Hello! First time poster and first time pool owner here in MA! I have learned so much from TFP and I hope I can get some advice to help make informed decisions on our pool which is a steel-walled, vinyl-lined (presumed to be 12 years old), sand-bottom 20x40 pool with cement corner stairs.
Background: Purchased home that came with pool assumed to be built in 70s. Had tarp and tubes cover on it, and was not opened for past 2 years based on word from previous owners. Took cover off to find your usual stench, green-ish water, a few frogs, and crazy amounts of leaves. It was filled lower than it needed to be from what I see as the recommendation (images)--but seems like it has been holding this amount of water for quite some time. Found tear in liner on stairs, which was about where the water kept dropping to when attempting to fill. Decided it was time for a new liner and wanted to pressure test the lines, which we suspected to not be winterized properly, given the rest of the pool was neglected as well. Goal: new liner=new pool.
So, we had a company come through to start the liner replacement process (test lines, rip liner to see behind it). Started to go downhill from here. 1 of the returns failed pressure test. One of the 40ft walls had evidence of previous patching, and found a new unpatched deterioriated, corroded area in the radius in the deep end. One of the patches became undone and we looked at what was behind: large baseball sized holes. We suspect that the decking material and grade were to blame for the continuous deterioriation. Above this side of the pool is a wooden decking placed haphazardly, with just the ground underneath, likely causing water to seep in behind the walls. This is the same story on the radius in the deep end, same decking material, with deterioriating brick and mortar, just wreaking havoc to the walls. The other 40ft side: spotless! And that side is covered by brick pavers. So, the pool company suggested we spot fix the walls, but that doesn't guarantee us anything long-term.
The sand-bottom: we have a groundwater problem, found when the last few inches of the pool didn't drain and the liner began to float. The company cut the liner there to see if additional water came up, which it did in the days that followed (no significant rain). Presumed to have a maindrain at some point which was covered (technician felt it under the water). Recommendation: put down vermiculite and add a blind line/main drain/hydrostatic valve--something to keep the water out--but mainly to be able to put the liner down so that there isn't groundwater there. Seems like an awfully expensive way to solve for having a dry bottom to drop the liner. Note: I don't care so much about aesthetics of a sand-bottom pool--just want it to be safe and functional. I also read that putting down vermiculte could also allow for algae growth under the liner when groundwater is present.
Last consideration: we are planning to re-do our deck with new cement pavers with gravel base.
Where I am today: I would like a pool, but I don't want to face the situation that in a decade or less, we have to fill in the pool because the walls continue to fail. I don't want to spend $$ on a really nice pool patio only to have to dig it up later anyway..
Options I am considering:
1. Go forward with the repairs to the wall, replace broken return piping, add vermiculite bottom and follow-through with liner replacement. Let's say that's $25K. Is this worth it?
2. Shallow-out the pool to eliminate the ground water problem (with sand? does it have to be vermiculite/concrete?)--wall problem doesn't go away. No vermiculite is preffered to keep costs down. Let's say that's $25K + some. I don't know if this is possible?
3. Reconstruct in the same pit we have? No idea at this point how much this is, but assume insane amounts...
4. Cut our losses and just fill the darn thing and put our patio over it. Less than $25K for removal?
Short-term: we could have a pool for a few years. Long-term, we could have to rip up the new pavers and fill in the pool.
What do you think? Is our pool salvagable and if we take care of it, can we extend its life? Does 10 years sound about right?
Your help is appreciated more than you know! Thanks in advance!!
Background: Purchased home that came with pool assumed to be built in 70s. Had tarp and tubes cover on it, and was not opened for past 2 years based on word from previous owners. Took cover off to find your usual stench, green-ish water, a few frogs, and crazy amounts of leaves. It was filled lower than it needed to be from what I see as the recommendation (images)--but seems like it has been holding this amount of water for quite some time. Found tear in liner on stairs, which was about where the water kept dropping to when attempting to fill. Decided it was time for a new liner and wanted to pressure test the lines, which we suspected to not be winterized properly, given the rest of the pool was neglected as well. Goal: new liner=new pool.
So, we had a company come through to start the liner replacement process (test lines, rip liner to see behind it). Started to go downhill from here. 1 of the returns failed pressure test. One of the 40ft walls had evidence of previous patching, and found a new unpatched deterioriated, corroded area in the radius in the deep end. One of the patches became undone and we looked at what was behind: large baseball sized holes. We suspect that the decking material and grade were to blame for the continuous deterioriation. Above this side of the pool is a wooden decking placed haphazardly, with just the ground underneath, likely causing water to seep in behind the walls. This is the same story on the radius in the deep end, same decking material, with deterioriating brick and mortar, just wreaking havoc to the walls. The other 40ft side: spotless! And that side is covered by brick pavers. So, the pool company suggested we spot fix the walls, but that doesn't guarantee us anything long-term.
The sand-bottom: we have a groundwater problem, found when the last few inches of the pool didn't drain and the liner began to float. The company cut the liner there to see if additional water came up, which it did in the days that followed (no significant rain). Presumed to have a maindrain at some point which was covered (technician felt it under the water). Recommendation: put down vermiculite and add a blind line/main drain/hydrostatic valve--something to keep the water out--but mainly to be able to put the liner down so that there isn't groundwater there. Seems like an awfully expensive way to solve for having a dry bottom to drop the liner. Note: I don't care so much about aesthetics of a sand-bottom pool--just want it to be safe and functional. I also read that putting down vermiculte could also allow for algae growth under the liner when groundwater is present.
Last consideration: we are planning to re-do our deck with new cement pavers with gravel base.
Where I am today: I would like a pool, but I don't want to face the situation that in a decade or less, we have to fill in the pool because the walls continue to fail. I don't want to spend $$ on a really nice pool patio only to have to dig it up later anyway..
Options I am considering:
1. Go forward with the repairs to the wall, replace broken return piping, add vermiculite bottom and follow-through with liner replacement. Let's say that's $25K. Is this worth it?
2. Shallow-out the pool to eliminate the ground water problem (with sand? does it have to be vermiculite/concrete?)--wall problem doesn't go away. No vermiculite is preffered to keep costs down. Let's say that's $25K + some. I don't know if this is possible?
3. Reconstruct in the same pit we have? No idea at this point how much this is, but assume insane amounts...
4. Cut our losses and just fill the darn thing and put our patio over it. Less than $25K for removal?
Short-term: we could have a pool for a few years. Long-term, we could have to rip up the new pavers and fill in the pool.
What do you think? Is our pool salvagable and if we take care of it, can we extend its life? Does 10 years sound about right?
Your help is appreciated more than you know! Thanks in advance!!
