If you're looking to replace your vinyl liner in your swimming pool, you'll need to consider the bead type attached to your existing liner. A standard bead is designed to fit into a track found around the perimeter of a pool. If the liner is too small, it will stretch beyond the capacity it was intended and most like rip, causing it to be useless and void of any warranty. Here's an easy way to tell: The Standard bead will have the liner pattern printed on the same side as the flat side of the bead so when the bead head is inserted into the bead track receiver the liner pattern is facing the correct direction. The bead is what holds the liner in place and provides a seal so the water stays in your pool. The brand of your pool can also play a factor in your bead type. The bead options will be different depending on which kind you have. If you have an inground pool you only have 3 types of beads to consider: If you have an above ground pool, any of these could apply depending on the questions you answered in the previous section. A unibead liner can be used even if your old liner was any of the following: The EZ bead is similar to the uni-bead. But with metal being metal, even galvanized, its still going to oxidize over time underground, especially with the popularity of salt water pools. West Chicago, IL 60185. The J-beads can fit into the pool's track or on the pool's edge. This is one of the reasons why salt and non-chlorine systems are easier on the liners longevity. It pretty much comes down to three important rules to follow. When folded, the Duo bead acts as a standard bead that fits into a bead track. Unlike overlap liners that have an extra few inches of liner material on each side, beaded liners must fit perfectly. To fix the ground water issue, you can install a dewatering system around the pool that will keep the ground water limited and the liner from floating again. If you want to use it as a standard bead, you need to remove the hook. See the images below. Can a Swimming Pool Cause a UTI, Yeast Infection, Ear Infection, or Other Health Issues? If you have an inground pool, congratulations! The first question is a super easy one: The two main types of pools areinground poolsandabove-ground pools. It is essential to get the correct bead when replacing your liner. Okay, one of the final problems is when the water pressure under the pool actually causes the liner to float. Viewers should verify specifications & installation requirements with the installing dealer or manufactures manual rather than relying on information on this website, which is not intended to be a final specification. The second is the proper installation of the liner by the builder. COPYRIGHT 2012 2022 | A GET SPLASHING GROUP OF COMPANIES | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | POWERED BY LOTS OF COFFEE. But you can take the proper measure to ensure your pool liners longevity. Keep in mind that the Standard and the Reverse bead can be a bit confusing if you're trying to figure out what kind you have. It is also more difficult to install than the standard bead. Well vinyl liner swimming pools have actually made up a pretty large portion of the swimming pool market in the U.S. and the majority have been built in the Northeastern part of the country. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4779281, '8af6d94c-3bfc-4f56-8e22-89747933f30b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); 2019 Royal Swimming Pools Inc. All Rights Reserved. Once liners get to be more than 3 or 4 years old, they dry, shrink and become rigid extremely fast. However, it is designed to only fit in Kayak bead track. This makes the uni-bead one of the most versatile liner beads. It isvery similar to the J-hook, just smaller. It can be used with a standard bead track or placed on the pool's coping. DESIGN YOUR DREAM POOL TODAY. Therefore, for the reverse standard bead, the bead head lip will face upwards(towards the sky) when inserted into the track. Above ground pool owners, keep on reading: To determine if your pool has an existing bead track, check under the top rail of your swimming pool to see if yours has a bead track or just a coping strip. If this is the case, you have three options: Most folks in this situation opt for one of the first two options as they tend to be more cost-effective and easier to install if you don't already have an existing bead track in place. We winterize and service many pools not just our own and we see it almost at every home. But know that with the amount you invest it will only enhance your pool to look magnificent. We will guide you in choosing the right bead for your pool so that you can enjoy it for years to come. These were quite the upgrade and are still used by manufactures today. Conversely, if the liner is too large, it will bunch up, wrinkle, and risk snagging/ripping, again voiding the warranty. