Skimmer Wall Repair

by Joseph Palmieri

I read your fix skimmer wall repair and understand it very well. There are only a few things I want to ask. The pool size is 10' x15' x48" oval pool. 1. Do you think 16 gauge galvanized sheet metal is thick enough to use? 2. Can I use a piece 24" x 24" for an opening 9" x 16" or should I get a piece 24" x 36"? 3. Can I put a new skimmer on a new sheet metal repair? Thank you for your website, really very helpful. Joseph



Hi Joseph and thanks, glad you have found the information useful. Probably the best way to do a skimmer opening repair is to take you 16 gauge metal, 24" x 24", and tape over your existing skimmer opening. Do this from the inside of the pool with duct tape. If you pull a couple of the pieces of tape up and over the top of the wall, this helps to keep the patch in place until the pool fills, and the water is up against it, holding it flat and in place.

I would then cut the new skimmer opening out of a good section of pool wall, maybe a couple feet from the original. It's always best to mount the skimmer on a section of good wall as opposed to a patched area. If it has to go back into the same place as it was, you will need to cut away the rusted area of wall so that you are not trying to mount to two surfaces. I would then go with a heavier gauge metal, in the larger size, and I would also rivet it into place.