Take Down in Winter or Spring (need to re-level ground)

[NorthernHAM]

Hey TFP!

We are debating whether or not to keep our pool or take it down indefinitely. Regardless of that decision, we need to take it down because if we decide to keep it, the ground definitely needs to be re-levelled and a piece of the wall needs to be hammered to be flat again.

Just wondering if I should wait until the spring to disassemble or just do it now. The main reason I would want to do it now is so that I can inspect the actual pool walls/legs/track to see if its even worth it to keep. That way I can source out replacement pieces/get pricing during the winter.

Is there a major downfall to keeping that area open in the winter? There will be a lot of snow in that area. Storing the pieces I don't think will be an issue, as it all can be laid under my deck.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Pauls234]

I knew I would be replacing my pool this past spring so I drained it down to a foot and left in place for the winter so I could protect the area.

But if you need to relevel anyway I'm not sure the job would be much harder - leveling is brutal work, so what's a little extra clean up? No direct experience though.

Also you will need to replace your liner if you keep the pool.

Do you know how old the current pool is? Have you priced out a new pool? I replaced mine because it had too much rust for my comfort and I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of $6-7k when I expected $10k. That's for a 30 foot round (mostly) resin, tear down haul away old pool, install new pool. No leveling, no equipment (pump/filter). Took them 2 hours what would've taken me days. $6k is not nothing of course, I would've choked on that a few years ago, but knew it was coming, and more established in life, more susceptible to back injuries, etc. so was happy to pay it.

 

[NorthernHAM]

I knew I would be replacing my pool this past spring so I drained it down to a foot and left in place for the winter so I could protect the area.

But if you need to relevel anyway I'm not sure the job would be much harder - leveling is brutal work, so what's a little extra clean up? No direct experience though.

Also you will need to replace your liner if you keep the pool.

Do you know how old the current pool is? Have you priced out a new pool? I replaced mine because it had too much rust for my comfort and I was pleasantly surprised at the cost of $6-7k when I expected $10k. That's for a 30 foot round (mostly) resin, tear down haul away old pool, install new pool. No leveling, no equipment (pump/filter). Took them 2 hours what would've taken me days. $6k is not nothing of course, I would've choked on that a few years ago, but knew it was coming, and more established in life, more susceptible to back injuries, etc. so was happy to pay it.

The pool has been there since 2006 (according to previous owners). Honestly that's the biggest reason I want to take it down now, instead of the spring, so I don't have to think about it all winter! If there is a bunch of rust, then out it goes no decision required. Because we aren't sure if we even want to keep it or not, we definitely wouldn't pay for a new pool.

It's going to be $$$ regardless if we re-level/change liner etc or if we sod the area and fix the deck so there is railing there. Just not sure what we want to do yet!

 

[Pauls234]

16 years is a pretty good life for an AGP. Any sign of rust on the outside? Especially around the bottom? They usually rust from the inside out. You could drain it down to a foot or and then cut the liner so you can see the inside of the side wall for rust.

Unless there is absolutely zero sign of rust, I don't think I'd go through the trouble of new liner and releveling and then put that old of a pool back up unless you were just hoping to squeeze another few years out of it.... and even then I'd probably just start over, assuming of course you decide you do want a pool.