Concrete in vinyl pool too hard

[LindaE]

My liner needs replacing. 2nd one in nine years. Pool leak detector guy says the concrete bottom is too hard (someone cut corners so that it would harden faster when it was built) and this is causing the kreepy and pressure of the water to make hundreds of tiny holes.The same thing happened to the first liner, which the original owners installed, and it was only 2-3 yrs. old. The second liner, which I had installed, was a 30ml. and lasted about 6 yrs. He says the bottom needs to be resurfaced with a softer concrete mix so this doesn't happen again. He also said that I can do this myself to save money, and he is willing to show me how. Also, I can save money by doing the liner before spring.(He will give me a discount if done before Mardis Gras)
I have a few questions. Can a liner be replaced in winter (south Louisiana) and is this concrete thing a huge factor?
I need advise because I am toying with the idea of filling the thing in with dirt. (My husband & I are 60ish and don't use the pool much.)
Another question-- I am concerned about the age of the plumbing (pool 8-9 yrs. old) and don't want issues with that if I replace the liner. Do heavy concentrations of chlorine deteriorate these pipes when the pool is heavily shocked? I have already fixed major cracking in the skimmer with that underwater epoxy, but that seems to be holding quite well.
I hope I didn't ask too many questions in one post. This is new to me. Thanks, Linda

[aylad]

I will be replacing my liner this winter, as well--I live up near Shreveport, LA. Interesting about the discounted work before Mardi Gras--that's one question I need to be asking! As far as the concrete goes, I would think that the only factor in the concrete might be the number of rocks that is used in the mix, and perhaps they are creating the holes when under the pressure of the water? Does a softer concrete mix use less ( or smaller) rocks? If not, I would think that concrete is concrete is concrete.

My pool stays under a pretty high chlorine concentration most of the time, due to the high CYA levels that I keep because of my location,and I shock my pool pretty frequently. I have not had any deterioration problems so far that I'm aware of, and this is my pool's 8th year (I keep it open year round).

Hope this helps!

Janet

[waste]

Hi there, sorry your having persistent liner problems :(

Many liner pools have sand and cement bottoms and don't experience the rapid degradation that you describe. However, the Kreepy may be responsible, is there a way that you can make it's suction less aggressive while still allowing it to clean the pool? (Like leaving another suction port slightly open - I have very little experience with Kreepys so can't remember if there is a relief port for them)

Vermiculite and cement is a softer mix for the liner, but I doubt it's something you'd want to try to apply yourself as a 'skimcoat' If the floor is uneven or has sharp ridges or protrusions, you'd certainly want to address those areas!

You shouldn't have any trouble with a liner drop where you are (I installed a liner today with the air temp ~53* and little sun - it was 'tight as a bowstring', but went in fine:) ) Temps over 60* and full sun help a lot, but they can be done even when conditions aren't optimal.