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4779281, '1709241a-75a2-4008-b079-28d52e8870cb', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Can't get enough? And in most cases that is the honest truth. Reverse beads (very rare) are literally the standard bead type but in reverse, with the bead head on the other side of the bead tail. Vinyl pool liners will always have wrinkles! Conclusion Most of the time this doesnt damage the liner, but it does cause wrinkles in it once the ground water recedes and the liner falls back into place. The Wilkes bead is only intended to be used on Wilkes pool brands. Manufacturers eventually caught on and began producing metal walls (galvanized steel panels) in place of the wood ones. Liner beads come pre-molded to the top edge of your vinyl liner's perimeter and are considered to be a part of the liner itself. The corners have wrinkles, the jet fittings and vinyl over steps. See examples below this chart. But, now that you know how to handle these issues if they are to present themselves, you can move forward with your dream pool. And keep in mind, if you have a semi-inground pool, even one that is completely sunk in the ground, this is still considered to be an above ground pool when it comes to liner replacement. Not all vinyl beads can fit in all types of pools, which is why it's important to know which bead type is right for your pool. In some cases, the panel can oxidize all the way through causing a huge problem leading to costly repairs. Comparing The Best Foam Form Options for Poured Concrete Coping, Why More Pool Owners Are Replacing Their Older Pool Light, Chlorine vs. Saltwater vs. On the other hand, to use it as a J-bead, you just need to clip the hook on the pool's perimeter. There are 9 types of liner bead, each one listed below. The Duo bead can be used in two ways: Folded or Unfold. This is a bit of a pricier option, but it does bring together the colour scheme of the pool to be more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Thebest way to make sure your new pool has a long life is to buy one with the right vinyl liner. If you plan to order ANY liner with a bead for an above ground pool, you have to know the height of your pool wall. The second less difficult but more expensive alternative is brick or paver coping. One of the main complaints about vinyl liners is that they look cheap. This process shouldnt be done by anyone without experience working on liners as it can be tricky. When you have high levels of chlorine, its tough on the liner. Most of the time, vinyl liner pools use white plastic for the steps and benches. It has a small lip like the J-bead, but it can also be used with a standard bead track. So, when this happens, the pool water drips onto the metal liner causing that annoying pestilence we all know as rust. If you are still not sure, we recommend that you consult with one of our professionals atRoyal Swimming Pools. The most common heights are 48", 52" and 54". The Reverse bead, on the other hand, will have the liner pattern printed on the same side as your bead head lip. The third is the type of water sanitizer. Meaning, your pool may require a specific type of liner/liner bead when it comes replacement time. READY TO RELAX? The issue that it creates though is the white rim that lines the whole edge of the pool. Now that you know the different types of vinyl liner beads and how to choose the right one for your pool, you can make an informed decision about which bead is right for you. There is a simple solution to this problem; the vinyl over step method. The liner bead is either hung on the pool wall directly or inserted into a bead track (also called bead receiver) which goes around your swimming pool wall and allows the liner to be securely attached to the pool wall. Its structurally solid, but the issue is the bright white of the plastic usually doesnt mesh well with a coloured liner. J-beads get their name from their shape, which is similar to the letter J. J-beads, also known as the J-hook, have a small lip that sits on top of the pool's coping (the edge that sits around the perimeter of the pool). When unfolded, the duo bead is able to hang directly onto the pool wall like a J-hook. If it doesn't, the liner could bunch up or create gaps, both of which could lead to liner failure, wrinkles, or tears. But fear not, were going to discuss and break down the problems and solutions, so youll know exactly what kind of vinyl liner pool you want. Ive heard over and over again, there isnt a way to avoid wrinkles in your vinyl liner pool. This is where the steps and benches of the pool are interspersed as part of the wall panel structure and then covered with the vinyl liner. Concrete Pools, What Are the Different Vinyl Liner Bead Types for Swimming Pools, Buy an "Overlap" liner, which does not require a bead track, Buy a Liner with a bead type that does not require a bead track, These are J-hook, EZ Bead, DuoBead, Unibead, or Wilkes Bead, We'll cover more on bead types further down, Buy a "Beaded" liner as well as the correct amount of bead track or track for your pool's size, WHAT TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING AN INGROUND POOL LINER, WHAT TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING AN ABOVE GROUND POOL LINER, HOW TO MEASURE AND ORDER A REPLACEMENT INGROUND VINYL POOL LINER, HOW TO REPLACE YOUR ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING POOL LINER, HOW TO INSTALL YOUR BEADED OR UNIBEAD ABOVE GROUND POOL LINER, HOW TO INSTALL AN OVERLAP LINER FOR YOUR ABOVE GROUND POOL, HOW TO INSTALL YOUR VINYL INGROUND POOL LINER. When replacing your old liner, you need to be sure that the liner will fit seamlessly into the bead around your pool. And its understandable with the vinyl replacement costs falling between $4-8k after labour, liner and water. Free Shipping on Qualifying Orders over $99 - Get Details. This might sound like an odd notion and you might be asking why a vinyl liner is so important? It feels kind of similar to walking on a water bed. The Esther Williamsbead does not fit into standard tracks and can only be used for Johnny Weissmuller pools and Esther Williams pools. Especially as you now know that there are