New above ground pool is bulging

[Islanddreamin74]

So we have had or 24 foot round metal sided pool up for just about a week. Had it installed and after the pool was filled we see this. Help I'm freaking out... This was just 24 hours after water was put in, I feel like it's getting worse and bulging at the next section on the same side. Waiting on the installer to come back but nothing yet. Are we going to have to start over. Is there hope.
We are new to this pool thing but we know it should not look like this.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Well, it is concerning, especially after such a new install. Your installer needs to make this right. It will probably require a complete tear-down to evaluate the base, bottom rails/supports, and walls impacted by the shift. Sorry for your troubles.

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[AK-]

Welcome to TFP!!!

Check if the wall is not getting excessive vertical pressure. Remove the upright caps on the area, loosen a little the ledge caps (avoid removing is possible) and try to relief some of the pressure of the top raking over the wall.
If that does work than it is likely your ground is not level enough (or became not level due to compaction).

 

[AK-]

Can you clear some of that stone and take additional pictures showing the concrete blocks and how the bottom railing is connecting to the base of the upright?

 

[SecoSteve]

On another subject...What kind of rocks are against the pool wall? If not river rock, then, over time, the pool wall may begin to get tiny holes(pitting) from rain water splashing off the rocks. Our neighbor had that happen to their pool. You could actually see the sun shining through the wall.

 

[Islanddreamin74]

Ok.... I have gone out and taken more photos, I am so scared it's going to burst out. I have attached more photos, I tried to get all angles of the effected side, the wall is still in the track for sure, I can tell that part.

 

[Islanddreamin74]

Here are additional photos

 

[AK-]

What is supporting the bottom railing? It seems all you have is crushed stone… no undisturbed soil… is that right?

Do you have a very long level? If so check if concreted pad and base of the railing are at the same level… you likely will need to use another block (concrete/wood) to triangulate all the points.

At this point I’d drain the pool down to 1 feet of water. Be aware you will get algae pretty quickly and nothing that can be done about it.

When thing start to go bad on any sort of new builds around here we all hear the wisdom of @kimkats

 

[AK-]

BTW…. What I believe is happening there is the railing is running lower than the concrete blocks supporting the uprights. If I’m correct the wall is being pushed up by the upright as the railing settles over the stone.

Not a good position to be. Do you know why the pool was built over crushed stone?

 

[kimkats]

I am here! Thanks for the ping!

the wall is still in the track for sure, I can tell that part.

Good! That is one of the first things I was going to ask

At this point I’d drain the pool down to 1 feet of water

I have to say I agree!

Be aware you will get algae pretty quickly and nothing that can be done about it.

They can pour in a cup of liquid chlorine and mix it up with a straw broom.

Okay so everyone look at the bottom of the uprights where they go into the bottom plate. Does it look like the plate needs to be moved out a bit? It is almost like the uprights need to shift out a bit. It does not look like it is "rounded" like it should be.

Do you have any pics of the build? I would like to see when the bottom plates and rails were put down in the circle BEFORE the wall goes on them. Then I would like to see when the wall was put on the rails.

Here is my gut feeling-the installers tried to make the rails touch each other on the bottom plate. As such it "squeezed" the bottom a bit. The rails are made long enough and the plates are wide enough so the rails do NOT have to touch. It is made so they can "open" up to allow the wall to be in a full circle.

We will help you work through this.

 

[AK-]

Okay so everyone look at the bottom of the uprights where they go into the bottom plate. Does it look like the plate needs to be moved out a bit? It is almost like the uprights need to shift out a bit. It does not look like it is "rounded" like it should be.

Yes it does look like the uprights are curving down “under” the wall …. but the bottom railing is also twisted due to what I believe to be lack of support under the railing. It might very well be more than one thing.

 

[kimkats]

the bottom railing is also twisted

I see that now! It sure is trying to roll in. Yeah there are a couple of things going on for sure!

Did they use a foam or sand cove?

 

[jedigrover]

BTW…. What I believe is happening there is the railing is running lower than the concrete blocks supporting the uprights. If I’m correct the wall is being pushed up by the upright as the railing settles over the stone.

Not a good position to be. Do you know why the pool was built over crushed stone?

I agree that's what this looks like. It also appears that it might have been set a little out of round, but that could just look that way from the track settling low.

Some of those vertical supports will likely have to be replaced as they appear to be buckling.