Cracked bottom rail
- Thread starter KamiD2000
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 66,308
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
It is interesting that the crack is at the transition from the concrete to the dirt. I suspect things were not level between those two areas and the lower rail flexed and cracked. That will likely happen again if you replace the rail and set the pool in the same spot.
If you want, post pics of the entire pool showing the area it is sitting in.
If you want, post pics of the entire pool showing the area it is sitting in.
Thanks for the reply. I suspect the same with regard to not being level. The water seems perfectly level, but that rail does not. We had a big storm a couple of days ago and there was some water pooling in that area. I wonder if some soil got washed away from below. But I also don't think the block the upright post is sitting on was flush to the ground when installed. Ugh.
We do have a one year warranty on the install, but what a pain! I'm hoping the fix can wait until after pool season??? We want to put drainage rocks around the pool because I'm sure we'll have other problems if water continues to pool around the walls in big storms.
I'm going to try to post a couple more pictures.
We do have a one year warranty on the install, but what a pain! I'm hoping the fix can wait until after pool season??? We want to put drainage rocks around the pool because I'm sure we'll have other problems if water continues to pool around the walls in big storms.
I'm going to try to post a couple more pictures.
Any ideas how to post more pictures? Looks like I've hit my limit. The different posts I've seen for a photo tutorial have broken links. I'm going to keep searching for the answer, but if anyone has a hint.... 
- Jul 21, 2013
- 66,308
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Any ideas how to post more pictures? Looks like I've hit my limit. The different posts I've seen for a photo tutorial have broken links. I'm going to keep searching for the answer, but if anyone has a hint....
You should have a good pic allowance as a supporter.
Last edited:
You should not have a photo posting limit. If it is says the photo is too big to post, email it to yourself and reduce the size of the photo at that time. Save the emailed photo and post it to the forum.
If the installation company wants to replace it now then let them do so. If you delay you could be voiding your warranty.
If the installation company wants to replace it now then let them do so. If you delay you could be voiding your warranty.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 66,308
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If the pics from your phone are too large for TFP then turn off HDR on the camera app.
I agree. I would be contacting the installer and expecting resolution ASAP.
Thanks all. Whew, I got another photo uploaded.
I'll contact the pool company first tomorrow, then go from there on contacting installer. Do you think that crack affects the stability of the pool? After sleeping on it, and looking at the crack again, I'm less freaked out, but I do want resolution.
In the picture, you can see we are digging out the grass in a wider ring around the pool to install better drainage. The crack is next to the support that is in front of the wheelbarrow.
Thanks for everyone's advice!
I'll contact the pool company first tomorrow, then go from there on contacting installer. Do you think that crack affects the stability of the pool? After sleeping on it, and looking at the crack again, I'm less freaked out, but I do want resolution.
In the picture, you can see we are digging out the grass in a wider ring around the pool to install better drainage. The crack is next to the support that is in front of the wheelbarrow.
Thanks for everyone's advice!
All the concrete blocks should be inset at flush with the ground and level with each other. That particular block is raised up what looks like a good inch and the ground around it is not tamped down. Do a visual inspection of the other concrete blocks and see if any of them are flush with the ground. A filled pool weighs thousands of pounds and a little piece of resin is no match for all that weight pressing down on it. The installer must dig down to the lowest point of solid ground and level the pool from that spot. It looks like they may have tried to build that area up and you cannot do that. Even a plate compactor is no match for thousands of pounds of pool water.
Yes, he dug down in the back and filled in some in the front. He told me he was doing that, but since they do so many pool installs, I trusted them.
I have read that you want the block flush with the ground and it definitely is a bit raised up. I'd say most of the blocks are level with the ground, but not all. The posts also we're not evenly set on all of the blocks. Some were offset on the blocks quite a bit.
Do you think this affects the structural integrity of the pool? I will address this with the pool company/installers, but I'd like the forums opinion, too. It gives me more information when I talk to the pool company/installers.
Thanks all!
I have read that you want the block flush with the ground and it definitely is a bit raised up. I'd say most of the blocks are level with the ground, but not all. The posts also we're not evenly set on all of the blocks. Some were offset on the blocks quite a bit.
Do you think this affects the structural integrity of the pool? I will address this with the pool company/installers, but I'd like the forums opinion, too. It gives me more information when I talk to the pool company/installers.
Thanks all!
Is this guy affiliated with the place where you bought the pool? Is he going to pay to replace the broken parts? Take lots of pictures of the pool and show how each concrete block is installed. He should take down the pool and re-level the pad properly. The areas he built up will compress and sink over time and cause more problems. This is a link to a Wilbar above ground pool installation guide that specifically says do not build up to level the pool. http://pdf.lowes.com/installationguides/672875400638_install.pdf You can also pull up above ground pool installation videos on youtube and see how it should have been done.
This is just the first problem to show up, and you have a broken bottom rail. When that rail cracks all the way through your pool wall will be less stable in that area. I can't say if other parts of the rail will crack or if it will negatively affect the structural integrity of your pool over time, but I would try to get them to make it right because this is not a manufacturer's defect and you did not pay for a pool with a broken bottom rail.
This is just the first problem to show up, and you have a broken bottom rail. When that rail cracks all the way through your pool wall will be less stable in that area. I can't say if other parts of the rail will crack or if it will negatively affect the structural integrity of your pool over time, but I would try to get them to make it right because this is not a manufacturer's defect and you did not pay for a pool with a broken bottom rail.
I agree. Thank you. I'm very frustrated with this whole thing.
He is an independent installer who works through the pool company. When I signed the contract to buy the pool, the installer contract was included. So while I believe he is independent, they are strongly affiliated.
Honestly, unless we risk imminent collapse, I'd be willing to let them reinstall it at the end of the pool season (around October). That would take a great deal of pressure off of me. We don't have city septic, so we may need to empty it over a few days (?) so we don't flood our property. Then we'd also have to have more water trucked in. Also, I wonder if the bottom rail replacement will even be in stock. Ugh, so much!
He is an independent installer who works through the pool company. When I signed the contract to buy the pool, the installer contract was included. So while I believe he is independent, they are strongly affiliated.
Honestly, unless we risk imminent collapse, I'd be willing to let them reinstall it at the end of the pool season (around October). That would take a great deal of pressure off of me. We don't have city septic, so we may need to empty it over a few days (?) so we don't flood our property. Then we'd also have to have more water trucked in. Also, I wonder if the bottom rail replacement will even be in stock. Ugh, so much!
Document every phone call with time, date, who you spoke and what was said. Save any emails or other written communication. They should be paying for the replacement parts and the water you will have to drain in order to fix the pool. They should replace the liner as well because you will never get the openings to line up properly and not leak. Liners are designed to stretch as they fill. If this was your mistake I would say patch the liner and rotate it and cut new openings and it would work fine, it just wouldn't be very pretty. However, this is their improper installation and they would not need to replace the liner if the pool was installed properly in the first place, and you didn't spend all that money for a patched liner. If they will agree to an install date in October get it in writing along with the scope of work. Companies tend to have short memories when it comes to stuff like this.
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