Big rip across top of liner

Jump to latest Follow Reply
C3Cl3N3O3

C3Cl3N3O3

0
Bronze Supporter
May 25, 2015
460
Fort Mill, SC
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
OK gang I've got a tough one. I opened up the pool this year to discover a large rip across the top of the liner where it is normally attached to the track. The liner is about 8 years old, and other than this in quite good condition. There are a few locations where it is slightly pulling out of the track, but in the location of the rip there was no warning whatsoever. Just RRRRIIIIIPPPP. So surprise surprise the local pool service companies want no part of doing a repair and want to install a new liner. At this point, cosmetic appearance is of no concern as far as repairs go. Any options? I found a website websweeper.com which appears to offer a solution maybe?

The rip is approx 32" across. There is just a slight amount of liner left in the track, I doubt there's enough there to adhere anything to it. Here are the photos:


Liner1.JPG


Liner2.JPG


Liner3.JPG
 
Obviously a new liner is not the path you want take right now. I cannot think of any cement that would hold that reliably. Were it me I think I would get some stainless steel flat head self tapping metal screws and a thin long strip of flexible but rigid plastic. Maybe clear plexi. They sell sheets of it at HD. They make a clear version that is not exactly plexi but is stronger and more flexible albeit a bit more expensive as well. Cut it about 1.5" width and then cut it at least a few inches longer on each side than the rip so that you prevent it from spreading. I'd sand/bevel the ends of the plexi, drill screw holes in it and pull the liner flush and screw it into the frame. I'd also get some clear silicone and either put a line of silicone behind the plexi first or at least seal the screw heads to try and prevent water penetration and rusting.
 
Yeah not sure, I should mention that it is not coming back up into position. It is several inches below the coping, and there's no give to it at all. A heat gun might get a fraction of an inch, but it doesn't look like it's ever coming back up.

So I do have some of the original liner material left over. I'm thinking about cutting out a portion of the old liner until it lies flat to the frame, then gluing on a new patch over the top of it. A redneck fix to be sure.
 
zea3 said:
That may buy you a little time. Make the patch an inch or two longer on each side of the tear, keep an eye on it and start saving for a new liner.
Click to expand...

Yeah if I get 2-3 more years I'd be ecstatic.

Are there really concerns about the frame rusting here? I'd think the frame is constantly in a moist environment anyways, at least the back side of it.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
OK gang here's the results. It's a bit gnarly but it just needs to carry me through another year or two and be invisible to the passing glance. I think I've accomplished that. First I excised the floppy portion of the old liner, leaving a few inches about the water line. I used some marine Goop around the seam to secure the old liner to the frame and prevent the bead tear from spreading. Then I cut a portion of new liner to overlay the gap with about a 3" overhang. I needed to secure the new bead in the track so it wouldn't flop out while working with the vinyl glue. The marine Goop just wouldn't hold the new liner to the top of the frame. I didn't want any glue in the track. So I used some outdoor heavy duty mounting (double sided) tape just under the track. That held it nicely. Then it was a matter of applying the vinyl glue around the edge and using a roller to get it flat. With the difference in color and the stretching of the old liner, it was impossible to get the pattern to line up. I'm having a pool party for Father's Day, which appears to be a go!

Liner4.jpg


Liner5.jpg
 
Thanks. That glue is brutal. I covered my fingers pretty good with it, it's hard to get off. I got a fair amount in the pool too which I had to skim out. It was such a large patch. Brutal!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply