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Pool Wall Repair

Replace It Or Repair It?

Liner changing time for your above ground pool is a perfect time to do some pool wall repair.

It is best to start by cutting the old liner out with a razor knife, leaving the pool completely assembled for now.  Once the liner has been removed from the pool, closely examine the pool wall.  Does it look anything like the one pictured below?

A wall that is maintained at every liner change will outlast the neglected ones by many years. So, is it time for some pool wall repair?

 

pool wall rust
This pool wall has a lot of rust around the top and some minor issues around the base.  I would recommend sanding the rust away and painting the wall with some spray paint.  Be sure to give the paint plenty of time to dry before installing your new liner.  If at anytime you see holes in the wall take a little time and repair them correctly.  After sanding and painting, duct tape flat sheets of metal over the holes for extra strength.


 

pool repair flashing

The metal for wall patches can be almost anything that is flat and thin.  A cookie sheet can be cut with tin snips and used as a wall patch.  I have even taken a beer can and modified it to work.  Somewhere out there is a pool labeled Bud Light.  It is also possible to buy aluminum flat stock flashing material from hardware stores or awning companies, or Amazon.  This is the best material to use for above ground pool wall repair.

24" X 50' Flashing (#ad)

This flashing material is usually sold in either 12", 18", or 24" widths and can be cut to any length.  This type of material is perfect for inserting into the bottom rail on the inside of the pool.  A single piece can be run around the entire inside of the pool effectively reinforcing the cove area of your pool wall.  This cove area can be prone to rust and the extra protection could greatly extend the life of your sidewall. Use plenty of duct tape to cover all exposed edges.


It is also a good idea to examine the wall for anything sharp.  Dents and calcium deposits are the most common causes of sharp edges.  Sand away or tape over any or these.

Spend a little time on wall maintenance and you will increase the life of your pool by many years.

 

Rusted Skimmer Opening
Rust around the skimmer and return areas is pretty common and a fairly easy fix. I have seen stainless steel plates with the skimmer opening precut into them. The rust area needs to be cut out and the plate can then be bolted to the existing wall. You need to make sure you cut the wall carefully. The skimmer and faceplate need to mount on the new metal only and still leave enough good wall for the plate to be bolted to.


 

skimmer repair plate
This plate is called the Skimmer Pool Repair Kit and can be found on ebay or Amazon. It comes with the nuts and bolts to attach to the pool wall and a drill bit for making the holes. It sells for about $75.00. My way of fixing this if a repair plate is not available is to tape a piece of metal over the rusted opening and cutting a new one in a good section of wall.

Skimmer Repair Kit (#ad)


 

Sidewall Rust
This wall rust is caused by a liner that was allowed to leak for a period of time. If your liner leaks it is best to find the hole and patch it or replace the liner. With some sanding and painting this wall should look like new again before a new liner gets installed.

The same goes for the photo below. The rust is there because of a leaky liner and can be repaired with some sanding and paint.

 

Rust Pool Sidewall

 

Rusted Pool Wall
This is another example of a leaky liner causing pool wall rust. This near the top of the pool and would require some basic rust removal and prevention and a plate of metal taped into place.

To remove rust like this you would start with a wire brush and then a medium sandpaper. Follow that with rust inhibiting metal primer, just be sure all the rust is gone and the wall is coated.


 

Tree on Pool
During an ice storm a tree fell on the pool. The wall could probably be straightened out by removing it, laying it out flat and pounding it flat again. My question would be what is the condition of the rest of the pool? I can see uprights and top rails that need replaced. Are these available at a reasonable price? The pool is partially in the ground, will there be major rust issues with the bottom rails and footplates? And of course a new liner will need to be bought. My thought would be it's time for a new pool.  

 

The next two photos show the bottom of a pool wall being reinforced. We cut an old sidewall in half and used it for our pool wall repair. The existing damage was not severe, but this will sure add a lot more years of life to this pool. Notice how the pool wall is sanded and painted before the new wall is put into place. The new wall is held into place with the pool coving on the bottom and tape on the top.

reinforcing pool wall

 

Pool Wall Repair

 

Damaged Pool Wall
Rust is the biggest reason why pool owners are thinking wall repair or wall replacement, so I will spend some time on that. Wall replacement can be very expensive and time consuming, and complicated if you cannot find the exact wall that came with your pool.

Detecting rust issues early, learning why it happened, repairing any damage and preventing it from happening again are all important steps. Also knowing when it is not safe to repair, replacing the wall is just a better option.

Some of the reasons why a pool sidewall, or other components, would rust are

  • Moisture exposure, caused by poor drainage around outside of pool. Leaves, dirt, or mulch trapped against the wall can cause rust. Some landscaping rock can also corrode a pool wall.
  • A leaky liner can cause a lot of damage, if the liner leaks patch the holes or replace the liner. This is especially true with a salt water system.
  • Not all pools are made the same, a scratch on a thin coated piece of metal will lead to a potential rust issue.

The most common areas for rust include the bottom rails and uprights after that is the area around the slimmer or return. Behind the liner can be a whole different story depending on how long the liner has been leaking.

When to make the decision to repair or replace?


 

Pool Wall Burst
This damaged pool wall was caused by a leaky return fitting that was not taken care of when it should have been. Skimmers and returns should be checked on a regular basis and never be allowed to leak. The owner of this pool wanted advice, repair or replace. The first thing is get the water out of the pool asap, it is about to burst. A section of wall could be spliced into this area if you know what you are doing, but first we need to see the rest of the pool from the inside. At this point you know you will at least need a new liner so get the pool drained and the liner cut out. If the rest of the pool is in good condition adding a good section of wall in this area might be a workable solution. The bottom rails need inspected inside and out. If a repair is the best option it is a good time to do any other rust prevention.


Pool Liner About to Burst
I would say the same about this photo, get the water out of the pool. That is a lot of water about ready to explode all over your yard and maybe the neighbors as well. Most of the time the liner gives out as the wall gives out, but not always. Now is not the time for pictures or to be asking for advice, get the water out of the pool.

I need to mention here this is not a liner I installed. You could visit my Vinyl Liner Overhang page to see how I deal with all that extra liner, it is not left hanging over the outside of the pool wall. A second thought here would be to cut the liner around the skimmer and return openings on the outside of the pool. The skimmer and return should be installed against bare metal on the outside of the pool.


 

The next two photos show a situation I get asked about a lot. The water froze in the skimmer and the water level dropped over the winter. The ice in the skimmer will cause the wall to come down with the dropping pool water. This will most likely require a new liner but the wall can be straightened out and reused. The fear that most people have, is the wall ruined? My answer is no, straighten it up, pound it flat and install a new liner. To prevent this from happening refer to my Winterize Your Pool page for tips and suggestions.

Ice in Skimmer
Skimmer Pulled Down

 

Pool Wall Blown Down
Another of the is my wall ruined questions I get asked a lot is after a bad wind storm. This can happen at anytime while trying to replace a liner or anytime the pool is left to sit empty. This can almost always be fixed. It might be as easy as standing the wall back up and flattening it out or in many cases we would remove the entire wall and start the rebuilding process, but it can be fixed with a little time and effort.


 

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My name is Dennis Gourley and I am located in Mesa Arizona. I cover the entire state of Arizona with quality above ground pool installations and vinyl liner installations. Reach out to me at 480-935-2848 or use my contact form.