Repair guidance

Inground Pool Liner Repair

Pool liner problems can often be repaired if the liner is not too old. Inground liner repair is cheaper and easier than replacing the entire liner, but the right repair depends on what failed and where it failed.

Bead pops out or jumps the track Cuts, tears, and rips Failure above the waterline Other repair questions

Ameri-Shield liner wall repair at the waterline — Some waterline failures can be handled with Ameri-Shield instead of a full liner replacement.

Repair Photos Ameri-Shield Prices Warranty Policy How to Install

Types of vinyl pool liner damage

Start with the type of liner damage

The repairs below are some of the most common problems people face with an inground pool liner. A bead-track problem, a small puncture, and a large waterline failure are different issues and usually need different repair products.

Inground pool liner bead slipped out of the track

Bead and track

Liner bead popped out

Swimming pool liners do not typically pop out without cause. There are two main reasons why your liner may have slipped the track.

First, your liner may fit poorly or be incorrectly sized. Upon initial installation, these liners are often coaxed up into the track with patience and a lot of extra pulling and tugging. As vinyl liners age, they lose some of their elasticity. Combine this with slight contraction in cold weather and the floating effect of a rising groundwater table during winter rains, and a poorly fitting liner can easily pop out of the track.

Second, an old liner track may be stretched out and may no longer hold the bead as tightly as it once did. In some pools, both problems are happening at the same time.

The fix: T-Lock, also called liner lock, is often a simple answer for this type of problem. It presses into the small slot above your liner bead and helps hold the bead in the track. Next time you are in the market for a new pool liner, also consider a custom pool liner made to your pool's actual dimensions for a better fit.

What is T-Lock T-Lock Prices

Rip in an inground pool liner from a sharp object

Cuts and tears

Cuts, tears, and rips from sharp objects

Although we do our best to protect liners from sharp objects, life happens. Mother Nature, pets, human error, and vandalism can all leave a liner with a cut, rip, tear, or puncture.

Even pool experts are not immune. Our pool store manager experienced this when his little boy threw a metal object into their pool. Even worse, he only learned of the problem after the automatic pool sweeper had dragged it around the pool floor a few times.

For larger tears, especially those just above the waterline, see the waterline failure section below.

The fix: Luckily, small cuts or tears do not have to be a major headache. A simple pool liner repair kit can be used to repair most small holes, cuts, tears, or punctures, even under the water surface.

Small Repair Kit Waterline Failure

Ameri-Shield repair at the waterline of an inground pool liner

Waterline failure

Failure above the waterline from sun and aging

Although there are various reasons a liner can fail, many swimming pool liner failures occur above the waterline. Afternoon sun can reflect across the top of the water and hit the far side of the pool wall. When this happens, ultraviolet rays are reflected onto the liner above the waterline, where that portion of the liner is not water-cooled.

Another major cause of premature liner failure is prolonged water or chemical imbalance.

Large liner failures above the waterline can often send you shopping for a new liner. Large blue patches from standard liner repair kits can look rough at the waterline and may fail when trying to support the weight of the liner wall.

The fix: Ameri-Brand created Ameri-Shield as a unique solution for some of these waterline failures. It can improve the appearance of the old liner, protect the damaged area, and significantly increase the liner's useful life when the repair situation is a good fit.

Ameri-Shield Prices Repair Photos

Ameri-Shield

Curious if Ameri-Shield will work for your situation?

Ameri-Shield was created for certain above-the-waterline liner failures where a simple patch is not the best answer. If you are unsure whether your pool is a good fit, use Contact Us and upload photos after submitting the form.

The Ameri-Shield is a full 10 inch tall piece of vinyl with T-Lock heat sealed to the top edge of the vinyl. It is secured into your existing liner track by tapping the T-Lock firmly into the small slot above your liner bead with a small block of wood and a small hammer. This can also help lock your liner into place.

The process is similar to rescreening a window screen, except the T-Lock is a different profile and helps hold Ameri-Shield in place while the adhesive is applied. Ameri-Shield is then glued around the perimeter of the pool to the liner wall and reaches down into the water a few inches.

The adhesive we supply is not like the pool patch kits you can find online or at a local pool store. This is commercial-grade glue. Once it goes on, it is not coming off easily. Ameri-Shield installs quickly and can prolong the life of aging liners, possibly for years, until you are ready to replace the liner.

When used to reinforce a new liner, Ameri-Shield is also an inexpensive method to greatly extend the life of the new pool liner. Ameri-Brand works hard to offer useful product ideas, and the response to Ameri-Shield has been exceptional.

Get Ameri-Shield Prices Repair Photos

Ameri-Shield repair material with heat sealed T-Lock

Send photos when the problem is not obvious

The repairs above are some of the most common problems people face with their inground pool liner, not a comprehensive list. If your problem was not addressed, we still may be able to help or at least make a recommendation.

For the best possible consult, please contact us first. After submitting your contact information, you will receive an email with the option of uploading digital pictures of the liner problem, which often makes all the difference.

With your pictures in hand, we can make much more educated suggestions about possible fixes or liner replacement if needed. You can also call us toll-free at 800-982-6966, but remember that pictures are worth a thousand words.

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