I've been a lurker for a few years on this forum. I had a relatively small, relatively simple pool in SW Florida until 1-1/2 years ago. We moved to Raleigh, NC and I bought a foreclosed home. The home is in a beautiful neighborhood and needed only surface work - the old owner had removed fixtures, door hardware and, well, the entire kitchen. These were easily replaced. UPS was bringing toilets, faucets and other home items every day for a few weeks. We tamed the beast and have been living in the home for over a year now. We enjoy the neighbors, the metro Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and we like the climate. The pool has been another story.
The home has a gorgeous in-ground backyard oasis pool with a massive infinity edge, an infinity spa, beach entry, wet patio, etc. Unfortunately, the pool has some inherent design and construction flaws that are scaring pool repair companies. I've posted some photos.
The infinity edge leaks below the waterline tile.
The concrete pool edge ends below the waterline tile line. The builder applied mortar to build up the last 6" of infinity edge. This has separated from the main concrete pool. The pool leaks when I fill the pool above the waterline tile. It is so loose, we removed a section of the infinity edge spillway. I've got a photo of that area.
The interior surface has cracked. Apparently, this is a Pebbletec finish. The whole interior has long cracks running around the pool. It had sat dry for the 1-1/2 years the pool sat dry. Apparently, this cracks the finish.
The pool equipment was not installed well. The pump room in the pool house is quite a mess of romex. The glue joints look like I did them. Purple primer and glue runs down the pipes. All the pipes exit the concrete floor of the pool house. The professionals we called in have all been astonished at the 7-1/2 HP infinity edge pump and the 4" PVC feeding it. The infinity edge has 10 3" floor drains.
We've called in three pool companies. The quotes are all luxury car-type money. We factored that into the original price of the home. None of the three companies is willing to give us more than three months' warranty on the work they do. This concerns us deeply, so we haven't contracted with any repair company.
We have a few questions for the experts here:
1) Can new concrete be reliably bonded to the existing concrete edge?
2) Pool companies are now booked through summer. Do professional masons also repair pools? Are there major differences?
Mostly, I wanted to share the photos and story. The pool should end up being beautiful and fun. Please share your comments and suggestions.
The home has a gorgeous in-ground backyard oasis pool with a massive infinity edge, an infinity spa, beach entry, wet patio, etc. Unfortunately, the pool has some inherent design and construction flaws that are scaring pool repair companies. I've posted some photos.
The infinity edge leaks below the waterline tile.
The concrete pool edge ends below the waterline tile line. The builder applied mortar to build up the last 6" of infinity edge. This has separated from the main concrete pool. The pool leaks when I fill the pool above the waterline tile. It is so loose, we removed a section of the infinity edge spillway. I've got a photo of that area.
The interior surface has cracked. Apparently, this is a Pebbletec finish. The whole interior has long cracks running around the pool. It had sat dry for the 1-1/2 years the pool sat dry. Apparently, this cracks the finish.
The pool equipment was not installed well. The pump room in the pool house is quite a mess of romex. The glue joints look like I did them. Purple primer and glue runs down the pipes. All the pipes exit the concrete floor of the pool house. The professionals we called in have all been astonished at the 7-1/2 HP infinity edge pump and the 4" PVC feeding it. The infinity edge has 10 3" floor drains.
We've called in three pool companies. The quotes are all luxury car-type money. We factored that into the original price of the home. None of the three companies is willing to give us more than three months' warranty on the work they do. This concerns us deeply, so we haven't contracted with any repair company.
We have a few questions for the experts here:
1) Can new concrete be reliably bonded to the existing concrete edge?
2) Pool companies are now booked through summer. Do professional masons also repair pools? Are there major differences?
Mostly, I wanted to share the photos and story. The pool should end up being beautiful and fun. Please share your comments and suggestions.