New pool owner! Gunite has been shot and it has been determined (via professional scan) that there is less than 2" of gunite to rebar around 3/4 of the pool. Some areas are 1/2 in of gunite. After reviewing pics we took prior to gunite, there is rebar sticking directly into the earth ... no way that it was covered with gunite. We are learning as we go - rebar can not touch earth and must be in cased by minium of 2" gunite. PB and Gunite company want to cut out all sections that have less than 2" making a ledge then reshoot the gunite in those areas. They are also proposing to dig a 6" trench around the outside of the beam and fill in gunite on back side to cover any rebar sticking out. This of course does not address rebar on the floor of the pool that is sticking into the ground. We are concerned so many "patches" will affect the integrity of the structure and does not address the floor. Should the entire pool be demo'd and start over? Thoughts?
Gunite Touching Earth
- Thread starter Dcolgan
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,452
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
Did you have engineering drawings of your pool construction with a PE stamp on it? Or did the builder just wing the build without any build specifications?
What is the background on your build that got you to do a professional scan to find the problems with the gunite? It is basic to rebar and gunite construction that chairs be used to support the rebar off the ground and provide for proper encasement in the gunite.
My point is if this all was not found by the Pool Builder why do you have confidence in the fixes he now proposes?
I suggest you get a structural engineer involved, if one is not, to review what has been done to date and the remediation plans. And then hire the engineer or an independent inspector to be on site and review all the work that is done.
It is not about what is planned to be done but how it is done to make the shell structurally sound. The proper plans, supervision, and inspection were not done to-date. How the new rebar gets tied into the existing; how the gunite is prepared with bond coats to prevent cold joints, etc.; will determine what you end up with.
We review many peoples pool construction projects and provide commentary from our cheap seats. If you share plans and pictures we can try and help.
These Wiki articles may help you going forward...
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
Did you have engineering drawings of your pool construction with a PE stamp on it? Or did the builder just wing the build without any build specifications?
What is the background on your build that got you to do a professional scan to find the problems with the gunite? It is basic to rebar and gunite construction that chairs be used to support the rebar off the ground and provide for proper encasement in the gunite.
My point is if this all was not found by the Pool Builder why do you have confidence in the fixes he now proposes?
I suggest you get a structural engineer involved, if one is not, to review what has been done to date and the remediation plans. And then hire the engineer or an independent inspector to be on site and review all the work that is done.
It is not about what is planned to be done but how it is done to make the shell structurally sound. The proper plans, supervision, and inspection were not done to-date. How the new rebar gets tied into the existing; how the gunite is prepared with bond coats to prevent cold joints, etc.; will determine what you end up with.
We review many peoples pool construction projects and provide commentary from our cheap seats. If you share plans and pictures we can try and help.
These Wiki articles may help you going forward...
Construction Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
How to select pool equipment - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
- May 23, 2015
- 24,403
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Agree with all of @ajw22 ‘s points above.
But one question - how did the pool pass pre-gunite inspection with rebar sticking into the ground and no chairs in the floor holding up the rebar? The city inspector should have flagged that and failed the inspection notice.
But one question - how did the pool pass pre-gunite inspection with rebar sticking into the ground and no chairs in the floor holding up the rebar? The city inspector should have flagged that and failed the inspection notice.