Swimming Pool Waterproofing

A swimming pool that is losing water is a problem that is often misdiagnosed.

The water level drops, and the first assumption is that the pool is leaking — but the water can be lost to evaporation, to the backwash, to the filter, or to a leak in the pipework, and the leak can be in the pool shell, the joints, or the fittings. We need to find out where the water is going before we recommend a repair.

The first step is to test the pool. We measure the water loss over a period of time, and we compare it to the expected evaporation for the conditions. We also test the pipework, the filter, and the backwash, because a leak in the pipework can lose as much water as a leak in the pool. If the water loss is in the pool, we need to find the exact location of the leak.

A pool can leak through the shell, through the joints, through the cracks, or through the fittings. The shell is the most common source of leaks, and the cracks in the shell are the most common path. We can find the cracks by a dye test, and we can repair them with a polyurethane injection that is applied from the inside of the pool, without draining the pool.

For a pool that is leaking through the shell, we use a cementitious coating that is applied to the inside of the pool. The coating is a waterproofing system that is bonded to the concrete, and it is designed to be used under the tiles or the paint. The coating is applied to the prepared shell, and it is detailed at the joints, the fittings, and the penetrations.

We also look at the joints. The expansion joints in the pool are the most common point of failure, and they need to be sealed with a flexible sealant that can move with the pool. The sealant is applied to the joint, and it is covered with the coating, so the joint is protected.

The result is a pool that holds water, a pool that is protected, and a pool that is safe. We document the system, we provide the specification, and we stand behind the work.