Common pool plaster issues like cracks in pool plaster are normal but something swimming pool owners need to be aware of so they can keep their pool plaster in good condition. Knowing about common pool plaster issues can help you identify them and know when you need to contact a professional swimming repair company to fix your pool plaster.
Common Pool Plaster Issues
Keeping your pool plaster in good condition is necessary for your pool’s overall durability and longevity. Even if your pool is well maintained, over time, your pool plaster might show signs of degradation and age.
Some common pool plaster problems swimming pool owners might experience are:
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- Etching: pool surface becomes almost too rough to touch with dents, divots, and lines etched into the plaster.
- Spalling: plaster begins to flake and patches of plaster peel off.
- Delamination: pool plaster separates from the concrete base.
- Crazing: small clustered cracks in pool plaster.
- Cracks: gaps or separations appear in pool plaster.
To ensure your pool plaster stays in good condition, you should check your pool plaster often. This allows you to identify any common pool plaster issues that might need repaired. Spotting these cracks early can prevent a minor problem from becoming a more serious one in the future. Of these common pool plaster issues, swimming pool owners often find cracks to be the most concerning pool plaster problem.
Types of Pool Cracks
Pool cracks are generally normal. Cracks can happen in your pool for several reasons. It’s important to understand what these reasons are and why they’re happening.
Many swimming pool owners think a crack in their pool plaster means their pool has a leak; however, that’s not true. All pool plaster cracks do not cause leaks. The type of crack your pool plaster has will determine if you have a pool leak or will develop one in the future.
Shrinkage or Surface Cracks
Shrinkage cracks are normal and you generally don’t have to worry much about this type of crack. These shrinkage cracks are shallow and are part of the curing process that happens when gunite and shotcrete are first used in a pool.
Surface cracks can be seen in the plaster and don’t usually run through the shell of the pool and cause leaks. These are also pretty normal and can be repaired easily.
Structural Cracks
Structural cracks are the most serious type of crack. When your pool has a structural crack, it usually means your pool is leaking or will leak.
Typically structural cracks occur in the shell of the pool and can be vertical, horizontal, or on the sides or bottom of the pool. Structural cracks are more serious than shrinkage cracks since they run through the concrete as well as the plaster coating or any tile that may be over them. If your pool isn’t level and is also cracking, you may have structural cracking and leaks.
What Causes a Pool to Crack?
Pools crack for many different reasons depending on the type of crack.
- Shrinkage cracks can be caused by excessive temperatures, improper curing, or wind and excess water that got into the concrete mix.
- Surface cracks can happen over time and are often hairline cracks in the plaster walls. Pool surface cracks can be caused by excessive temperatures.
Structural cracks are serious and, in some cases, improper design or engineering may be to blame. If the soil is not stable or the overall design around the pool is poor, it can lead to structural cracks and leaking.
Seeing a V-shaped crack on your pool wall that is wider at the top than the bottom means you probably have a more serious problem. This type of crack can happen if there isn’t enough support for the pool bottom in the area where the crack occurred or if the pool had an uneven settlement.
How Do You Fix Pool Cracks?
Fixing pool cracks is best left to the professionals, like the team at Lone Star Pool Services. Our experts can assess the damage and determine what type of crack you’re dealing with and how you should fix it.
If you have a surface crack, some water will likely need to be drained so the crack can be thoroughly seen to fix it. Any rough spots around the crack will be smoothed down and loose particles will be taken away.
If you have numerous surface cracks around your pool in different areas, it may be best to have your pool resurfaced. Resurfacing your pool will make the entire pool uniform and get rid of any cracks. This is a more time-consuming project and a more costly one than just fixing a crack here and there. When you call Lone Star Pool Services, we can determine the severity of your problem and recommend the best solution.
Structural cracks are a more serious issue and one that requires greater repair. To repair structural cracks, the entire pool needs to be drained so that technicians can get to the source and determine the exact cause. From there, they will recommend the best course of action.
What Happens if You Ignore Pool Cracks and Plaster Issues
Swimming pool cracks and pool plaster issues often seem minor, but they shouldn’t be ignored. It doesn’t take long for a minor plaster issue to become serious and lead to a pool leak and soil erosion. If left untreated, soil erosion can ultimately weaken your entire pool structure, leading to a much bigger problem.
Contact Plaster Repair Experts
When you first notice any pool cracks, call the pool plaster repair experts at Lone Star Pool Services to assess the problem. Waiting to get any cracks repaired will only make the problem worse. Getting them fixed as soon as possible can prevent more cracking and even leaks.
One of the best ways to spot cracks right away is to hire a weekly pool service. At Lone Star Pool Services, we look over your pool during each service. Our technicians know what to look for when it comes to pool cracks. This can help to find them before they get more serious.
