Urgent question - top rails and top stabilizers

[nopoolinMD]

So I'm assembling my top rail on my oval pool. I start with the straight side, no problems. I go to attach the first top rail on the curved side, and the hole alignment has me concerned. The instructions say 4 screws per top rail, 2 per side. The outer hole on each side is no problem. The inner hole lines up exactly over the top of the top rail stabilizer.

Is this normal? Do you screw through the top rail, through the top plate, and into the top rail stabilizer? I'm slightly concerned this might puncture the liner....

 

[woodyp]

Does your "top rail" have holes in it to use which is then covered up by post caps?

 

[nopoolinMD]

Sorry, changed gears and was smoothing out wrinkles in the liner for the last hour plus...

Woody, that's correct. Here's a pic.


The hole's on the right side of the plate are over the top rail.

 

[woodyp]

Just popped off a top post covering cap on mine and I only have two screws..."per side"..That is------2 screws in each top rail where they connect back at the post. 4 screws total. They're kinda rusty too!

 

[nopoolinMD]

Uh oh... Any idea if your "inner" screws are penetrating the top stabilizer?

 

[woodyp]

Dunno. Mine go down through the inside of the upright post framing. Just thorugh a plate that attaches to the upright flat across the top of it I think. Hope that helps.

 

[nopoolinMD]

Quick update. Said to heck with it, and just installed the screws. They didn't actually penetrate the top stabilizer, rather just pushed the plate upward slightly. It's only a 1/2-inch screw, so it didn't raise it all that much. Still slightly disconcerting with the top plate not being completely flat on the top rail stabilizer. We'll see what happens....