Intex ultra frame pool frame repair help

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BobZhome

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Jul 19, 2014
4
Acushnet, MA
My 5 year old 18' Intex ultra frame is rusting out bad: IMG_20180604_183049.jpg
It doesn't help that it's a salt water pool and I do keep it up year round here in Massachusetts.

All I need replaced is the frame, but It's cheaper to buy a new pool than buy all the parts to replace the metal frame.
So I was thinking about replacing the metal frame with 1-1/2 PVC which would only cost about $140 in parts.

My questions are:
1) Is it strong enough to hold 7,000 gallons of water?
2) My pool is octdecagon(18 sides) which equals 20 degree angles, but pvc elbows come in 22.5 degrees...will 1-1/2 pvc bend 2.5 degrees per side(about 35")?

Thanks for the help!
Bob
 
BobZhome said:
My 5 year old 18' Intex ultra frame is rusting out bad: View attachment 79527
It doesn't help that it's a salt water pool and I do keep it up year round here in Massachusetts.

All I need replaced is the frame, but It's cheaper to buy a new pool than buy all the parts to replace the metal frame.
So I was thinking about replacing the metal frame with 1-1/2 PVC which would only cost about $140 in parts.

My questions are:
1) Is it strong enough to hold 7,000 gallons of water?
2) My pool is octdecagon(18 sides) which equals 20 degree angles, but pvc elbows come in 22.5 degrees...will 1-1/2 pvc bend 2.5 degrees per side(about 35")?

Thanks for the help!
Bob
Click to expand...

So sorry to see this. I’m on my 4th year with my ultra frame, and leave it up as well. Been running a SWG for two seasons and no rust like that at all.

Do not use PVC pipe, it is not designed to withstand the forces the pool will place on it. Remember, that 7000 gallons of water weighs over 58,000 pounds. Would you be comfortable propping up a semi-truck with some 1-1/2 PVC pipe?
 
5 years is a pretty good run with these things, I think. I will consider another year or two on mine a bonus but have in the back of my mind that I need a new pool soon.
 
Have u watched all the buy and sell groups in your area on fb? I see lots of them got sale in my area. Go look in the fencing section of your local hardware store. U may be able to get galvanised posts the right size
 
Yeah, PVC isn't going to work.

What is the diameter of the tubing?

I would look at EMT conduit at your local big box store. They'll have sizes up to 2". Now comes the hard part-- bending it. I would make a jig or you might talk to your local muffler shop. They bend muffler tubing-- though I doubt they have the dies for smaller sizes like 1" or 1-1/4".
 
Bending it you would need to find someone with a mandrel bender as if you kink the pipe it will create a week spot. Personally i would cut and weld the angles, finding someone with the proper bender that size will be just about impossible
 

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BobZhome said:
The worst of the rust is on the cross beams, the t-connectors are not to bad(probably last a couple more years), and the legs are in good shape(probably last another 5 years).
Thanks for the ideas...I'll look it some of them!
Click to expand...

I’m pretty sure you can buy the cross beams, check Intex’s site.

Be warned, after 5 years in the sun that liner is most likely quite stuck to the cross beam’s powder coat. It’s going to be tough to separate them.
 
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