I have this above-ground swimming pool: Robot or human? (except that mine is an older model). This pool has four “windows” around the walls of the pool. These windows leak. Badly.
The leaks start as cracks in the blue plastic around the clear windows. As soon as I patch a crack with vinyl and adhesive, another starts. It’s a never-ending process. What I want is something I can spray on the frames of the windows, inside or outside, to stop the leaks. The finished product does not have to be perfectly attractive. I don’t really care what it looks like, as long as it is safe and will hold up to the water.
When you say “blue plastic” I assume you’re referring to the actual vinyl pool liner that holds the water inside the frame. If that’s what’s cracking and leaking, you probably should replace the liner. If you can find a large enough piece of vinyl, it can also be glued to the existing liner as a patch. However, the success rate is probably no more than 50-50. Good luck!
The actual vinyl pool liner is in very good shape. We have had no problems with it at all. It is made of two layers of vinyl that are somehow adhered together.
When I described the blue plastic around the window, I was describing how the windows are installed. The actual window – the clear part one can see through – is made of a hard, inflexible plastic. This clear plastic is the sandwiched inside a hard, blue plastic ring – sort of like a flange. This flange is then sandwiched between the two layers of the liner and heat-welded into place.
When it fails, the pressure of the weight of the water appears to push out on the blue “flange” (for want of a better term). The flange pulls away from the vinyl, causing a leak. Sometimes, the hard plastic flange cracks on its own, causing a leak.
I will be looking into the FlexSeal and 3M products. Of course, I’ve seen the FlexSeal commercials. My son-in-law used FlexTape on something with less than satisfactory results, so I was hesitant. But, we’ll see.
Just came back to add that Butyl tape might be a solution as well. 5200 Will definitely work, but it’s considered a permanent sealant. Only apply it to things that you don’t plan on taking apart later because it’s a royal PITA to remove. But it works, oh so well.
Well, I’ve applied the 5200. It isn’t pretty, but it seems to have improved the situation. There is still some water leaking, but it is better than it was. I will go back again and see if I can touch up the remaining leaks tomorrow.
For those following along, please learn from my stupid mistake:
WEAR GLOVES
You do NOT want to get this stuff on you. By the time I was finished, I had it all over my hands. It is very difficult to get off. WEAR GLOVES.