Concrete small crack repair

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MSL82

MSL82

0
Aug 22, 2018
13
Canada
Hello, I have a 30 year old concrete pool that appears to be in fairly good shape considering the age.
It is 16x32 with concrete stairs. The stairs have developed a few small cracks. What is the best way to repair this?
The worst part is the top step. Can I just lower the water level enough to repair the top step as a temporary solution?
Also, I have a one piece bullnose that goes around the pool, it needs repainting. Is it important to completely remove all of the paint before repainting or just the loose flaki portions.

thanks
 
Post pics of the cracks and the areas that need repair.
 
MSL82 said:
I will post a photo tomorrow morning, thanks!
Click to expand...
Here are some close ups of my stairs. I suspect that the previous owner never sandblasted the pool and just did acid wash and paint over the years. It looks as though it peeling off on some portions of the stairs. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
 

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I was concerned about losing water early last season but we were heating the pool quite a bit and we were having cool nights. After doing the bucket test, I think it was due to evaporation. All that to say, if we are losing water, I don’t think it’s substantial.
As you can see , the thick layers of paint are either falling off or lifting. If we ever get algae, it’s under one of these large flakes that is still partially attached.
I’m sure the pool with need something done to its entire finish. I’m not sure how long I can hold off on that. But for now I was hoping to address the crack. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
Considering that crack runs from the coping down the wall and down the steps it is likely structural and the gunite shell is cracked, not just the plaster.

There is no simple patch fix for the crack or the stairs. The coping, tile, and plaster need to be removed around the crack to examine the gunite shell.

You may need concrete staples with epoxy injection for a mechanical solid fix. This is a common concrete repair technique.

Watch


Torque Lock

Concrete Crack Repair Staples for Swimming Pools and Pool Decks | AquaStitch

Pool Structural Repair Staples. Carbon Fiber Kevlar Repair by Fortress Stabilization
 
Thank you for the info. How long do you think I can leave it like this before anymore damage happens to the pool or the property? Can it wait a year or more?

Also, are all concrete pools made of a gunite shell and plaster? I have seen gunite and plaster pools being built on T.V and thought it was a different technique. I was under the impression that ours was a poured concrete into a form but I could be totally wrong, I don’t know much about pools. As the chips flaked off I assumed it was blue paint because it looks blue all the way through. The surface below looks like concrete. Is the plaster what flaked off?
 
You can leave it until you are getting serious leaking or seeing rust stains from rusting rebar.

Browse the Under Construction section and you will see pictures of the standard buildup of a gunite plaster pool. The hole is dug, rebar is bent to form the basic shape , gunite or shotcrete is applied to create the concrete shell, then a layer of plaster less then 1/2" is hand applied onto the shell to create a waterproof smooth surface.

The chips flaking off are pieces of the plaster. Then you see the gunite shell below.

Begin preparing for a significant pool renovations and you should begin talking to contractors in your area who do that work.
 
Last edited:
Allen nails it again!! THANKS ALLEN! :hug: Listen to what he says and plan for a total redo in the future. I say fill it up and enjoy it until your wallet is fat enough to do a redo. You can go ahead and start finding people to do the future work so you know what your $goal will be.
 

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