New Pool Installation

[marandy]

My family is currently in the midst of a new in-ground vinyl pool installation. The contractor determined the level of the pool the night before the initial dig. As a result we had to get a landscaper to build retaining walls.
The pool has sat in the backyard filled with water. We have had a lot of rain and it is collecting around the pool. The water has managed to work itself behind the liner so the liner is now "mushy" in spots and feels like it is lifting away.
In the beginning the contractor assured us that water behind the liner was problematic. Now he tells us it doesn't matter and it will just go away. Obviously one of these statements is incorrect.
Help from anyone
1. Is it normal to let a pool sit for 7 weeks with no filtration and occasional chlorine. It is very cloudy now.
2. What is the right response to the water behind the liner.
Obviously I am very nervous with this contractor now.
Thanks
AT

[marandy]

Here is a Picture - Hope this works?

[sevver]

That is very daring, putting a pool all the way in the ground. The water you are refering to looks like it could be just natural ground water, I am sure that it was a problem all along and not related to the pool. Did he put in a wellpoint somewhere next to the pool for you, so that you could pump out the ground water in the event you have to ever change the liner? You would need to or else the pool could collapse when you drained it.

[waste]

Marandy, 7 weeks is a long time, why hasn't the plumbing been completed? Waiting on someone to build a retaining wall is no reason not to finish the pool. Do they at least have a pump in the hole next to your pool? (or as Sevver points out, a well point, with a pump attached?)
Enough water behind the liner will cause the liner to 'float' (probably the 'squishy spots' you describe), this doesn't hurt the liner, but when it finally subsides, you will probably have wrinkles which can only be removed by draining the pool. It seems to me that this guy is 1) an idiot, 2) lazy or 3) has a crush on you and wants to extend his relationship with you. Some builders spread themselves too thin, too many jobs going at once, and some of the customers get 'lost' in the hustle - my best advice is to be the 'squeeky wheel' which receives the grease. Please keep us informed, we all want you to have the pool of your dreams - welcome to the forum!! know that you have thousands of people on your side for the pool to be perfect and are willing to help, in any way that we can - Waste

[marandy]

Thanks Waste!
We agree that 7 weeks is a long time. Landscaping was finished this week and water around pool pumped out. Everything was then backfilled with crushed stone with concrete poured next week.
My issue now is as follows: In the shallow end of the pool, where the walls of the pool meet the floor the liner is not fitting snug at a right angle. It is "bowed" out a little and feels squishy like it needs to be pushed back. Is this air/water behind the liner or is the liner just not installed properly? Should we be concerned?
Thanks so much
Andy Thompson

[waste]

Andy, sounds like the trowlers may have 'cheated' a little too much (*dirty little secret* - we all trowel the bottoms a little lower than the specs call for to insure that there are no wrinkles in the liner, the liner can handle the ~ 1/8 - 1/4" stretch, however if you overdo it, the liner can't stretch into the corners). Another possibility is that the liner wasn't cut correctly at the factory. I'm not trying to say that you've gotten a 'bad' job done on your pool, it will probably never become an issue for you, but I would point it out to the installer, the liner is more vulnerable to tears when it is not backed up by something solid. Having done that, I'd just enjoy the pool - Ted