Reference only

We no longer handle conversions to vinyl pool liners.

Unfortunately, we are unaware of anyone else in the business who does. Please be respectful of our incoming call volume and direct related questions elsewhere. The information below remains available as a reference.

Retrofit reference

Converting to a Vinyl Liner Pool

Every year many customers ask whether it is practical, or even possible, to install a vinyl liner in a pool that was not designed for one. Normally these requests come from pool owners with plaster, concrete, or fiberglass pools that are leaking from settling cracks or other factors.

Often they have already tried painting or sealing, but this can be unattractive and ineffective. Over time, even a good paint or sealant job can begin to crack and peel. With the average cost of replastering or refinishing a pool somewhere between $12,000 and $25,000, people look for a more economical and realistic alternative.

Finished vinyl liner retrofit pool
Finished retrofit project shown for reference.

Background

Adding a liner to fiberglass, concrete, and plaster pools

In response to customer needs, Ameri-Brand pioneered a retrofit vinyl liner system that worked for many inground swimming pools. We say many because in some cases the design of a pool would not allow the retrofitting of a vinyl liner.

When a pool was a good candidate, the system could normally include a brand new liner, a track system, custom fittings from our shop, and professional advice based on many years of experience. The intent was to let the customer complete the work in a couple of weekends for a fraction of the cost of replastering or refinishing the pool.

The considerations below were used to determine if a pool could be a candidate for a retrofit liner package from Ameri-Brand Products Inc. This service is no longer offered, but the project notes may still help explain the challenges involved.

Although liners specifically made to convert a pool were more expensive than other types of liners because of the extra time required to design and manufacture them, they were usually the most economical solution for many workable situations.

Project example

One customer pool transformation

Before Pool before vinyl liner retrofit Pool Pre-Renovation After Pool after vinyl liner retrofit Pool Post-Renovation

Reference checklist

Inground liner retrofit considerations

These were the major issues reviewed when evaluating a pool conversion. The list is preserved for reference because it shows why this kind of project is more involved than ordering a standard replacement liner.

Measuring the liner

Typically, a converted pool liner installation required the standard measurements that we would use for a normal inground liner and the contour/wrap dimension form linked here.

Standard measurements Contour form example

Shape and size of pool

Most shapes could be accommodated, but the pool design still mattered. Some pools were good retrofit candidates; others were not practical for a vinyl liner conversion.

Attaching the liner

Typically, liners are attached to a swimming pool by either a top mount track, side mount track, or in some cases an overlap system. The track was provided with the system, while the customer provided the fasteners, normally available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace, or True Value stores. The type of track depended on the pool perimeter and the installation approach.

Track reference Simple attachment method

Water flow and drains

This was where the retrofit system saved a lot of time and money. Return lines and main drain fittings could be converted using the retrofit system, parts, and tools.

Return and drain fittings

Skimmers

Wall skimmers could be retrofitted for a liner using a custom manufactured adapter for the specific pool. These units enabled water to flow through the existing swimming pool plumbing system and adapt it to work with a vinyl liner.

Skimmer reference

Special note

In rare cases, it was sometimes best to seal off the main drain and use a different water circulation method, such as over-the-deck piping. It was not the most attractive option, but it could be functional.

Steps

Vinyl pool liners can be custom dimensioned to cover many step configurations. Rectangular, triangular, and wedding cake styles were covered in some projects. If the steps were not the type that could be covered, options included removing them and replacing them with ladders or adding a poured concrete set designed to work with the new vinyl pool liner.

Lights

The usual suggestion was to seal lights off and liner over them. That detail depended on the pool and was handled as part of the retrofit planning.

Need a standard inground liner instead?

We still provide custom inground pool liners for pools designed for vinyl liners.

Get Inground Liner Prices Measuring Forms