Temporary pool repairs

[Cisco1906]

Hi TFP community.

Previous owners did a horrible job maintaining my pool and I’m looking to make some temporary repairs until i can get the pool resurfaced and retiled. I’ve attached pics of my skimmer and an area with missing tile. I believe the crack in the skimmer is causing a leak (having it confirmed on Monday) and whether or not it is i’d like to fill it in. In the past I’ve used hydraulic cement to patch stone foundations to great success but through some quick reading it’s my understating that epoxy is a better solution for a gunite pool. Is that correct? If so what brand(s) do you recommend?

For the pic with the missing tile and exposed cement…it’s depressing to look at . What should i apply to hide the exposed cement? If possible I’d prefer to not have to remove water but if that’s the only solution so be it.

Thank you for your help and insight as always!

 

[Ahultin]

On the advice of the people here and american leak detection, I used hydraulic cement as well for my skimmer repair. I think the epoxy is recommended when repairing a crack in the actual plastic skimmer body

 

[ajw22]

Epoxy will not fill in holes.

You can use Type S Mortar or hydraulic cement to fill the hole. But cement is not waterproof and will absorb water through the area. To waterproof it you need to put thinset and tile on it to create a waterproof barrier.

Same situation with your missing tiles. You should put a row of tiles on it to form a waterproof barrier.

 

[Cisco1906]

On the advice of the people here and american leak detection, I used hydraulic cement as well for my skimmer repair. I think the epoxy is recommended when repairing a crack in the actual plastic skimmer body

Thanks Ahultin. Glad I asked. Hydraulic cement it is

 

[Cisco1906]

Epoxy will not fill in holes.

You can use Type S Mortar or hydraulic cement to fill the hole. But cement is not waterproof and will absorb water through the area. To waterproof it you need to put thinset and tile on it to create a waterproof barrier.

Same situation with your missing tiles. You should put a row of tiles on it to form a waterproof barrier.

Thanks ajw22. Not questioning what you’re saying but my understanding of the pool tile is that it’s there to prevent staining that the water line can create on a pool surface without any tile. The pool floor and the wall the below the tile hold water just fine without any tile. Is there anything i can do to the area of the missing tile to create a temporary waterproof solution short of retiling until i have the time/money to take on resurfacing/retiling the pool?

 

[Bperry]

Thanks ajw22. Not questioning what you’re saying but my understanding of the pool tile is that it’s there to prevent staining that the water line can create on a pool surface without any tile. The pool floor and the wall the below the tile hold water just fine without any tile. Is there anything i can do to the area of the missing tile to create a temporary waterproof solution short of retiling until i have the time/money to take on resurfacing/retiling the pool?

The area below the tile is plaster (and is waterproof for the most part), the gunite that the tile bonds to is not waterproof.

Tile is at the water line because plaster degrades when it’s not submerged in water. Even putting some non-matching tile would be better then nothing.

 

[ajw22]

Isn’t the pool floor and the wall below the tile plaster?

Plaster is waterproof. Concrete is not waterproof.

 

[Cisco1906]

The area below the tile is plaster (and is waterproof for the most part), the gunite that the tile bonds to is not waterproof.

Tile is at the water line because plaster degrades when it’s not submerged in water. Even putting some non-matching tile would be better than nothing.

Thanks Bperry! I really appreciate your explanation.

 

[Cisco1906]

Isn’t the pool floor and the wall below the tile plaster?

Plaster is waterproof. Concrete is not waterproof.

It is plaster. First time pool owner, so i assumed the entire surface is gunite but you and Bperry just made me understand the role of a finish such as plaster. Thank you!

Am I potentially causing irreversible damage by exposing the area with missing tile to water?

 

[ajw22]

Am I potentially causing irreversible damage by exposing the area with missing tile to water?

How old is your pool?

Long term water seeping through the gunite/concrete can cause the rebar to rust and structural weakness.

 

[Cisco1906]

The place

How old is your pool?

Long term water seeping through the gunite/concrete can cause the rebar to rust and structural weakness.

I’m not sure. My place was built in ‘78 and an Apollo VA-26 filter is still here. 40 years is a reasonable age. Bought the place last summer and there was Gorilla tape covering all of the areas with missing tile. I hated the site of it, removed it, and always kept the water below tile level until a few weeks ago when i decided to give the pump and filter a try. Now I’m wondering if I should go back to the unsightly Gorilla tape and below tile water line until i can retile.

 

[Bperry]

The place

I’m not sure. My place was built in ‘78 and an Apollo VA-26 filter is still here. 40 years is a reasonable age. Bought the place last summer and there was Gorilla tape covering all of the areas with missing tile. I hated the site of it, removed it, and always kept the water below tile level until a few weeks ago when i decided to give the pump and filter a try. Now I’m wondering if I should go back to the unsightly Gorilla tape and below tile water line until i can retile.

The gorilla tape isn’t doing anything to help. Ideally get some thin set on there. I can show you what long term water leak does to concrete.

 

[ajw22]

Any waterpoof barrier you can put on the areas would be helpful. The less water getting into the shell, the better.

 

[Cisco1906]

The gorilla tape isn’t doing anything to help. Ideally get some thin set on there. I can show you what long term water leak does to concrete.

I have a simple view of water - essential for our survival and beautiful to look at. However, it is one of the most destructive substances known to mankind when it is left unchecked!

So it sounds like my course of action will be to patch the areas with cement and add a layer of thin set on top of it to make it slightly more waterproof.

2 questions:
1. (I’m almost certain as the answer but I’ll ask anyway)…will I need to drop the water level so as to apply the thin set?
2. Any brand of thin set you recommend?

 

[Cisco1906]

Any waterpoof barrier you can put on the areas would be helpful. The less water getting into the shell, the better.

Makes sense. Bperry suggested thin set as a waterproof barrier. Seems like a sensical option.

 

[ajw22]

I am not sure how waterproof thinset alone is without tile and grout over it..

 

[Ahultin]

I would say you could go with a roll-on waterproofing membrane, something like suggested for glass tile (1 and 3 below are primary and secondary waterproofing )
The aquablok, while spendy might work well as it can be sprayed on with a garden pump style sprayer and is water based

 

[Bperry]

Makes sense. Bperry suggested thin set as a waterproof barrier. Seems like a sensical option.

Probably depends on which thinset. Maybe look at thr
Membrane stuff mentioned above or even an epoxy coating for underwater use. It won’t last forever but might hold you over.