An in-ground concrete pool installed in your backyard is going to increase the value of your home in addition to providing endless hours of fun for the whole family. This is why you should take proactive steps to maintain and repair your pool as you would for any other structure on your property.
Since pools suffer from extreme weather conditions along with pressure from the water, the pools eventually suffer from all kinds of pool problems. One such problem is pool cracks.
The Different Types of Cracks Found In Concrete Pools
Surface pool cracks
Generally, these kinds of cracks can be repaired quite easily. Cracks on the surface are not usually the source of leaks, but they must be monitored over time to see if they are getting worse. Depending on how they develop, you might have to adjust your pool’s overall structure. Freshly poured concrete pools have a tendency to develop surface cracks.
Structural Pool Cracks
This type of crack is more dangerous than surface cracks due to the stresses and dangers it presents. Concrete pool can develop structural cracks anywhere, and if they fail, an extensive leak may occur. Ignoring them may cause your pool maintenance and repair process to become more complex and even be unresolvable.
3 Main Causes of Pool Cracks
- Soil shifting: Settlement and shifting of the soil can crack the plaster lining your pool. This is the main cause of minor cracks in swimming pools. The soil around your pool must be compacted before construction to prevent shifting soils from producing pool structural problems.
- Groundwater pressure: Your pool is subjected to hydrostatic pressure from groundwater. The pressure may lead to structural damage if it is too high. You are more likely to experience this if you don’t have water in your pool. Thus, you should never drain your pool unless you are able to repair it without doing so. Draining the pool requires the expertise of a pool specialist.
- Poor Construction/Installation: Pools that are made from low-quality materials or installed improperly are likely to wear out quickly and develop structural pool cracks.
How To Fix Concrete Pool Structural Cracks
There are many ways to fix pool cracks. But high-pressure and low-pressure injections are probably the most effective methods of sealing gaps in the concrete. Polyurethane and epoxy are two substances with slightly different properties that this method can inject into cracks. Therefore, a professional pre-inspection is a must to determine which injection is the best one.
How long does a concrete pool last?
Providing you maintain the pool properly, a concrete pool should last decades (at least 50 years). An incorrectly constructed concrete swimming pool shell can become damaged, but a well-constructed pool should last a lifetime.
Even though the pool itself can last a long time, the finishes (plaster, tiles, aggregates) will not. Over time, these will need to be replaced or maintained as well as the concrete or tiles surrounding them. Every few years, you will also need to do a deep cleaning and acid wash on your swimming pool.
If you follow proper pool cleaning and maintenance the way you’re supposed to, your pool will remain in good condition.
Final Word
The cracks in concrete pools aren’t life-threatening, but they still need to be repaired quickly to avoid becoming a serious issue with proper pool care.
The specialists at Alliance Pools & Patio can assist you with any questions you have regarding cracks in your concrete pool, or they can repair cracks in your pool for you.