Pool Wall Torn By Skimmer

by Russ
(RI, USA)

The skimmer on my pool seems to have been ripped
down by the ice. It cut the wall on the pool on each side of the
skimmer by about six inches.

Is this possible to fix?

Thanks, Russ



Hi Russ. I would buy some sheet metal, about the same thickness as the pool wall, and tape it over the skimmer opening on the inside of the pool. The metal should be several inches bigger than the skimmer opening and held in place with duck tape.

You will then need to cut a new opening for your skimmer. I start by holding the faceplate on the outside of the pool in the position I want the skimmer to be located. I then mark the two top corner holes. I use a 1/4" drill bit and drill these two holes.

You can then bolt the faceplate to the outside of the wall using two bolts. Now use the existing holes in the faceplate as guides and drill out all the screw holes. Before you remove the faceplate take a pencil and mark the opening outline onto the pool wall.

Using a very sharp razor knife score the pencil mark several times, as deeply as possible. Now take about a two inch hole saw and drill a hole in the middle of the skimmer area. Take tin snips and starting inside this circle cut out to each corner. You now have four small sections that can be wiggled back and forth until they snap on the scored lines.

I have also seen people rivet a new section of metal over the existing skimmer opening and reuse the opening. Either way works, I just prefer starting with a fresh opening cut from a section of strong sidewall.

Another option, especially if the rips are bad, is to replace the entire section of wall. A skimmer panel like this could be easily spliced into your wall giving you a new skimmer and return opening.