slightly 'baggy' without harm so fingers crossed.

 

[Tej71]

Fingers crossed indeed - I don’t look forward to going back to the installers to discuss, no doubt they will blow us off.

Thank you, again, for all the info, much appreciated. But also so depressing that we just shelled out $12k (though we still have a final payment to make) for a replacement that doesn’t fit properly

 

[Newdude]

But also so depressing that we just shelled out $12k (though we still have a final payment to make)

Don't pay it until you're sure you can live with it. Once paid they'll block/lose your number.

 

[Tej71]