Hey y'all. Haven't been here much lately and its this forum's fault. If it hadn't been for the quality of support here, I'd be doing silly things like taking my water samples to a pool store for testing.
But this isn't about me, it's about my Mom. she does do silly things like take water samples to pool stores. Looking for some expert opinions of this situation. Sorry if it's a bit long but there are various facets.
Mom's had a 24' above ground for a couple years. Two winters ago it suffered a mortal wound and needed to be replaced and on May 19th, 2010 it was. Without seeking much advice she went to the nearest Big Pool Store and signed up. Predictably, they hired out to a contractor who did the actual install.
Summer 2010 came and went without incident and the Big Pool Store came last fall and closed it for her. And in the springtime it was empty. The pool, that is.
When the pool was uncovered it was found that several openings had appeared in the liner around the base of the wall, just above the seam. Until the picture posting issue is straightened out, I'll describe the openings as what look like a six horizontal cuts (or splits?) about six inches long each, randomly around the perimeter approximately an inch above the bottom seam where the wall meets the floor. I will try to get some pictures on Picasa or something because I have some concerns about whether the cove was adequate. I'm not really familiar with how these pools are constructed so I don't have good judgement on that.
So Mom went back to the pool store and was told to get in the pool and cut out a couple to bring back for them to see. Mom's 78 years old. When Mom asked how she's supposed to get into the pool, she was told to use a ladder. She did, cut out a couple samples and returned, and was promptly told that unless there was a failure in a seam there was nothing they could do for her. These are just above the seam.
The cavalry was called in (finally), that's me. I took the matter up with the store and after some wrangling, and to their credit, was offered a free liner. But the install I'd have to take up with the installer who, I was reminded, was not an employee of the store but was "the best in the business!". In fact I was told that several times. I was told the installer would be given my name and number and he'd call me to arrange a time to meet me at the pool to discuss the matter.
Today: The installer did call me and played oblivious to what this was about. And then proceeded to tell me he'd "been doing this for 30 years and never had a problem". Repeatedly. He assured me I could get second opinions all day for all he cared, but it was his position that it was shifting ice that did the damage and nothing he could do about it. Stuff happens. I reminded him that the pool doesn't freeze all the way to the bottom but his point was that it was the lowering ice that did the damage. He persisted with this circular logic and that pretty much ended the conversation. Needless to say we probably won't be meeting at the pool.
So you experienced installers (who haven't departed thinking, 'another one...'), ever seen this kind of failure? The pool's located in upstate NY. We had a bunch of snow this year, not unusually cold but a couple subzero nights this past.
Thanks in advance.
