Project & Insights
A Renewed Look for a Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi
November 9, 2021
An unusual waterproofing project was completed recently – a swimming pool and jacuzzi that required sprucing up. The project began with the pool, but when the owners saw the result, they asked that the jacuzzi be repaired as well.
Repair Method
The first step – deglazing the tiles – had to be done very carefully, not to break any (a grinder was used to take the shiny coating off each tile). The surface was then cleaned thoroughly and degreased with a solvent, as it had to be spotless and dry before it could be painted. Next, we checked for loose tiles and reattached them, replacing the grouting between tiles, as needed. The entire surface was then primed, and painted.
The same procedure was followed to give the jacuzzi a new look.
Learn more about a wide range of our waterproofing and concrete repair surfaces by checking the different pages on our site.
Related: swimming pool repair and waterproofing · concrete crack repair · polyurea membranes · pool and water feature waterproofing · documented projects · common questions
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a condo pool have to be drained to repair it?
It depends on where the damage is. A crack that passes through the slab requires a completely empty pool, because the crack cannot be opened against water pressure. A localised repair on a wall needs only a partial drain, down to just below the damage. A floor patch needs a full drain but the refill starts about fifteen minutes later.
How long is a condo pool out of service for repairs?
Crack repair takes about two days and the pool refills the next day, so roughly four days end to end once the drain-down is counted. Resurfacing takes ten days to two weeks because the finish has to come off before the hidden damage can be found. A full refurbishment runs about three weeks.
How much hollow concrete is normal in an ageing pool?
About two square feet across the entire shell is normal on a typical ageing condominium pool, and those areas get chipped out and refilled as routine repair. Widespread delamination is a different finding: on one pool, thirty to forty percent of the surface was hollow because the concrete was never properly vibrated when it was placed.
Why does a pool finish have to be flooded the same day it is applied?
Marbelite has to cure under water, so the pool is filled the same day the finish goes on. Leave it dry overnight and the finish cracks. The same rule applies at small scale: a localised marbelite floor patch starts refilling about fifteen minutes after the last trowel.
What is the pool bonding wire and why does it matter?
The copper equipotential bonding conductor runs the full perimeter of the pool beneath the deck tile and drops to a ground connection at a dedicated bolt. It is almost always torn during deck demolition because it is buried and sometimes cast into the concrete. It has to be re-run through the existing studs, and it should be photographed before the paving goes back — after that it cannot be verified without lifting the paving.
Why does a drained pool wall turn yellow?
On an epoxy-coated pool, physical contact with the dry wall can stain it permanently. At one Bayview Avenue building a drained pool had a wall wiped down with a towel, and the wiped areas turned yellow while untouched walls stayed clean. It is a reaction between bromine, the epoxy coating and oxygen, triggered by the contact, and it cannot be cleaned off.
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