Beaded Liner Instead of Overlap Liner

I have a spare 24' round 52" j bead liner. Can I install it as an overlap liner on a 24' round 48" pool?

Hi.

You should have no problem doing this. Normally when I install an overlap liner I tuck the excess liner back into the pool like this.

Vinyl Liner Overhang

Doing this with a beaded liner would cause an unsightly bump inside the pool. You have a couple of choices, depending on how you want to go about it.

You could pull the excess over the wall one time and just leave it. This does not look the greatest from outside the pool. You could then use a razor knife cut off the excess leaving a uniform couple of inches. The only problem with this method might be liner shrinkage if you were to ever drain your pool. In that case you would need that extra liner.

The last option, and the one I like the best, would be to cut the bead off. You could cut it off as high as possible around the top of the liner. The excess liner could be tucked back into the pool, without the bead causing a bump.

Beaded Liner Pool Converted to Overlap Pool

by Kathryn
(Vermont)

A few years ago my mom bought a beaded liner style pool as she thought that since it cost more it had to be better. Since then we have had nothing but problems with the thing and have gone through 3 liners.

Today we tried to fill the pool and once again the beaded liner didn't stay in it's track and money was thrown out the window paying for the water that didn't last.

We now have to buy a new liner yet again and I was wondering if we bought an overlap liner & the strips to go with it if it could be used instead of a beaded liner, even though the pool is made for a beaded liner.

Hi Kathryn.

In most cases this can be easily done. You need to make sure your pool top rails can be taken off. One of the big reasons for using a beaded liner is so decking can be built over the rails without having to worry about them ever needing to be removed.

Above Ground Pool, Deck and Awning

I normally reinstall the bead receivers over top of the plastic coping strips when making this kind of conversion. Most pools designed for overlap liners have metal rods that help to stabilize the top of the pool and help to hold the coping in place. Since you will be missing these, it is best to reuse the receivers in their place.

These pages might help also.

Above Ground Pool Liner Installation

Vinyl Liner Replacement

Swimming Pool Liner

by Rick
(Arizona)

My swimming pool liner needs replaced. I know last season was the last, and it has been leaking bad over the winter.

I've let the pool drain down and I am ready to order a liner. It's an 18' round pool with a deck that goes out over the top rails.

I know I will have to take the rails off to change the liner but is it possible to change the pool to accept a beaded liner so that I don't ever have to take the deck apart again?

I know beaded liners are a little more expensive than overlap liners but it would be so much easier in the future.

Hi Rick.

Yes, conversion receivers are available at just about anyplace that sells the liners.

You simply remove the top rails, rods and coping and install them. In most cases the rods should go back over the receivers and then the top rails installed. You are right, with a beaded liner you should never have to take the deck apart again.

When installing beaded liner receivers I always use plenty of duck tape on all the joints. The sharp edges could tear the liner and running the tape up and over onto the back side of the wall helps to hold them in place.

Below are a couple of pages about beaded liners and

Beaded Liners

Beaded Liner Installation

This page shows why beaded liners can be very important.

Above Ground Pool, Deck and Awning

Convert Beaded Liner to an Expandable Overlap Liner

by Sue
(MA)

We have a beaded liner that we want to replace with an expandable overlap liner -- wanting a deeper pool and need to check the walls.

What additional hardware may be necessary in this conversion and is this okay to do?

The pool has a lot of pimples on the walls that we were told are aluminum rust spots that will need to be checked and sanded and primed if not too large.

Thanks, Sue

Hi Sue.

It's pretty hard to say since I don't know anything about the pool. The first thing I would check out is the type of bead receiver you have. If it hooks over the top of the wall there is a good chance it would go back over top of the coping needed to hold an overlap liner in place. That would be the most common type of beaded liner to overlap liner conversion.

All you would need to buy are the coping strips and the liner.

Aluminum walls do tend to corrode easily. Be sure to sand it down and paint it. You can even tape on aluminum patches if you think it needs it.

For best results consider installing your expandable liner like this one.

Expandable Liner Installation

Beaded to Overlap

by Kris
(Dalton GA)

We have a 24’ round above ground pool and the liner currently in the pool is a beaded liner. But we wanted to get an overlap liner since it’s much cheaper. Can we use the beaded coping strips for the overlap liner? If not what do I need to purchase to make the pool my oasis this summer. Please and thank you.

Hi Kris

You will need coping strips to go directly over the liner. Then you will need rods of some type to hold the coping in place. On some pools the bead receivers are held in place by metal rods, these will work just fine. If you do not have those you can probably install the bead receivers back over top of the coping.

Replace a J-Bead Liner With an Overlap

by Tom
(Amery, Wisconsin)

I need to replace my liner. It had a J-Bead liner installed. But I read here that your personal favorites are overlap liners. Can I install an overlap liner instead?

Hi Tom

I do find overlap liners much easier to work with. I can install them without wrinkles every time and the sides are always tight and they never slip out at the top.

The only thing you should need would be the coping strips. Any place that sells the liners should also sell coping.