new liner

[Barry J]

I live in Massachusetts and was the victum of the dreaded "ice shift..liner rip" problem.
Now we have to put in a new liner, I guess they probably could patch the liner, but I think the safest course of action should be "new"
When we got the liner before (6 yrs ago), the bottom of my pool was full of pot holes that you could feel with your feet, after 2-4 months after installation.
Is there anything they can do this time around to stop that problem.??
Or any other suggestions that should happen before or during the next liner installation???
I have an old Johnny Weismuller pool with metal sides, above ground, 15x33 oval.
thanks
Barry

[aylad]

When I replaced my liner last year, the person doing the work took a couple of hours and re-leveled and patched the holes that were under mine. It's a LOT smoother this time around!!

Might not hurt to put down some chemical to retard grass growing, as well....around here we have "nut grass" that can literally grow through plastic liners.

Janet

[Watermom]

When I replaced my liner several years ago, I had them cut out the floor of the old liner and leave it there underneath the new liner. Gives it an extra layer of vinyl to protect the new liner.

[aylad]

That's a good idea--wish you'd have mentioned that last summer when I was replacing mine!!

Janet

[CarlD]

I think you'd want to pick that up first and re-surface the sand, then lay it down again before installing the new liner.
I would also cut it up the wall a little so that the cut edge of the old liner doesn't touch the new one and become a possible source of stress and failure.
IOW, ensure the old liner on the floor of the pool is bigger than the new one.

[TMan]

My pool got those potholes supposedly from the sand washing out a bit during heavy, heavy rains. It didn't compromise the integrity of the pool but did show and could be 2-3" deep on a few. Anywho, somewhere I read to take an old bowling ball and do some diving, gently pushing the sand around them to smooth them. Of course I didn't have one and the next tip was for those of us lacking a spare bowling ball: Wrap a 3 or 5lb sledge hammer very good with a towel giving a heavy blunt side. I took that down in the pool and with very little massaging the divots were gone!

[madwil]

The divots can be from sand washing some, but can also be from uneven settling; before replacing the liner, I'd back fill a small amount of lime and smooth- lime works well to completely fill the settled spots and redistrubute weight in house foundations, assume would work well here also.
another trick used in building is to fill with mortar mix- will compress in hollows, and will harden with time to prevent erosion some... not recommended for those not familiar with concrete and/or tile beds!
Good idea to use old pool liner as a protector for the new one!