Leak after closing - what am I in for in the spring?

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ship of fools

ship of fools

0
Nov 9, 2011
648
Albany, NY
I must have nicked the liner when I was cleaning the pool prior to closing because it's leaked down to the point where there is no water in the shallow end. It's a 40 year old pool with a vinyl liner and I believe a steel lining but I'm not sure.

I've needed a liner and been fighting leaks for years with various repairs but am going to bite the bullet in the spring. I have a quote for $2,400 (16x32 with steps) from someone who is highly recommended but expect I may run into extra expenses as it unfolds based on the exclusions.

Includes:
Draining pool
Removal and disposal of old liner
Minor floor repair
New faceplates and gaskets (skimmers, main drains and returns)
Installation of new liner (20 mil, duo max or super max liners)

Excludes:
Major bottom repair
H20 to fill pool
Wall foam ( 1/4" or 1/8")
Control of ground water issues
Plumbing or steel repairs due to rust.
Upgrades to thicker material or specialty liners.

I know it's impossible to know but what are some of the possible issues I may be dealing with?

And second is it worth going with a thicker liner?
 
There are inherent risks of leaving the shallow end empty. Structural wall problems are possible especially if it’s an old metal pool, which in NY is very probably from that era. The weight of the water is needed to counterbalance the yard wanting to cave in. It’s also completely possible to not have an issue, but if you did it could add considerable cost to the repair as a new issue.

On the plus side the tear will be easier to find at the water level. So you’ve pretty much narrowed it down to the floor or bottom seam. (If the water starts exactly at the slope. If there is one 2 inches above or below the shallow end floor, then that would be the level with the lowest tear. With any luck it’s just in one area and not several at different heights.

Also on the plus side, it wouldn’t need to be a pretty patch job, just watertight long enough to get to the spring.


I always vote for the thickest liner possible. 10X that vote if any dogs or kids swim. Thinner liners are easier to tear and the added cost of the thicker liner is worth every penny spread out over the 10-15 year average lifespan.
 
@Pool_Medic, would it be a good idea to cut a test hole for ship of fools to get an idea what he is dealing with in the spring ? Seeing how it’s getting replaced another patch wouldn’t matter but at least he’d know the construction and state of materials underneath ? Could be rotten plywood, a concrete foundation that will outlive is all or still intact galvanized steel.
 
Thanks Everyone,

At the moment it's covered but it's partially dragged in because of the water loss so I could take it off. Think it's worth doing that and see if I can find a leak, patch and fill it back up a bit?

It's going to be 50 degrees this weekend so it might be worth messing with if i risk more damage.
 
It’s worth it. Nothing says it has to fail, but nothing says it won’t either. $2400 repair will be $24000 if you have to replace the walls.

If an expert agrees, I would want to figure out what you have underneath now to be able to plan for spring. If they cut that liner out and find rotten steal or plywood, you’ll be replacing the whole pool. Thats a big add at the last moment.

Granted you would only see a small spot, there could be healthy or terrible spots elsewhere but you would have an idea. And know what it’s even made out of.

And nobody in their right mind would look at patches that they didn’t need to, but if it’s getting replaced anyway, another patch won’t matter.

I would for sure try to find the leak and patch it. You might not be able to. Go down swinging at least that you tried.
 
Newdude said:
It’s worth it. Nothing says it has to fail, but nothing says it won’t either. $2400 repair will be $24000 if you have to replace the walls.

If an expert agrees, I would want to figure out what you have underneath now to be able to plan for spring. If they cut that liner out and find rotten steal or plywood, you’ll be replacing the whole pool. Thats a big add at the last moment.

Granted you would only see a small spot, there could be healthy or terrible spots elsewhere but you would have an idea. And know what it’s even made out of.

And nobody in their right mind would look at patches that they didn’t need to, but if it’s getting replaced anyway, another patch won’t matter.

I would for sure try to find the leak and patch it. You might not be able to. Go down swinging at least that you tried.
Click to expand...

If it's $24,000 it's getting filled in! The kids are grown and we sit by it a lot but I bet it gets less than 10 hours all season of people actually in the pool. That may be a bit low but I don't think I would spend all that money. We'd end up with a much bigger yard which would be fine when we go to sell I suppose.
 
You would need an actual quote of course, but You would basically be getting a new pool at that point. Minus the equipment and digging the hole. Backhoes cost $1000 a day here, including the operator. The equipment can cost up to $3000..... So..... I dunno..... 80-90% of the new pool cost ??? Yeah it will be pricey.
 

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ship of fools said:
So here’s the end result. New liner today along with a $500 add for fairly extensive repairs to the concrete for a total of $3,200 or so plus water. I’m ecstatic that it’s no worse?
Click to expand...
Awesome. Awesomely awesome. Awesomely awesomely awesome !!!!!!! For real that’s awesome!! There was no promises what lied beneath and it could have been real ugly/pricey. Yay for you.

also it looks sweet.
 
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