Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel gnd?

[goldmem30]

Hello,

I am a new pool owner. I bought the Intex Ultra Frame 18' x 52". I struggled to get the ground level. I thought it was better than it appears now. A small back section of the pool is around 2" higher than a small front section of the pool. Please tell me this pool does not need to be drained and re-leveled!

There doesn't seem to be much outward force on the low side. In fact, the vertical supports on the low side are either nearly vertical or slanting inwards toward the pool.

Here are pictures of the water line at the back of the pool:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/img1011dj.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/img1010s.jpg/

Here are pictures of the water line at the front of the pool:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/img1007z.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/img1005o.jpg/

There are about 4 vertical supports around the low-end side that are slanting inward. I think this is because while filling the pool, I tried to pull the bottoms of the legs outward. My thinking was that it would help give more support for the water pushing outward. I didn't want them slanting the other way thinking that they could be pushed over more easily.

Here are pictures of the few vertical supports at the rear of the pool and their angle:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/img1012fj.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/img1013d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/img1016d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/img1019ck.jpg/

The vertical supports on the low ground side where the water is deeper aren't being pushed outward. In fact, they're also slanted slightly inward. Wouldn't I start to notice the vertical supports on the higher side start to push outwards if a collapse was going to happen?
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/img1021ye.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/img1020dk.jpg/

I also took various depth measurements inside the pool. The bottom is a layer of approximately 2" of sand. I know sand isn't the best to use but the ground was extremely bumpy due to shoveling parts out. Here are the depth measurements. The center of the pool is 43". That is used as the reference point for the other measurements.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/image0110x.jpg/

Will this pool hold up for this season until I can re-level the ground next year? Again, there doesn't seem to be much pressure pushing outwards on the low spots with higher depth measurements. The only thing that concerns me is how slanted the vertical supports are in the rear of the pool.

Thanks

 

[cramar]

Re: Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel g

From the responses I've seen on this subject in the past I think some people (like myself) will tell you that your past the 1" standard manufacturers recommendation for level, but since it's 2" others will likely say your pushing the limit and ok for a summer.
Some people will say your ok, others will say it needs to be more level.

If you decide to keep it up I would definitely keep an eye on it, if it begins to settle and get worse I doubt you have much room for error left.

 

[frogabog]

Re: Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel g

Cramar's answer is likely the best you're going to get. No one can say for sure it'll be fine, nor could anyone predict a catastrophic failure with full confidence. I've seen some unlevel pools in the past, remaining standing after a winter. And I also shudder to think of the possibilities of injury should one of these collapse. YMMV

It's your call, your pool, your water.

The sand has worked ok for us with all our pools (2 easy set w/air ring and the current economy Intex metal frame) although the first few years it dimpled a lot, and I'm fairly sure after 5 years of pool water pushing in the same spot, we're good and settled (still some small dimpling). A hard tined rake will help w/smoothing the shoveled dirt bumps out, for next time you need to dig and lay a pool pad.

 

[Nina Li]

Re: Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel g

Well..if it was MY pool...I'd empty it and start over...mine is 1.5" off at the most and even that makes me nervous. I'm going to empty in October (end of season here in Florida), level and put some pavers under the legs and then refill it. You'll feel better about the pool after you start over and level it..really.

 

[Samantha Sabrina]

Re: Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel g

Well we have certainly seen worse!

My first question is, did you put anything under the bottom of the supports?

What kind of soil is it sitting on?

Do you normally get much rain there this time of year?

If you put pavers, or squares of wood under the supports, the ground is not all soft topsoil, and it stays dry there from now until fall, you might make it, BUT, I wouldn't turn my back on it.

If there were going to be children splashing and playing in that pool, the personally I would drain it now and fix it right, if it is just a couple of adults and mostly just floating and having a cool place to relax then it might hold up.

Basically you are just rolling the dice, it might work, it might not, time will tell.

 

[mskvarenina]

Re: Does this AGP look like it could collapse from unlevel g

Hello,

I am a new pool owner. I bought the Intex Ultra Frame 18' x 52". I struggled to get the ground level. I thought it was better than it appears now. A small back section of the pool is around 2" higher than a small front section of the pool. Please tell me this pool does not need to be drained and re-leveled!

Will this pool hold up for this season until I can re-level the ground next year? Again, there doesn't seem to be much pressure pushing outwards on the low spots with higher depth measurements. The only thing that concerns me is how slanted the vertical supports are in the rear of the pool.

Thanks

So, how did you make out? I just put up a 17 x 42 metal frame pool much like yours. I thought the ground was level but after the pool was filled I had a few high spots on the frame and a few low. Looking at the liner the water appears to be at most 1" above the mosaic pattern in some areas and perhaps at most 1" below the mosaic in others as you walk around the pool. It took 2.5 days fill with the garden hose so I'm unsure if I want to drain and try to fix this if not necessary.

From your photos, your pool looked alot worse than mine. Did you make it through the summer or did you drain and try to fix?