Common Causes Of Cracks In Concrete Pools
Posted on: 21 January 2020
A well-maintained pool is beloved by your family. However, if you or the kids are leaping into the pool and scraping your toes on cracks, your concrete pool is less lovable. Indeed, cracked concrete in your pool can be more than a nuisance — it can herald bigger problems. Find out what some of the common causes are for cracking pool concrete.
Weak Structural Spots
According to Aqua Magazine, one of the most common causes of cracks in a concrete pool is a structurally weak area. These areas come in corners or depth transitions. You also see them around installation points for skimmers, heaters, and filters. These structural cracks require some detective work to determine the root cause before you can have them repaired.
Irregular Density
A similar issue arises from poor pool forming. Pool contractors need to layout the pool properly with stakes and forms. They use this layout when they shoot the concrete onto the metal framework shaping your pool. If they didn't lay out the form properly, the density of the concrete is likely to be irregular. The resultant voids can cause thin concrete over the top to crack.
Hydrostatic Pressure
You likely have groundwater under the structure of your pool. Well, if that groundwater experiences a sudden influx of water, as in the case of flooding, it can put undue pressure on the shell of your swimming pool. This hydrostatic pressure can tilt or even pop the pool out of its hole, which causes structural cracks. The pressure only affects pools that are empty.
Insufficient Soil Compaction
In the same vein, another issue is insufficient soil compaction. The pool installers need to compact the soil surrounding the hole they dig to accommodate the pool. The compacted soil keeps the pool shell steady. If the soil wasn't properly compacted, though, the soil can shift around the pool. As with hydrostatic pressure, the movement of a completed pool results in cracks in the shell.
Insufficient Curing
Homeowners prize gunite pools because they can literally take any desired shape. However, concrete pools do require more time for installation. Gunite and plaster require time to cure. If the builders don't give the gunite enough time to properly cure before applying the plaster, both can exhibit cracking.
Shrinkage
If the concrete liner of your pool experiences any shrinkage, you'll have craze cracks. These cracks aren't structural. Rather, they reside on the surface. On the plus side, they don't leak water. However, they can harbor stains, algae, and calcium nodules. What's more, they'll provide a rough surface to your pool liner. These cracks require resurfacing and replastering.
Let a swimming pool repair expert diagnose and cure your concrete cracks.
Share