What Kind Of Liner Do You Need For Your Above-Ground Pool?
If you've just purchased an above-ground pool, you know the next step involves getting a quality liner to protect your investment. It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed with the choices, but deciding on the right one isn't that hard when you understand their unique differences and advantages. You'll be ready to dive in head first after reading about the four types of pool liners and how they can work for you.
Overlap Liners
As the name suggests, overlap liners are placed inside the pool and any extra material hangs over the upper edge.
Overlap liners are a popular choice for a number of reasons. First, they tend to be the cheapest option, making them the go-to for the frugal homeowner on a budget. They're also the only type of liner that can be adjusted as you're filling in the pool with water. Some people think that because they overlap the edge of the pool they're somewhat of an eyesore, but they can be tucked and secured under the outside ledge, making them less visible.
In general, overlap liners are more forgiving in an irregularly shaped pool or one that's not perfectly round. One part of the pool might need slightly more material than the other side, and because you've got extra material that overlaps, it could be easier to work with. If you have an above-ground pool with an extra deep center, you may wish to go with an overlap for the same reason.
If you get an overlap liner with a pattern, you'll have to take extra care to keep it straight at the waterline and match the patterns when folding the material over the edge.
Expandable Liners
A type of overlap liner for above-ground pools, expandable liners aren't made of anything special that makes them expandable; they're simply constructed with extra vinyl material. So, when are expandable liners the right option?
Most above-ground pools have a depth of around 4 feet, give or take. But some homeowners prefer a deeper pool. If you only want to go about a foot deeper, a standard overlap liner should stretch enough to accommodate that. But if you want a pool that exceeds one foot of the normal depth (5-6 feet deep), you'll need the expandable version as they have about 12 more inches of material than a standard liner.
Unibead J-Hook Liners
These types of liners have a J-hook at the top, allowing them to be attached or clipped to the top edge of the pool while the bottom of the liner flows down and covers the inside. The "U" part of the liner is additionally reinforced with a row of triangular or square-shaped beads of extra vinyl.
Installing unibead liners is fairly simple: you just hang them over the edge of the pool, right out of the box. And although they're not the cheapest option, they are a great choice for several reasons.
First, they come with tile patterns, which will give your purchase a more traditional, in-ground-pool look and feel. They also don't have any extra material that overhangs the side of the pool, and they're very easy for the newbie to install. You don't have to worry about making adjustments as you might need to do with the overlap or expandable liners.
Beaded Liners
Beaded liners snap into a bead receiver that's installed along the upper edge of the pool. J-hook liners can be converted to a beaded liner by removing the J-hook along the perforations.
Beaded liners have one main disadvantage over the others; because they don't envelop the top edge of the pool, water can sometimes get between the liner and the pool wall and lead to corrosion.
However, those that opt for a beaded liner do so for one main advantage: to be able to change the liner without having to remove the top ledge of the pool. This is critical for homeowners that have a deck installed next to the pool that hangs over the top ledge. For more information, contact companies like Anchor Pools & Spas.
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