Protecting Your Pools Crack Treatments

Transcription

1 1 Protecting Your Pools Crack Treatments Scuba Pool Repair Inc. 800 Cristich Lane Campbell, CA Phone: Fax: Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 1

2 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. 1. Why do pools crack Cracks and leak Why choose Scuba Pool Repair for crack treatment References...11 Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 2

3 3 Why do pools crack? Although many swimming pools look similar in lots of fundamental ways, every one of them is actually quite unique. From groundwater and soil conditions or the specifics of their structural designs to the methods in which they have been installed, water-containing vessels of all shapes, types and sizes are, in fact, subject to a wide array of location- and workmanship specific variables that can influence the way their concrete shells will perform through the years. When a water shape cracks, any number of things might have gone wrong. To the owner of a pool such cracking is obviously a source of concern. There are many reasons why your pools crack. The most common cause of pool cracks is ground movement. Certain construction issues and temperature change, while not common, can also cause pools to crack. Soil shifting, flooding, and freezing temperatures are all conditions that negatively affect the structural integrity of your pool. Another common reason is the poor workmanship that went into constructing the pool 1. Soil shifting occurs when a structure was constructing on unstable soil. When the soils shift, it affects the foundation of the pool causing it to crack. 2. Change in temperature will also influence the structure s condition of the pool. Temperature change will make the structure s concretes and steel bars to expand and contract rapidly causing cracking on the surface of the pool. 3. For all of the variables introduced by soils conditions and groundwater intrusion, there are times when the real problem leading to a cracked shell is a failure of workmanship. Improper gunite or shotcrete application especially in the form of inadequate coverage of reinforcing steel is probably the most common of these issues Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 3

4 4 Cracks and Leak Some of the most common types of cracking result from substandard workmanship. This can include improper gunite or shotcrete application or seemingly minor oversights when installing the concrete pool deck. The four most common types of workmanship-related cracking are: Horizontal cracking in the waterline tile What it looks like: This is the most common type of cracking found in pools, and it looks just like the name indicates. What causes it: The concrete deck is not completely separated from the pool's bond beam. The deck moves, putting pressure against the pool wall. As a consequence, the pool's bond beam may crack. If waterline tile is affixed to the problem area, the tile will fracture as well. Similar cracking can result from a common technique used to prepare for the coping. Workers level the top of the bond beam by applying a layer of mortar. If the material doesn't properly affix to the beam, it may delaminate, causing the tile in front of it to crack. How to prevent it: Completely separate the concrete deck from the pool's bond beam. An expansion joint must extend the full depth of the deck. For example, if your deck is 4 inches thick, the expansion joint must be 4 inches deep. This prevents the two bodies from touching. To ensure proper adhesion between the bond beam and that leveling layer of mortar, follow proper workmanship procedures. Moisten and clean the beam before applying the mortar. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 4

5 5 How to fix it: In either case, the pool builder must remove and replace the cracked materials using proper trade procedures. Often, workers must retile the waterline as well. Reflective cracking What it looks like: Cracks generally follow the pattern of the reinforcement or piping inside the wall. Older cracks may show rust. What causes it: The reinforcing steel is inadequately covered or improperly encased. This usually stems from one of several possible mistakes: The shotcrete mix didn't have enough moisture wasn't shot at a high-enough velocity, or the nozzle man didn't use proper techniques. These errors can result in voids or shadows behind the reinforcing steel. The rebar wasn't properly secured, so it vibrated during gunite or shotcrete application. This prevents the gunite or shotcrete from adhering to the reinforcement. The gunite or shotcrete was applied too thinly over the reinforcement. This can especially be a problem on freeform pools, where crews can't set vertical and horizontal string lines to help establish the right thickness. How to prevent it: Use the proper gunite or shotcrete mix, and apply it at the right velocity and thickness. How to fix it: If the cracks aren't too old, they can be injected with an epoxy that is stronger than the concrete itself. Older cracks, however, will have exposed the steel to water, resulting in rust and corrosion. In this case, the area will have to be torn apart and redone. Delamination Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 5

6 6 What it looks like: Alligator cracking or separation of the outer layer. What causes it: Several errors can cause delamination. Rebound, a byproduct of applying gunite or shotcrete, is a primary culprit. As crews shoot the concrete, some pieces of aggregate bounce off the wall and fall out to the floor. Some builders use it to build steps or benches, or otherwise bury it in the pool shell. However, rebound doesn't have enough cement to form a proper bond, so it may delaminate. Delamination can also be caused by "flashing" when the applicator conceals rebound or a surface flaw by putting a thin layer of gunite or shotcrete over the area. It may not bond properly. How to prevent it: Keep rebound out of the pool. Haul it off the property. Avoid flashing if possible. How to fix it: Workers must strip away the delaminated area and replace it, making sure it bonds properly to the surface underneath. Shrinkage cracking What it looks like: There's no set pattern. These cracks are intermittent, random, and angular, generally running throughout the pool. They are typically shallow. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 6

