Hello everyone!!!
We just purchased a home from an estate with an IG pool that we know little about.
What we know (hopefully)
Built in the 1970's
Keyhole design with 9 ft deep end.
Hybrid fiberglass panel pool. Basically has fiberglass panels on the side and a concrete bottom.
Pool held water. I believe the pool was left filled and unattended for at least 2 years. When we closed on the home it. There was a low grade cover on the pool and the water level was about 12 inches from the top.
The pump and filter were removed. There are 2 lines going underground to the pool and 1 line going into the plumbing stack in the house basement.
Day 1 of owning the house
I rented a gas trash pump and drained the pool. The walls seem solid and the concrete is in great shape for its age. No large cracks.
I pulled a rubber plug out of the discharge line fitting (located halfway up the wall on the shallow end) and a small amount of clean water came out of line. Hopefully this means the pool was winterized?
Liner vs paint vs sweat equity
I had 3 pool professionals come out to weigh in on what to do.
The first was a company that only does liners and mechanical items, no painting. He seemed knowledgable and well spoken. He stated he had never seen a pool like mine before and would have to have his installer come out to confirm you can put a liner in this type of pool. If his installer said yes he could put a new liner in for $3600. He never called me back with a verdict.
The second company that came out only does liners. He has 30 years in the business and also seemed very knowledgable. He stated he had heard of pools like ours but had never seen one. He states he takes over 60 measurements and has a factory in PA customer make a liner. His cost would be $4000 and he feels confident about doing the job.
The third company to come out was a referral from a friend. He does all types of pool service, not so much liners. He states it would be $7000 to put a liner in because the discharge fitting that goes through the fiberglass panels bolts on from the inside and the proper way to put a liner in would be removing that fitting, then lining the pool, then installing a new fitting. This would require digging up the area behind the fitting and replacing the fitting and line from the backside of the pool. Hence the extra cost.
He suggested painting the pool walls and floor. Caulking the walls and floor seems. Two coats with a rubberized paint, no primer $1600. Pressure testing the lines installing a new pump (single speed), a sand filter system, and he would include something to inject chemicals. Maybe baqua but don't quote me on that $1600. So his total cost to open the pool would be about $3200
I am attaching a pic of the thru wall fitting that may not be able to be removed from the outside and also a pic of the pool. You can see there are rust spots behind the walls of the pool and the fiberglass showing visual cracks and popping.
Can you put a liner in this pool?
If so do I line this pool and not worry about painting every 5 years?
Do I have the third company come out and paint, replace mechanicals open the pool for $3200
Also I am mechanically inclined so replacing the pump and filter does not scare me; however I am a little short on time. We have 5 children.
Thank you all in advance!!!!!
We just purchased a home from an estate with an IG pool that we know little about.
What we know (hopefully)
Built in the 1970's
Keyhole design with 9 ft deep end.
Hybrid fiberglass panel pool. Basically has fiberglass panels on the side and a concrete bottom.
Pool held water. I believe the pool was left filled and unattended for at least 2 years. When we closed on the home it. There was a low grade cover on the pool and the water level was about 12 inches from the top.
The pump and filter were removed. There are 2 lines going underground to the pool and 1 line going into the plumbing stack in the house basement.
Day 1 of owning the house
I rented a gas trash pump and drained the pool. The walls seem solid and the concrete is in great shape for its age. No large cracks.
I pulled a rubber plug out of the discharge line fitting (located halfway up the wall on the shallow end) and a small amount of clean water came out of line. Hopefully this means the pool was winterized?
Liner vs paint vs sweat equity
I had 3 pool professionals come out to weigh in on what to do.
The first was a company that only does liners and mechanical items, no painting. He seemed knowledgable and well spoken. He stated he had never seen a pool like mine before and would have to have his installer come out to confirm you can put a liner in this type of pool. If his installer said yes he could put a new liner in for $3600. He never called me back with a verdict.
The second company that came out only does liners. He has 30 years in the business and also seemed very knowledgable. He stated he had heard of pools like ours but had never seen one. He states he takes over 60 measurements and has a factory in PA customer make a liner. His cost would be $4000 and he feels confident about doing the job.
The third company to come out was a referral from a friend. He does all types of pool service, not so much liners. He states it would be $7000 to put a liner in because the discharge fitting that goes through the fiberglass panels bolts on from the inside and the proper way to put a liner in would be removing that fitting, then lining the pool, then installing a new fitting. This would require digging up the area behind the fitting and replacing the fitting and line from the backside of the pool. Hence the extra cost.
He suggested painting the pool walls and floor. Caulking the walls and floor seems. Two coats with a rubberized paint, no primer $1600. Pressure testing the lines installing a new pump (single speed), a sand filter system, and he would include something to inject chemicals. Maybe baqua but don't quote me on that $1600. So his total cost to open the pool would be about $3200
I am attaching a pic of the thru wall fitting that may not be able to be removed from the outside and also a pic of the pool. You can see there are rust spots behind the walls of the pool and the fiberglass showing visual cracks and popping.
Can you put a liner in this pool?
If so do I line this pool and not worry about painting every 5 years?
Do I have the third company come out and paint, replace mechanicals open the pool for $3200
Also I am mechanically inclined so replacing the pump and filter does not scare me; however I am a little short on time. We have 5 children.
Thank you all in advance!!!!!
