Spa cracks that need repair

[PoolCracks]

I've got some cracks in my spa that have gotten larger with time and now the spa is leaking. The cracks extend from the floor of the spa to the concrete pool decking.

I put some red line on the pics that follow the cracks.

I've noticed pieces of plaster missing from in between water line tiles in the spa. Could this be leading to water intrusion that is causing the cracks? Is it more likely a plumbing leak?

It isn't isolated to just one side of the spa, but the pictures are the worse area. The other 2 sides have smaller cracks with no noticeable leaks.

Installer hasn't been much help. They want me to run "Fix a Leak" but I'm pretty sure that I need a lot more than that. Would it be beneficial to patch the grout and put epoxy in the cracks?

South Louisiana, built 2019, 15k gallons, liquid chlorine, variable speed pump, nat gas heater, Pentair equipment.

 

[Bperry]

Adding epoxy or patching is just gonna crack again because it looks like the structure is moving. Cracks will definitely let water into the surrounding soil. Unlikely a plumbing issue but they should pressure test it and make sure.

 

[PoolCracks]

Adding epoxy or patching is just gonna crack again because it looks like the structure is moving. Cracks will definitely let water into the surrounding soil. Unlikely a plumbing issue but they should pressure test it and make sure.

Is a crack like this usually covered under the "gunite warranty?"

My gunite warranty states that it doesn't cover "earth fill movement." What would something like this be classified as?

Do you have to demo this whole shell to actually fix what's causing the issue?

 

[Bperry]

It’s hard to say without demoing the area around the crack and finding out. They should attempt to rule out a plumbing leak at the very minimum. Are there any slopes nearby the area?

 

[PoolCracks]

There's no slopes. Completely flat land. No trees within 300ft.

 

[ajw22]

Do you have any pictures of the rebar in that area before gunite?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Also, can you provide any pictures of the excavation of the pool and spa of the concerned area prior to rebar?
The pictures show a fairly even break in the deck, RBB and following into the spa seats. Possibly from over excavation/trench work along with improper compaction of the fill.

 

[PoolCracks]

This is the only pic I can find during the construction. The leak is on the right side of the photo inside the raised spa.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

To help with your questions in post number three,
From the pictures provided it doesn’t appear to be a Gunite product/application issue, the failure is in a direct line that also continues to the deck, typically not filled with Gunite.
Earth fill movement (trenches) = plumbing backfill
Investigating what was in this area prior to Gunite may hold the answers to the current failure.

 

[PoolCracks]

What would you do if you're in my shoes...

The installer didn't say much about these cracks, left me with a bottle of Fix-A-Leak, and wished me luck...
Do I even bother using this?

I could attempt to patch the cracks with epoxy bond and patch the missing grout.
I know this approach doesn't address the underlying issue but I may not be ready to rip open the entire spa.

 

[Bperry]

What would you do if you're in my shoes...

The installer didn't say much about these cracks, left me with a bottle of Fix-A-Leak, and wished me luck...
Do I even bother using this?

I could attempt to patch the cracks with epoxy bond and patch the missing grout.
I know this approach doesn't address the underlying issue but I may not be ready to rip open the entire spa.

First thing would be determine if it’s leaking. Water leaking will cause further damage.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Knowing if a water leak exists will help determine your time line and prioritize repairs correctly.
Use a reputable leak detection company that can determine the leaks location.
Knowing if these cracks are cosmetic or structural needs to be determined first.

 

[Bperry]

First thing would be determine if it’s leaking. Water leaking will cause further damage.

The third pictures shows water on the deck at each of the cracks. It that a leak or just water splashed down there?