solutions that follow them. The Kayak bead design is similar to the standard bead, but it has a lip that helps to keep the liner in place and provides a tight seal. Originally, all vinyl liner pool structures were made of wood and the thought of long term wasnt considered when building a pool. But thats part of the purpose of this discussion, to focus on ways to prevent a liner from looking cheap. On top of that, the benches and steps have a 3-4-inch lip that is the same colour as the top of the patio making them stick out like a sore thumb. No vinyl liner is exempt from leaks at some point. You must buy the correct size liner for your above ground pool so triple-check those measurements. I know you should just trust the professionals, but youre paying for the pool so dont feel bad for double checking to make sure theyre doing it right. While most pool brands can use multiple types of beads, certain pool brands are only compatible with a specific bead. It could also void your warranty. You can skip the next questions, and jump on down to the next section. And thats no good for any pool owner as that takes away from the overall aesthetic of the pool. Its design allows it to slip easily into the track, and it has a tight grip to keep the liner from moving. Use Up and Down arrow keys to navigate search results. The uni-bead is a combination of the standard bead and the J-bead. Here are some additional articles we think you'll find helpful. You will only need to buy a liner with a bead if your pool has an existing bead track. But do be careful as if the ground water is still present, it could turn into a horrendous mess. Of course, with the purchasing of vinyl liner pools comes a few important decisions regarding some potential problems that accompany the structure. The first being the proper maintenance of the water chemistry in things like pH and alkalinity. Pool & landscape products specifications are believed to be accurate at the time of original publication. There is a simple solution to this problem; polymer wall panels. The Top 6 Vinyl Liner Pool Problems and With Solutions. This lip helps to keep the liner in place and provides a nice, tight seal. It has a rounded top and is slightly thicker than the standard bead. Mineral System Pools: Pros and Cons, Vinyl Pools vs. Fiberglass Pools vs. Its going to take more time with the technique, but compared to aluminum coping, the difference in aesthetic is night and day. This means that the bead lip is facing up -towards the sky when inserted into the lead track receiver. The average lifespan is about 8-12 years and there are some cases where they last even less than 5 years and as much as 15. Now most liner pools have what is called an aluminum C-track because its fairly easy to install and pour concrete up to. These are all common liner problems and should all be considered carefully before investing money into a pool. Here are the questions you'll need to answer before shopping for a replacement liner. You do not need to modify the EZ bead to use it with either a standard or J- bead track. Since the liner is flexible and with lowering the pool water at every season, the liner expanding and shrinking with climate and the reaction to the chemicals. If your pool brand is any of the following brands, you will need the bead that is made for those pools: Some liner beads are compatible with multiple swimming pool brands, but some are only good for one type of pool. A lot of vinyl liner companies are using them for the pools structure now because they dont oxidize over time and are unaffected by salt. This will mean that the bead lip is facing down- towards the bottom of your pool when inserted into the bead track receiver. So, with this issue, there are actually two alternatives to the ugly aluminum coping. Some pools, especially older ones, do not have bead track. This is an important distinction since your liner would have to be installed inside out in order to be secured in the track if you order this one incorrectly. They are usually behind the liner itself. If using unfolded, you do not require bead track. The first one is bit more difficult because you have to pour a cantilever concrete edge. There are a couple different solutions to this problem though. To avoid and minimize the wrinkles so that they are not noticeable under water, a high quality liner that welded on site and properly installed would do the trick. This usually happens in areas with high water tables and causes the liner to look as though its inflated. For the standard bead, the bead head lip will face downwards (towards the bottom of the pool) when inserted into the track. Its the biggest concern if youre a pool owner or are looking to become one. We've got you covered with how to identify your liner's bead type. It is the most common type of liner, and it's also the easiest to install. The best way to remove wrinkles in the liner is to drain the pool and reset the liner. Thats not exactly the best thing to feast your eyes upon after dropping big bucks on a beautiful patio. The main discussion here is making a liner last. When it comes to purchasing swimming pools, we all want one that is not only going to be a great time for you and your family, but most importantly one that can last. It comes across even worse if youre planning on pouring any type of coloured or stamped patio around the pool because the clash of colours is so obvious that it takes away from the look of the pool as a whole. Keep reading to learn more and get back to swimming sooner!
vinyl liner pool track