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Introduction to Repair of Pool Cracks

 

 

Pool cracks develop for several reasons, such as:

  • Inadequate bearing of the soils or soil related issues. Pools are built all of the time without anyone even considering the soil in which the pool is built on.  Consider the weight of a diving pool.  A diving pool can hold +/- 30,000 gallons of water, with the water alone weighing +/- 240,000 lbs.  When you consider all of the construction material and the water, a diving pool can weigh in excess of 450,000 lbs.  The reactive soils in North TX assure most pools will be built on soil that is not suitable for the pools weight unless the soil is properly prepared or construction efforts are in place to deal with the soil issues.
  • Inadequate tensile strength, and/or lack of, or improper placement of reinforcing steel. The rebar installed in older pools varies on its placement. I have seen rebar installed in larger than 10”x10” on center grid patterns which is bad. 8”x8” on center grid pattern is standard in today’s pools.
  • Inadequate compressive values of the gunite. Gunite application can be great and perfect for pool construction, as long as all rebound and trimmings are thrown out of the pool during construction. The reality of that is that the total cost would increase if that were done. So most companies do not throw any of that dead material out. It winds up in the pool floor, steps, and benches of the pool and spa. There is no compressive strength to rebound and trimmings. The areas of the pool that have rebound in them have no compressive strength and the pool structure is weak in that same area.

Add water loss or improper drainage to the equation and the above issues are compounded. Pool cracks consistently develop under skimmers and it is always due to a leak in the grout where the tile meets the actual skimmer. If you are losing water in your pool, it must be considered a major problem. You must be in control of the water in your pool. When you have a leak, it will soon be in control of you.

G&B does not use the same repair methods that every other company offers. We understand and respect the power of water.

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Chlorine tablets create high CYA

 

 Chlorine tables increase CYA 

The use of chlorine tablets are a problem for swimming pools. They work well as a sanitizing system if your pool water is perfectly balanced. However the use of those tablets ensures your pool will soon be out of balance. This is due to the CYA and other chemicals that are built into the tablets along with the chlorine. 

If your pool water is out of balance, the chlorine tablet is not as effective. You think using more and more chlorine will solve the constant algae issue your pool has, but is doesn’t get any better. You will eventually figure out that the CYA is too high which limits the chlorine effectiveness.  You are forced to drain your pool and dilute the CYA that accumulates by adding fresh water. It is necessary to do this to protect your plaster, but it is not an environmentally friendly action.

Commercial swimming pools are required by the health department to keep the CYA in the pool below 100 ppm. If it gets over that level the health department will force the closure of the swimming pool until that is corrected and re-inspected. The only solution for high CYA levels is to drain the pool and replace the water with fresh water. This has been the norm for several years, but environmentally it is not a good idea to continue this practice.

 Every time a chlorine tablet dissolves CYA is added to your pool water.  Several other chemicals that allow the chlorine to have a longer shell life are built into that tablet and are also added to your pool water. The lack of those chemicals in your pool water when you use a salt system are actually the reason the pool water in those pools feel much better than pools on chlorine tablets. It is not because of the salt in the water

CYA, commonly sold as a stabilizer or conditioner will damage your pool plaster investment if left unchecked. Pools with colored finishes cannot maintain their intended color in high CYA level pool waters. Every time a chlorine tablet dissolves and every time the pool is shocked with granular chlorine the CYA value will increase.  Your plaster investment must be protected against high CYA values.

Chlorine tablets cause cya damage to groutChlorine tablet cause cya damage

Stay tuned for a solution to wasting water and high CYA values in your pool.  G&B will be releasing this must have information on Wednesday the 12th. 

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Problems with Salt Systems

 salt system will damage this feature

 

There are problems with salt systems in swimming pools and it seems as though most want to ignore those issues in spite of the damage being caused. As the only plaster applicator In Dallas/Fort Worth with the courage and conviction in our services to be able to offer a 5 year warranty on our plaster services, I feel it is necessary to help identify other services and products that offer similar value to our customers.

At the 2014 Pool/Spa/Patio Expo in Orlando, I came across two such opportunities that every pool owner should have in their pool to improve their chance to enjoy their pool rather than put up with it.

I have never been a fan of Salt Systems due to the damage the salt causes to the pool and the back yard environment. All of the positives that companies push out on salt systems are not at all true. It does not pay for itself, it does not make the water chemistry easier, and it does not make your water feel better.

Salt systems will damage coping regardless of its expense. Brick coping survives well on salt system pools, but it is not currently desirable in the marketplace. Salt systems require salt to be in the pool. Salt is corrosive. Salt systems as the sanitation system in the pool showed an increase in surface deterioration at the National Pool Industry Research Center when compared to pools without salt. Salt systems cause the pH to constantly rise which requires twice a week pool chemistry adjustments to prevent scale developing…so much for being easier. The reason the water feels better is relative to how the water felt when the pool was on chlorine tablets with all of the junk that is added to those tablets to give the chlorine shelf life, not because of the salt system.

For a solution to the challenges salt systems cause to your pool and backyard, stay tuned…