Pool wall bowing out on new round pool.... ?

[merry709]

Hi! We just finished installing a new 24’ x 54” Wilbar Ventura above ground pool. We worked diligently to get the details perfect. Redoing some steps to ensure near perfect level and perfect round. Everything looked great until we the water level got to around 3/4 of the way full. Approximately 10” below the skimmer. We noticed one area of the wall is bowed out. It is near where the stainless service panel is joined. I hope you can see from the pictures that it is pushing out on the upright. Any insight on what’s causing this would be so helpful.
We did stop adding water and started pumping it out to alleviate the pressure until we fix the issue.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Looks like the wall got a wrinkle in it either during shipping or installation. I don't think it'll hurt anything, but it doesn't look right.

 

[merry709]

Looks like the wall got a wrinkle in it either during shipping or installation. I don't think it'll hurt anything, but it doesn't look right.

Thank you for your reply. It didn't look like this until we added the water.

 

[Bama Rambler]

It could be that there is a small 'bump' in the ground at that point. That will cause the wall to bow like that.

 

[merry709]

It could be that there is a small 'bump' in the ground at that point. That will cause the wall to bow like that.

Ok, I've been suspecting that after reading all over google. It's helpful to hear you confirm that may be the case. Do you think I should try scraping dirt out from under the bottom rail with a screwdriver or something? I've read about that trick....

 

[Bama Rambler]

You can, but you need to be real careful not to damage the liner. The cove should keep you away from it, but just be aware.

 

[merry709]

You can, but you need to be real careful not to damage the liner. The cove should keep you away from it, but just be aware.

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. I build an awesome cove, so I feel pretty good about that part!

If the screwdriver trick doesn't help, I'm uncertain about what to do. The bulge seems to be compromising the integrity of the pool. The upright bowing outward really worries me....

 

[mariane]

Did the installation instructions have you tilt the uprights slightly inward? It they started upright, then they would bow out when water is added.

 

[merry709]

Did the installation instructions have you tilt the uprights slightly inward? It they started upright, then they would bow out when water is added.

Hello Mariane! Thanks for your reply. The instructions directed us to build the pool with perfectly 'upright uprights'

Most of them are still looking very nice and straight. It's just this one area, the wall is bulging and pushing out on the upright, it actually spreading the sides of the upright apart. I tried to show that in one of the photos. it's got us very concerned!

 

[Casey]

That's a high spot in the ground that causes that. The pool should be sound. If you don't like the way it looks, cover it with decking or tear it out and relevel the area.