Brand spaking new...what would you do different?

[WiMom4]

Hello everyone! I've been a lurker for quite some time but never needed to post before since all questions are easily found here!

We have had a 10', 12', 15' & 18' intex round frame pools in our pool lifetime...we get our neighbors old one as he upgrades. When he upgrades, so do we! Anyway they've all been obviously used but we've never complained and have become pretty good at patching the intex liners and making them stretch another few years before the next one comes.

So the neighbor has now installed a "real" above ground pool....and our 18' intex is on it's last legs. I scored a 22'x52" Intex from a store going out of business for $310 bucks. It's still in the box. It's our first brand new pool.

So my husband and I were thinking....would you do something to your liner brand new before you put it down and start filling it? I have a crazy idea to take the time and apply some kind of sealer to the outside bottom & edge of it before we even put it down to give it a little extra protection. Since the bottom leaks are the ones that drive me the most insane...I wanted to get opinions if this has been attempted or if I'm just being silly.

When I stand in front of the glues - sealers @ Lowes - I think in my head that it's a smart extra step...but I guess I'm looking for a little realistic thinking.

Thanks!

 

[Casey]

I would worry about a glue or sealant melting the liner.

 

[CJadamec]

Vinyl liners will react badly to almost anything that comes out of a spray can.

If you are looking to extend the life of your pool proper ground preparation will go a long way to adding years to the life of the liner.

Strip all the sod out from under the pool
Remove and sticks, rocks, or roots from the area
Level the ground (dig high spots down)
Aggressively treat the area for Ants (they love to chew holes in vinyl)
Set your concrete blocks for the uprights and level them all to each other
Finally put down a base material that your liner will sit on top of. This can be a layer of clean washed sand 2-3" deep, ridged foam insulation, or anti-fatigue mats

A few days of extra work getting the pool set on a nice surface should help extend the life of your new pool.

 

[Holydoc]

Vinyl liners will react badly to almost anything that comes out of a spray can.

If you are looking to extend the life of your pool proper ground preparation will go a long way to adding years to the life of the liner.

Strip all the sod out from under the pool
Remove and sticks, rocks, or roots from the area
Level the ground (dig high spots down)
Aggressively treat the area for Ants (they love to chew holes in vinyl)
Set your concrete blocks for the uprights and level them all to each other
Finally put down a base material that your liner will sit on top of. This can be a layer of clean washed sand 2-3" deep, ridged foam insulation, or anti-fatigue mats

A few days of extra work getting the pool set on a nice surface should help extend the life of your new pool.

I would add to treat the ground that will be under the pool vigorously with plant killer. We have had our pool for just over a year and already one weed poked his head through our liner. We did all of the above and even treated the ground with weed control. We just did not do it liberally enough.