We've measured a few liners for people, usually friends but sometimes even other companies that weren't confident with more complex pools shapes. I would strongly advise against doing this and here is why... So you measure the pool, all your measurements are correct but the people installing it don't have pool experience. In the case of a freeform (or any shape really) as you know even having the liner just a few inches from where it should be could mean wrinkles, also the weather, on a hot day you have to sometimes "kill" material and on a colder day stretch the wall. What can happen and I speak from experience is the friend/customer/company will call you the day they're installing it frantic saying the liner you measured for them doesn't fit only to stop what you're doing (losing money), drive out to their house and wind up assisting in the installation showing that the liner is fine but they didn't install it correctly. Sure they're thankful but it can be at the worst time and something if you do this to be prepared for. Back in the day my business partner who was doing pools all the way back into the 60's actually owned a liner shop as well and we were often called out to the field to look at warranty claims or liners that didn't fit, almost 100% of the time a liner "didn't fit" it was measured incorrectly or more commonly the installer didn't know what they were doing. The only time we generally partner with a customer or friend on pool work is something like "grunt work", for example moving several cubic yards of sand to make a pool shallower or disposing of the old liner, digging trenches, etc. Ever do a liner with an island in the middle of the pool or install a liner over freeform steps that are totally irregular including a slope of each tread? We did a few where we actually made templates of each step and send them in with our measurements. Even with that it was a difficult job. Main drains aren't a big deal to install but much like lights and niches are poorly engineered. Why on earth would something so important that's on the very bottom of a vinyl pool use such a think faceframe and gasket? I recently came across a gasket from a wall fitting made in the late 60's in my work truck, it was easily 5 times as thick as the newer ones made today... also better rubber compounds and metal was used back then. Believe it or not brass valves made way back when survived low pH pools, not sure how but when I replaced them with new ones they lasted less than 2 weeks on the same pool. Customer insisted they must be defective because the old ones lasted 20 years. Right or wrong things aren't made nearly as well as they were, sometimes I feel like we're a garbage removal service more than a pool company. New pool equipment is getting to the point where after 3 years it needs repairs or replacement. Anyways, I'm rambling and sounding old, I should be packing for vacation and enjoying my semi retirement.
Thanks for all the videos! Have you ever built or dealt with a cinder block cmu wall as the vinyl liner wall?? Also have you ever seen a vinyl liner spa/hot tub? Thanks!!
Would you like to come to Kentucky this week and help install my pool liner? New pool with concrete steps! 😅 it’s warmer here if that gives you any incentives! 😂
@Swimmingpoolsteve we did one, but he moaned about the price - after the fact, despite being in the back of beyond - and he fitted the copings himself but did the overhang strangely so we had quite the job sealing the vac. Not doing it again.
Great video thank you 👍🏻
We've measured a few liners for people, usually friends but sometimes even other companies that weren't confident with more complex pools shapes. I would strongly advise against doing this and here is why... So you measure the pool, all your measurements are correct but the people installing it don't have pool experience. In the case of a freeform (or any shape really) as you know even having the liner just a few inches from where it should be could mean wrinkles, also the weather, on a hot day you have to sometimes "kill" material and on a colder day stretch the wall. What can happen and I speak from experience is the friend/customer/company will call you the day they're installing it frantic saying the liner you measured for them doesn't fit only to stop what you're doing (losing money), drive out to their house and wind up assisting in the installation showing that the liner is fine but they didn't install it correctly. Sure they're thankful but it can be at the worst time and something if you do this to be prepared for. Back in the day my business partner who was doing pools all the way back into the 60's actually owned a liner shop as well and we were often called out to the field to look at warranty claims or liners that didn't fit, almost 100% of the time a liner "didn't fit" it was measured incorrectly or more commonly the installer didn't know what they were doing. The only time we generally partner with a customer or friend on pool work is something like "grunt work", for example moving several cubic yards of sand to make a pool shallower or disposing of the old liner, digging trenches, etc. Ever do a liner with an island in the middle of the pool or install a liner over freeform steps that are totally irregular including a slope of each tread? We did a few where we actually made templates of each step and send them in with our measurements. Even with that it was a difficult job. Main drains aren't a big deal to install but much like lights and niches are poorly engineered. Why on earth would something so important that's on the very bottom of a vinyl pool use such a think faceframe and gasket? I recently came across a gasket from a wall fitting made in the late 60's in my work truck, it was easily 5 times as thick as the newer ones made today... also better rubber compounds and metal was used back then. Believe it or not brass valves made way back when survived low pH pools, not sure how but when I replaced them with new ones they lasted less than 2 weeks on the same pool. Customer insisted they must be defective because the old ones lasted 20 years. Right or wrong things aren't made nearly as well as they were, sometimes I feel like we're a garbage removal service more than a pool company. New pool equipment is getting to the point where after 3 years it needs repairs or replacement. Anyways, I'm rambling and sounding old, I should be packing for vacation and enjoying my semi retirement.
Thanks for all the videos!
Have you ever built or dealt with a cinder block cmu wall as the vinyl liner wall??
Also have you ever seen a vinyl liner spa/hot tub?
Thanks!!
Yes to both of those questions. Block wall vinyl pools are pretty common and can be pretty high quality without needing to buy a prefab pool wall kit.
Would you like to come to Kentucky this week and help install my pool liner? New pool with concrete steps! 😅 it’s warmer here if that gives you any incentives! 😂
So true.
I get people all the time asking me to install a liner they measured and bought online. Never going to happen
I do not think I can name a time where I installed a liner that was not measured by me.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve I never have, I just always figured I was going to fingers pointed at me.
@Swimmingpoolsteve we did one, but he moaned about the price - after the fact, despite being in the back of beyond - and he fitted the copings himself but did the overhang strangely so we had quite the job sealing the vac. Not doing it again.
I would rather change an IG liner than an AG liner! An IG wall won't move on you
That is a fact!