Sand Behind Liner

by Phil Norris
(SoCal)

Ok, I have that Secard above ground pool which I bought used and paid to have put up. A few inches up the pool wall from the bottom in one section, there are some pebbles from the plaster sand base that are stuck under the liner against the pool wall.

I've already had to patch a pinhole caused by this by diving underwater, but was wondering how I could get under there to brush the remaining ones away and get them out from between the liner and the wall? Right now they're a bunch of protruding bumps,etc.

I can't seem to be able to reach them with my hand under the bottom rails either. Should I take the top rail off and the coping and reach down somehow? Was thinking I have a round plastic oar from a rubber boat I could maybe wedge in there? Not sure.

thanks, Phil

Hi Phil

The only way to fix this problem is to drain the pool. But I would not recommend doing that at this time. The bumps caused by little pieces of sand, on the sidewall, are really pretty harmless. There is no abrasion or wear of any kind in that area of the liner and the pointy little bumps should not pose a problem. Even if you have to patch one or two of them, that is better than draining all that water and having to refill.

There is just no way to insert something in behind the liner, believe me, I have tried. You can only get down a little ways, and when you come back out, the liner is wrinkled. This is just not something you want to try.

If you do want to drain the pool, leave about six inches of water in the bottom. You should easily be able to pull the liner back and dust the sidewall. Leaving water in the pool will keep the liner seated and prevent it from shrinking.

I am glad to hear you and that pool are still getting along. Summer is here and it is time to enjoy it.

Comments for Sand Behind Liner

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Jun 01, 2009
 Little bumps..
by: Phil Norris

"Hi Phil. The only way to fix this problem is to drain the pool. But I would not recommend doing that at this time. The bumps caused by little pieces of sand, on the sidewall, are really pretty harmless. There is no abrasion or wear of any kind in that area of the liner and the pointy little bumps should not pose a problem. Even if you have to patch one or two of them, that is better than draining all that water and having to refill."

Actually the little pieces of sand are kinda large....for "sand". Look like little pointy pebbles. I was concerned because these things are poking holes in the liner. The ones that haven't yet are stretching the liner almost like poking your finger thru a balloon,etc. I don't mind patching but would've liked to get in there somehow and remove them. The rest of the pool doesn't have any of this problem thank God.

"There is just no way to insert something in behind the liner, believe me, I have tried. You can only get down a little ways, and when you come back out, the liner is wrinkled. This is just not something you want to try."

Actually....the liner is already wrinkled. The folks I hired to install the pool left wrinkles and footprints in the sand base all over the bottom,etc. PLUS they didn't bury the cross piece slats well enough. I have a few sticking into the pool at the the buttresses. The contractor basically put extra sand over them to cover them but they are still "humps" where the bracing is,etc.

"If you do want to drain the pool, leave about six inches of water in the bottom. You should easily be able to pull the liner back and dust the sidewall. Leaving water in the pool will keep the liner seated and prevent it from shrinking."

Naaa...draining the pool would be a real hassle I think, altho this liner is less than a year old. Pool is 38X18 so that's a ton of water to waste,etc.

"I am glad to hear you and that pool are still getting along. Summer is here and it is time to enjoy it."

Well.....yes and no,heh. I'm also dealing with the Waterway I DE filter and it's air leaks and occasional blowing DE into the pool from the return,heh. Still, it's worth having the pool especially when it gets up past 100 degrees.

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