Now what!? Fixed the holes, pool collapsed!

[Cal_Newbie]

Never emptying mine...EVER!!LOL

[newbie2pools]

Never emptying mine...EVER!!LOL

Yeah me either!!! Again....

So sorry it's taken this long to get back on the thread. Quite honestly, I was just so sick from what happened and afraid of how expensive the fix might be! We just used tax return for some other things needing done on the house before this happened so now we're stuck fixing this as economically as possible! (of course - who doesn't want to right?!)

The upright rails are still standing - the sides just pulled out of the top rails nearly entirely. The top rails are even still attached. We have been able to straighten up the walls - the creases aren't so severe that it damaged them I don't think. I believe when we get water into it, it will finish straightening them.

We want to try to get a new liner, because I agree - I think it shrunk up and pulled the sides down. We were looking at the beaded ones since they look to be easier to install correctly. Is that right? With just the two of us (and one teenage kid) it's going to be tough to put this thing back up (unless I can sprout a few more hands soon!)

I really appreciate the help and kind words. It really does make me sick that the pool has been such an expensive thing to learn how to manage, but I love it anyway. I was excited that I now knew how to care for it with regular bleach and such after spending so much at the pool store in the beginning last year, now this. Such is life, right!

OH, additionally, if anyone has advice on where to get a liner, type (beaded/overlap - gauge) and how do I make sure the cove is okay (that it's not washed away too much) I'd appreciate it. Right now we have a 24' x 48" overlap, sand bottom and cove.

Pam

[NWMNMom]

There are a lot of great places to order liners and many have them on sale for the "pre season" things. We have a J Hook liner and it was so darn easy to install I couldn't believe there wasn't something we missed. It fit just right the first time, almost wrinkle free. Round pools are easier to install liners in than ovals (which is what we have) and it was very easy - not fast, but easy. DH and I did the whole thing ourselves. We had an overlap in our old round pool - also not hard, but the J hook just had a prettier design and seams in it that really made knowing where everything went pretty easy. Basically the J hooks are almost like an overlap in that they hang over the edge but are kind of preformed, solid overlap of appx 4" and are cut to fit the pool size and have a nice secure system that keeps it there. A lot of the J Hook liners are also "dual" type liners so can also be used as a beaded liner that you can remove the top part and slide the bead into the bead receiver. Heavier grade liners are more durable - REALLY cheapos are more likely to be very thin (I couldn't believe some still sold 15mil) Check in the search function - Dennis listed some good liner suppliers in a thread here last year.

[hrsdennis]

Hi Pam, glad to hear you ready to do this thing. For the best price and good service I would check with In the Swim. Go with the 25 gauge, well worth the extra cost.

I seldom recommend beaded liners unless a deck is involved. Since you have a deck it may work best for you. You will have to order bead receivers in order to use a beaded liner. You will also have to take the top rails off one time in order to install the receivers.

You need to measure the pool carefully, width, length and height. When you are installing the beaded liner, take your time and align carefully. Oval pools need the liner to be in perfect alignment. Find the bottom seams, either side to side or end to end. Use your uprights as guides and align the liner perfectly. Once done, insert the bead into the receiver and smooth the bottom. Start adding water as you are finishing the smoothing.

Here is where I make my big decision. If the walls are the correct size and will stretch nicely into place without wrinkles I just let the water fill. Some folks hook up a vacuum to the return opening at this point to help smooth the walls. If the walls
are baggy with way to much liner left over I use the liner like an overlap. You will need to remove the top rails again, pull the liner over the wall, use coping over the liner and the bead receivers over the coping.

Best of luck, Dennis

[newbie2pools]

Here is where I make my big decision. If the walls are the correct size and will stretch nicely into place without wrinkles I just let the water fill. Some folks hook up a vacuum to the return opening at this point to help smooth the walls. If the walls
are baggy with way to much liner left over I use the liner like an overlap. You will need to remove the top rails again, pull the liner over the wall, use coping over the liner and the bead receivers over the coping.

That confused me a little. So basically the beaded liner would end up being an overlap liner, but then why the bead receiver if the top of the liner is now behind the wall as I'm picturing?

Thank you guys - I really appreciate the help!

Pam

[hrsdennis]

Hi, once the liner has been converted to overlap and the coping installed you need retaining rods over the coping. You can use the ones that came with the pool or use the bead receivers. They would both do the same thing, they hold the coping in place and stabilize the wall.

Dennis

[newbie2pools]

Hey guys! I just wanted to thank you all. We ordered a new liner and have it nearly installed. We just need to cut out the area for the skimmer and resecure the top railings. The sides were all wavy and bent, but they straightened up fine and are holding well with the water now. The pool will be open this weekend unless something else happens (the way our luck has been running this week I'm afraid to not put a disclaimer in anything I say!)

Thanks!!

Pam