Above Ground Pool Guide
Above Ground Pool Liner Guide
Your liner holds the water, protects the structure, and sets the color of your pool. Liner type, thickness, installation, and how to make it last 10+ years.
Standard Thickness
Year Lifespan
Liner Types
Cause of Failure
Liner Types
Overlap Vs. Unibead
All above ground liners attach in one of two ways. Your kit specifies which type is included — they are not interchangeable.
Traditional Method
Overlap Liner
Drapes over the top of the pool wall and is held by the top rails clamping it down. Excess hangs over the outside.
Simple installation — no receiver track needed
Lower cost than unibead
Easy to adjust during installation
Visible liner overhang on outside of wall
Less finished appearance
Included on: Easten, Sun Valley, Atlantis, Pocomo, Crestwood
Premium Method
Unibead Liner
A rigid plastic bead along the top edge snaps into a receiver channel in the pool's top rail. Cleaner and more secure.
Cleaner finish — no liner overhang
Liner locked in place — will not shift
Easier to replace when the time comes
More upscale appearance
Requires pool with bead receiver in top rail
Included on: Santa Rosa, Seaside
Good to Know
Can I upgrade to unibead? Only if your pool's top rail has a bead receiver channel. Pools designed for overlap liners do not have this — a unibead liner will not attach correctly on them.
Thickness
Liner Gauge And Thickness
Standard
20 Mil
The baseline thickness for most AG kits. Solid and reliable for normal residential use. With proper water chemistry, a 20 mil liner lasts 7–10 years. Available in the widest range of patterns.
Heavy Gauge
25 Mil+
Better puncture resistance, better UV stability, longer service life. Worth it if you have pets, rough kids, or want to go longer between replacements. Crestwood includes a high-gauge liner as standard.
Care & Lifespan
Making Your Liner Last 10+ Years
Balance Your Water
Low pH destroys liners fastest. Keep pH 7.4–7.6. Low pH makes vinyl brittle and causes fading, wrinkling, and early failure.
Manage Chlorine
Over-chlorination bleaches and degrades vinyl faster than almost anything. Keep free chlorine at 1–3 ppm.
Never Drain Completely
Never fully drain an above ground pool. Without water pressure the liner will shrink and crack — especially in cold weather.
Watch Sharp Objects
Toys with sharp edges, dog claws, and rough vacuums cause most punctures. Small punctures can be patched underwater with a vinyl patch kit.
Here to Help
Liner Questions? Call Us.
Choosing between liner types, dealing with a wrinkle during install, or need a replacement — we have the answers.