How to patch vinyl pool?

I have an above ground vinyl pool, 12" x 30. I stored the liner in my basement over the winter. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to me, my cats chewed on it all winter long, and the liner now has hundreds of tooth holes in it. A replacement liner costs more then the pool itself did, and I don't have the money for a new pool. I also have two very dissapointed little girls. I'm not unwilling to try to patch it. Does anyone know where I could get a large sheet of the right kind of vinyl to patch a pool with a vinyl liner? And am I correct that pvc glue can be used? I got the pvc glue idea from the manufactures website, they say to use PVC or silicon based glue to patch it.

Reply to
Ook
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I just realized that shower curtains are vinyl. And pvc glue is cheap and easy to come by, I have a quart in my garage. Could it be that easy? I have nothing to loose - if I can't patch the liner, then the entire pool goes in the trash.

Reply to
Ook

How large is large? This site carries 18" x 24" patches.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

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The holes are pinholes - kitten tooth size, quite small. They chewed in areas of about 6" across, so I would probably need 20-30 6" patches. Though I kinda like the Dutch Boy solution :-) :D:D:D

Reply to
Ook

Reply to
DerbyDad03

... I think you generally have the right idea, but I would use glue for vinyl sheets, not PVC pipe, as the pipe glue probably dries too stiff. Try a pool supply store.

Reply to
M Q

20 - 30 6" patches is 20 - 30 possible chances for error - more than likely resulting in at least 1 error accomplished.

Even 1 out of 30 patch failures is going to be a problem and with kids jumping in and out of the pool, I can imagine many more failures.

Dump it - buy a new one. It may be a challenge you wish to undertake from an emotional standpoint, but is it really worth the time and energy, knowing that you probably can't expect all 30 patches to hold water?

Reply to
DerbyDad03

You may be right, but at this point I have a vinyl shower curtain I can use for patch material, I have acetone and primer for cleaner, I have plenty of pvc glue, and I *don't* have the money to buy another pool. I either fix this one, or they spend the summer in the el-cheapo 6' x 8" plastic Wal-Mart special that is sitting under the apple tree :)

Reply to
Ook

Never had to patch a pool, Eh?

It's not that hard if you have the time.

Reply to
<kjpro

Here&#39;s a copy of my previous post on this subject. You&#39;re going to need the ides in order for a 6" patch to hold.

Here it goes... read till end. Hope this helps!

Yes, you can patch the hole and it will last for quite some time.

The pool company has patch material that pretty much matches the material they use on the bottom. Cut the patch in a circle and use a special glue. Most glues that are any good will allow you to repair the hole/cut wet or dry.

The glue I just used was a generic glue that has "Vinyl Pool Repair Adhesive - works underwater" on the tube.

After you get the patch cut and the surface cleaned. Quickly apply the glue to the patch, then cover the hole or cut. You want to make sure you hold it in place for a short time to make sure the edge stays down on the surface. The patches like to curve up after you install them to the pools surface.

I have patched these exact pools several times. I just got done fixing the tube at the top. It had a nice 1 1/2" cut from my cat. She felt she had to find out what that big blue round thing was in the yard!!!!

I will tell you how I fixed this one, as it was impossible to hold the patch over the complete area (by hand) till the glue started to set (this has to do with the edges curling up).

What I did was to get a clamp (I used a 6" Quick-Grip bar clamp by Vise Grip #00506) Then get a couple items that are the same size (or a little bigger) than the hole/cut (I used a couple pieces of wood). Than a piece of wax paper. Clean the area, apply glue to patch, cover hole/cut, then lay the wax paper over the patch, then apply the &#39;hard&#39; backing to each side and clamp the whole thing with the clamp. Let this set for a few hours (better if it&#39;s left overnight). Then after the glue is set you can remove the clamp and backing pieces (wood) and the wax paper can be gently pulled from the top of the patch. Just be careful when you pull it off as it doesn&#39;t pull the patch with it.

Since your hole is on the bottom of the pool, I would recommend the you use a couple concrete blocks to hold your patch. This will provide enough pressure to hold the patch in place and let you get to both sides with a flat object (to sandwich everything inbetween).

It&#39;s also better to use "too much glue" as apposed to "too little glue".

Hope this helps and NO I still have the cat! :-)

Good Luck!

Reply to
<kjpro

I give up. Uncle. Mama. Surrender. Too many holes. K-Mart. $119.00. Same pool. Cheaper then buying a liner. Don&#39;t want to spend all day patching holes, only to find a hundred more that I missed.

I lifted the liner up and looked through it. Swiss cheese. Amazing what those little rats did to it, chewing on it like they did.

Reply to
Ook

Now they&#39;re rats?????? :-)

Reply to
<kjpro

I have 4 cats. I sometimes call them rats. I have two children living with me. I sometimes call them rats, also :-)

Reply to
Ook

Hehehehe...

Glad to hear you was able to get them a pool. :-)

Reply to
<kjpro

It&#39;s worse then that. We *had* a 12&#39; x 30" pool. Mama gets to K-Mart where they have the same pool on sale, and sees a 15&#39; x 42" pool on sale for $300. We went from "don&#39;t have money for a new pool" to "what&#39;s an extra $300?". Mama is happy, kids are happy, and I&#39;m flat broke :-). Plus I have a one year old 12&#39; x 30" pool that goes in the trash because the cost of a new liner exceeds the cost of a new pool.

Reply to
Ook

Hehe...

What kind of 12&#39; x 30" pool requires a liner?

I hope the new pool is an Intec?

Reply to
<kjpro

The old pool was an Intec, above ground, metal frame, vinyl liner. We called them and told them what happened, and they said they would replace the liner if it was under warranty, but the warranty is only 90 days. K-Mart here has them on sale for $119. To get a liner by itself costs more then that. The new pool is Intec (I think), same construction, just bigger (and more $$ ouch).

Reply to
Ook

Yep!

I was able to patch a waterbed that leaked at a corner.

A pool liner patch (with the water "helping") should work quite well. Any residual leaks might well seal themselves as the leak path would be "under the patch and thru the hole" with some glue along the way.

It would look like hell but since the liner overall was in good shape, he should not have leak after leak as you might have with an old liner.

Reply to
John Gilmer

replying to Ook, Grammar Matters wrote: Nothing to LOSE*.

Reply to
Grammar Matters

In the *NINE YEARS* since Ook wrote that, the pool collapsed, filled with dirt, and four trees have grown to 30 feet tall.

Don't you HomeownersNubs _ever_ look at dates???

Reply to
Sam Hill

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