Three Main Types Of Above Ground Pool Liners

Above ground pools make use of a liner to protect the structural integrity of the pool itself. There are several different variants of pool liners available on the market, each of which carries a distinct set of advantages and drawbacks. Understanding the differences between the available types of pool liners can help you choose the best replacement pool liner for your above ground pool's needs.

Overlap Liners

Overlap liners are the most common type of above ground pool liners on the market and, like their name would suggest, overlap the lip of the pool so that some of the liner hangs over the edge. Overlap liners are the least expensive type of liner available on the market, which makes them attractive to pool owners who are operating under a tight budget. The fact that they overlap around the lip of the pool gives this type of liner more room to accommodate irregularly shaped pools, especially if they have a deeper center when compared to the rest of the pool.

J-hook Liners

J-hook pool liners are somewhat similar to overlap liners but have a hook shaped like an upside down J at the edge of the liner that attaches to the pool wall, instead of having the liner go over the wall. This means a couple of things: firstly, installing these types of liners tends to be an easier process, which can help save you money on labor costs. Secondly, as the liner itself is not exposed to the outside of the pool, tears and rips do not have the potential to spread to the inside of the pool: a damaged J hook can simply be replaced without removing the liner, which is cheaper than having the entire liner replaced.

Beaded Liners

Beaded liners, sometimes referred to as hung liners, are a pool liner that makes use of a track that runs around the edge of the pool. The liner attaches to the track using a thick 'bead' of vinyl (hence the name), which secures the liner in place and 'hangs' it down into the pool. The main advantage of this type of above ground pool liner is that it is extremely easy to install, as the tracks snap into place and automatically secure the edge of the liner. However, it should be noted that as there is a slight gap between the liner and the pool wall, due to the hung nature of the liner, water can get trapped between the liner and pool wall, causing corrosion to occur.

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