Inground Pool Steel Walls..Should You Use Foam On The Walls?

by Don
(Islip)

I am having a new inground pool installed the contractor suggested not to use foam on the walls as this may contribute to the steel walls rusting sooner. He suggests that the foam keeps condensation behind the liner which causes this to happen.

What is your take on this?

Thanks for your question Don

I know this is an area of concern for new pool owners, so here's my take on the issue.

Many people have had wonderful success with adding foam with their vinyl pool liners, but normally this is when the pool walls are so rusted or worn down they cannot be repaired, scraped or sanded.

There are good points and bad.

Good - Adding a layer of pool foam can protect the liner from rubbing the pool floor and walls. It protects the liner from the pool. It also feels softer to the touch, hands and feet, with an added layer.

Pool foam also helps with insulation and heating of the pool water.

Bad - With a layer of foam around the pool, your liner will become more susceptible to tears and punctures from the outside. Take a piece of foam, put a small piece of vinyl on it, then puncture it with something sharp. Put the piece of vinyl on a hard surface and do the same thing.

You might get a smaller hole on the hard surface, but not as bad as having foam. And that might be what your contractor is talking about. If a sharp object goes through the liner and foam, you might have a problem with leaking or condensation.

If your new vinyl liner is seated correctly, there shouldn't be any seams where water can get through, but even the best contractor cannot see the smallest seams and there is always the risk of leaking and rust.

My advice would be this:

I think whether you have pool foam or not, if there's a split or tear in the liner, water will get through and you might have rust spots. It's really only as good as the vinyl liner itself and the contractor who is installing it.

Pool foam is very good under some conditions, as was stated, if the pool cannot be repaired. For a new pool, you might want to reconsider pool foam because of the added, and possibly unneeded expense. But, you do run the risk of replacing the liner earlier because of the rubbing of the vinyl liner against the pool.

The condensation part is debatable.

Hope this helps and good luck with your new pool

Robert