Anatomy of a Pool

Many of you know that we had to replace our swimming pool liner this season. The old one was really worn out, sunbleached, and had some small tears in it. We thought you might like to see a series of photos of the process of replacing a pool liner. It was really quite interesting.

Step 1: Suck all of the water out of the pool. You can see a lovely ring of algae on the old cover since our pool sat all winter with only about 1/4 of the pool full.

Step 2: Cut out all of the old liner in pieces and fold neatly for the trash man.

Another photo of part of the liner cut out. I didn't get one of the pool when it was completely bare and all cement-exposed, but you get the idea. See all of the water in the bottom? It took a week to get rid of enough of it to put the new liner in. Because of our ground being so saturated from all of the rain, water kept seeping back into the pool. Looks kind of like the pool has a bad wedgie.

Step 3: Affix new liner under the rims and trim. Don't fall in.

Step 4: Suck all of the air out from under the liner. See the vacuum-like machine next to the diving board? It sucked the air, causing the liner to get pulled toward the walls--it's all very much like those space bags on TV.

Step 5: Add water. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Keep adding water, maybe go grab a beer. We might be here awhile.
Step 6: Go grab a raft and then think twice about getting into the newly lined pool. It's freezing in there! Dear Santa, please buy us a pool heater for Christmas. Love, The Smiths