CAN LINERS BE INSTALLED IN COLD TEMPERATURES?

With the proper planning or site considerations PVC liners can be installed in cold temperatures. Once in service PVC liners maintain their properties well below freezing, however, during installation the liner and sometimes the area to be lined need to be maintained at higher temperatures.

Most solid matter gets stiffer as it gets colder and flexible PVC is no different. A liner that is exposed to say 40°F temperatures will be far more difficult to unfold and install then the recommended 70°F temperature. In fact a liner can possibly be damaged when installing in cold conditions.

If the liner is small and/or the time required to unfold the liner is less than 60 minutes, the liner can be heated to a temperature of around 100°F and it should remain pliable for that period of time while the liner is being installed.

On a large installation where the ambient temperatures are below 70°F the area to be lined may need to be tented and brought up to temperature. The liner should be warmed up as well.  This method should keep the liner pliable during the full installation.

Granted, tenting the area adds to the installation expense, but cold temperatures are an issue for most any lining system. Bonded or applied coatings require far more than just the immediate surface area to be warm and temperatures have to be maintained during the curing process as well. The time and costs associated with heating temperatures for a flexible PVC liner are significantly less.