Re: Fanta Sea Pool
Originally Posted by
CarlD
By far the worst rust I have on the rails is on the diagonal rounds. The rest is more surface rust. I certainly want to avoid removing the outside 1x6 as that requires removing my custom fencing completely (Ben has a picture of my pool here somewhere). The 4x4's seem in good shape, and, since it is an "Add-a-Deck" they don't have the extended cantilever to support more than the 2' wide deck. Where we extended the deck a few years ago (on the East end) it is self-supporting, not relying on the FantaSea structure.
I know what you are saying about taking the pool apart to get at things. Don't worry about those diagonal rounds. If you do nothing at all they will last 100 years. Worry about the long term condition of the 4 angles on each rail. The top angles furthest away (AKA outside top) from the waterwall is the key item to watch (20 20 hindsight).
At the year 14 rebuild (1998), we replaced the FantaSea plywood waterwalls with the PT 3/4" plywood. We also cleaned and repainted the bottom rail. That is a must do item. We also have 4" X 4" posts every 2 feet on the side walls that we paid extra for at the time at the original installation.
As I recall, a few of the upper 2" X 6" PT solar panel / coping supports needed to be changed at that time on as needed basis. If the 2" X 6" supports are loose, then the top of the 4" X 4" posts may be rotted a bit. If the 2" X 6" PT supports are loose, warped or a bit rotted, the coping has mounting problems. Judgement call on what you need to do there. Until you take the coping and old liner off, you don't know what is needed.
While the waterwalls are removed, I would put a coat of paint on the waterwall side of the top rail angles. One time shot to paint that metal.
The above is plenty of work for you to complete in a timely manner. You can paint the top rail angles on a long term schedule as needed. Note high chlorine areas degrade first. Areas like the ladder, and the side where people tend to hang around.
Ladder area where failure occurred at about year 30.
Closeup of same area (AKA ladder = high chlorine wet rail area). Note the long term top upper outside angle deterioration to paper thin thickness and ultimate failure. Not bad for 30 years with no maintenance of the paint. Like you said, it is too much work to get to to do proper rail maintenance.
FantaSea AG pool, 16' x 32' x 4' flat bottom, Hayward T210 sand filter
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