How to Patch Swimming Pool Vinyl Liners

Have you located a hole, tear, or rip in your vinyl liner? Follow these steps to patch it. I recommend using a kit from Boxer. They make a quality product that will hold and it is reasonably priced.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vinyl Liner Repair Kit

1. Once you have located the hole or rip in your vinyl swimming pool liner, you are ready to patch it. The use of a Boxer brand repair kit will work both above and below water so you can fill the pool back to normal operating level. I recommend this to avoid any drying out of the vinyl.

2. 
    
   Patching the top of a vinyl swimming pool liner

   The kit comes with repair patches and the adhesive. You can also visit your local pool store and most will have some scrap liner material they would be willing to sell you because the patches that come with the kit are clear and not the same thickness of a standard liner (20 mil). Depending on wear the rip or hole is will determine how effective the patch will be. If it is on a seam or in a corner, these areas are the most stressed and the patch will only last a year or two before needing to be done again.

3. Cut the patch to fit but make it a couple inches larger than the spot being patched so that the rip or hole does not get worse. Place the adhesive on the patch liberally and fold slightly if being done underwater. Once underwater, apply the patch with the adhesive side towards the vinyl. Press firmly for a few seconds. Go back underwater a few times and press to make sure the patch holds. That's it, all done. You will have better results with the patch holding if done without water but in some cases this is not possible.

4. If the patch must be done when the water is too cold or if it is in a part of the pool that is too deep to be reached, you can use your telescopic pool pole to apply the patch as well. It may take a little playing around to get it to stay, but I have done this in the past with great success in cold water where I was not able to dive in.

Tips & Warnings

• Add the adhesive right before applying to patch.
• Be careful not to get the adhesive on your hands.

[ufpoolman]

on 3/26/2009 Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the feedback.

[tlooney]

on 3/26/2009 I have patched a liner both above and below the water. Is not too difficult, you just have to make the patch big enough and use the right amount of adhesive. Tammywww.youravon.com/tlooneywww.icanbeatdiabetes.com