7 7 What causes it: Improper curing or excessive moisture in the gunite or shotcrete. How to prevent it: Avoid the temptation to add water to the proper shotcrete or gunite mix. After the material is applied, properly hydrate it so it can cure sufficiently. These are the predominant forms of soils-related cracking: Differential movement cracking What it looks like: Cracks are usually vertically oriented. They are often wider at the top of the pool wall and get narrower as they move toward the floor. What causes it: Having two different types of soil underneath the pool can cause differential movement cracking. This may occur naturally if, for example, the yard has both bedrock and a softer soil. Or it could result from a cut/fill transition when the pool straddles backfill and native soil. This can be a problem even if the fill has been properly compacted. Unless the pool Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 7

8 8 rests on uniform earth, the softer material will compress more than the harder, causing unequal movement. The pool may crack from the uneven support. How to prevent it: A soils engineer should examine the site if the home builder does any recompacting or the pool excavation reveals two different kinds of material. A structural engineer may need to design a support system for the pool. How to fix it: Based on experience, epoxy injection will work 60 percent to 70 percent of the time after ground movement has run its course. If the soil is expansive or otherwise continues to move, the pool may crack again. Slope creep cracking What it looks like: Very similar to differential movement cracking. What causes it: On some hillsides, a 10- to 15-foot layer on the face of the slope will slowly move downward. Generally this happens with expansive soil. You can detect slope creep when trees or other vertical elements on the hillside point outward rather than straight up. How to prevent it: Hire both soils and structural engineers to examine any hillside property. The soil can be identified and a proper support system engineered. How to fix it: This very costly repair requires demolishing part of the pool and installing a footing or key to increase the setback from the foundation to the face of the slope. Expansive soil cracking What it looks like: Cracking located on the pool floor. In the most severe cases, the pool is thrust out of the ground. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 8

9 9 What causes it: Highly expansive soils aggressively pushing upward on the pool. How to prevent it: Again, hire a soils engineer. If the professional detects expansive soils, a structural engineer can adapt the shell. Solutions will range from thickening the pool floor to building a pier-and-grade-beam foundation. How to fix it: You could try epoxy injection and cross your fingers. If that doesn't work, you may have to remove the floor and add more steel and gunite as specified in an engineer's plans. Not all cracks need to be addressed as emergencies so let Scuba Pool Repair perform a dye test to see if they are indeed cause for immediate concern. We will pinpoint and repair leaking cracks before they become unmanageable. Severe cracking can be the source of water loss in your pool. If your pool is leaking water, in extreme circumstances, the structural integrity of your pool may be compromised and therefore also deserves immediate attention. Scuba Pool Repair is qualified to address these issues as well. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 9

10 10 What is crack repair? The focus of crack repair is to prevent further leakage of water through existing pool cracks. In some cases, the structural integrity of the pool will also be addressed. Will the fix be permanent? Since all crack situations are different, there is no guarantee that the fix will be permanent. Unless the cause of the crack is identified and addressed, the pool may continue to crack. Do all cracks need to be repaired? Surface cracks are not uncommon in swimming pools. If there is water loss in the pool, these cracks can be dye tested to see if they are leaking. Surface cracks that do not leak do not necessarily need to be repaired. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 10

11 11 Why choose Scuba Pool Repair for your crack treatment? Scuba Pool Repair has been in business for over 21 years. We continue developing and perfect our underwater techniques. We have been serving and keeping our communities pools and spas safe since Satisfaction and loyalty from our customers are Scuba Pool Repair goals. Scuba Pool Repair s technicians are fully trained on crack treatments. We repaired hundreds of crack per year and no matter how big or small the crack is, there is no crack that we can t repair. We have extensive experience with residential, commercial and public pool. We also do not drain your pool in order to repair the cracks. Draining the pool to do repair will expose the pool to more complications and might lead to further cracking. Scuba Pool Repair has helped save California thousands of gallons of water per year by doing repair underwater. We can help you save money, conserve water and help protecting your pool as well as the environment. Important: Because we cannot control the movement that causes cracking, cracks are warranted for 30 days. There is no guarantee that the plaster patch will match the existing plaster but it will be as close as possible During the repair process, the pool stays the same. We do not drain the pool whatsoever. Empty pools are inherently dangerous. It is the homeowner s responsibility to ensure that all sprinkler systems are turned off and that small children and pets are kept away from the empty pool. Is your pool leaking water? Let us help you determine when leaks are serious enough to require repair. Scuba Pool Repair will evaluate with you on how to determine exactly where and how severe your leak is. Once this area is located, our expert technicians will take the appropriate actions to fix the problem. One phone call is all it takes to get your pool back in proper working order. Our goal is to help you enjoy your pool without interruption. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Phone: Fax: [email protected] Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 11

12 12 References 1. Custom Home Magazine. Publication date: By Rebecca Robledo 2. Soil Considerations in Swimming Pool Construction, by Ron Lacher, P.E. Pool Engineering, Inc. Scuba Pool Repair Inc. Protecting Your Pool-Cracks Treatment Page 12