Above Ground Pools – Fix All Metal Sidewall Problems

This page will explain all kinds of steel sidewall repairs, here are a few: rusted sidewall around the skimmer or return jet, rusted to the breaking point, and actual wall rupture.

Well let’s get started, we’ll start with the most common of all sidewall problems and it will rust around the skimmer and return jet. The first thing to do is to drain the pool about six inches below the skimmer or return jet, while the pool is draining remove the top rails above and on both sides of the skimmer, you may have to remove two sections on either of the two. side of the skimmer or return jet. Once done, remove the coping (piece of plastic that holds the liner in place). At this time, the pool should be sufficiently drained to remove the skimmer or return jet from the side wall. (All references to the skimmer, return jet and holes in the side wall will be referred to as the skimmer)

Now all is done, gently pull the liner up and over the side wall and expose the rusted or damaged skimmer hole. Next you determine how much you have to cut to get rid of the rust, for example, let’s say you determine that you are going to need to cut a 12 “by 12” hole, then you will need a 2 “x 2” piece of galvanized metal. to cover the 12 X 12 hole. Galvanized metal must be at least the same thickness or the next size. If you’re not sure, take a piece of the wall you cut out to size.

OKAY! You have the galvanized metal and you are ready to put it in place, so all you have to do is cut the hole for the skimmer, you can use the skimmer as a template to cut the hole. The next step is to position the replacement part so that the skimmer hole is level; the easiest way to do this is to measure from the top of the side wall to the replacement on both sides, the measurement should be the same. Then use some masking tape to hold it in place. A little trick to prevent all those metal filings from getting between the wall and the siding is to put a ground magnet on the bit while drilling and use a medium speed on your drill and the magnet won’t fall off. Once in place you can prepare your drill and rivets, the size of rivets you need to use is 3/16 to 1/4-inch, get a large box because you will space them 1-inch apart.

Let’s continue with the design of the perforation, with a tape measure make a line 1 inch inwards from all edges and a second line 3 inches inwards, now on the one inch line make a hole in each of the corners , next to each corner hole you measure 1 inch both horizontally and vertically. Now from here we measure three inches from each corner hole and drill another hole, but before we drill any more holes we want to put in a couple of rivets to hold the replacement solidly in place. As you noticed the holes are two inches apart, continue from each corner to the center.

Now for the three inch line we put one hole in the corner and one hole in each direction two inches from the corner hole, if you got it right it should be between two rivets on the one inch line so that all rivets are staggered. . Once you have all the rivets in place, you can drill the holes for the skimmer. The final step is to tape all the metal edges so that there is nothing sharp that can pierce the siding when it is put back in place. Now all that’s left to do is put everything back together as it was undone.

This concludes the instructions for repairing rust around the pool skimmer and return jet and any holes in the side wall. For instructions on how to replace an entire section, read on.

God forbid you have actually had a blowout, if your siding is ruined then it is an easy task to take it out and repair the section before putting in a new siding, if you were lucky and your siding stretched a bit then things will they get a little more complicated. If you were very lucky, you probably noticed a weak spot in the wall and checked it and realized that it would soon need repair. If any of these scenarios fit your problem, then the remedy is at hand. Keep reading.

First, you will need to remove about half of the top pool rails. Of course, if you are replacing the liner, they all need to come off. Then remove the coping and lift the liner over the side wall. Now depending on the size of the hole, you will need two additional feet of galvanized metal the same size in height as the existing metal. Cut out the rusted piece and attach your new piece. Now from the end of the new sheet of metal, measure three inches and mark a line from top to bottom at both ends, and a similar line nine inches from the ends.

Also, make sure your lines don’t line up with one of your uprights, if they slide your panel one way or another so they don’t line up, that’s fine, starting from the top, measure an inch down on the line of three inches and two inches down on the nine-inch line and mark a hole, and continue on both lines two inches apart until you reach the bottom. Drill three or four holes, then put some rivets inside out, you want the flat part to be on the inside of the pool, and then continue drilling. When you are done with the rivets, put some masking tape over them and the edge of the metal and put your pool back together. I hope these instructions have helped you enjoy your pool for years to come.

If you have any questions, please send them to Pools and Raised Decks