Thoughts on this pool- beyond repair?

[ajw22]

Read the information here and follow the links to other threads on fiberglass pool installs...

Fiberglass Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

A fiberglass pool needs to be placed on gravel. Sand will wash out and settle over time and any weakness in support will cause cracking of the fiberglass.

Here is one problem install. A search on “fiberglass crack” will find many more...

NEW Fiberglass pool Cracked! Need Advice

Install went well yesterday. Walked by a few minutes ago and heard water dripping. It’s cracked through and through. I text PB pics. Waiting for a response. Anyone else been down this road? Advice? We’re trying to remain calm. Wondering what’s next.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Kl45566]

Per his invoice he is filling with sand in winter, coming back in spring to install pool and back fill with sand and gravel. But yeah, certainly looking into everything carefully.

 

[jimmythegreek]

His base material needs to be smaller gravel 3/8" or less. You dont want it set on sand. A mix is fine for side backfilling

 

[Kl45566]

His base material needs to be smaller gravel 3/8" or less. You dont want it set on sand. A mix is fine for side back filling

excuse the dumb question, but does it matter if the existing pool is being replaced temporarily with sand only, then in a few months filled with sand/gravel when dug out?

 

[jimmythegreek]

Not a great way to do it. It's hard to know where virgin ground was once its filled. It's much better to demo existing and them prepare by either excavating further or compacting in gravel to get to the base elevation you need. Why fill to just remove again after a few months? Seems a waste of material amd money unless other issues

 

[Kl45566]

So the spot that is being filled in is much larger than the pool we are looking at to replace it with. and more shallow (currently 10 feet at deepest, looking at 5 ft at deepest)

Thank you for the info. If we go through with the actual replacement pool I am def going to make sure the base is gravel. at this point looking like 50/50. or possibly looking into liner or above ground w same person.

 

[ajw22]

If you are planning an AGP to be placed in the same spot then the same cautions apply. Filling the hole with sand does not give a stable base for the weight of an AGP.

 

[Kl45566]

no, AGP would be in a different location but thank you.

 

[jimmythegreek]

It goes either way. If the base needs to come up a few feet it must be layered in amd compacted well with each lift. Cant just fill the 10' hole amd then dig up 5ft amd dump a shell in on gravel. That's a disaster waiting to happen