In-ground concrete swimming pools are usually durable installations that last for decades. However, gunite, shotcrete, or concrete walls may develop cracks over time. Small shrinkage cracks aren't a problem, but if the cracks grow large enough to insert a dime, the shell might be compromised.
In addition, during hot weather, a gunite or shotcrete pool should be half filled with water, and make use of sprinklers, foggers, misters or a spray nozzle to keep surfaces wet. Burlap or plastic can also be used to keep the concrete shell from drying out too rapidly during curing.
Small superficial cracks are called check cracks or crazing. This is normal due to the cement shrinking or flexing of the supporting structure, and should not be considered a deficiency. The most common cause for crazing is if the pool is finished on a hot, dry or windy day, or if it took too long to fill the pool.
Pools with vinyl liners will last more than 20 years, as long as you replace your liner every 6-12 years. Concrete pools have exceptional longevity, but you need to resurface the concrete every 10 years or so. Fiberglass pools have the longest lifespans of any in-ground pool, often easily surpassing 30 years.
It generally takes between three and 12 weeks to install a concrete pool. That's longer than other types, but concrete is considered the strongest, most durable type of pool. And unlike other in-ground pools, existing concrete pools can be rebuilt, refinished, enlarged, or updated.
If you want to resurface a concrete pool, your most economical choice is plaster. Certain products, such as Sider-Proof, actually make resurfacing in plaster easy enough for a do-it-yourselfer to tackle. An experienced professional will either chip or sandblast the old plaster out, leaving the original concrete shell.
Maintenance
Without question, concrete pools require the most maintenance of any type of inground pool. For example, with vinyl and fiberglass pools you don't have to worry so much about your calcium levels in the water.
Because everything moves with the changing of the seasons, it's important that the ground it's installed on has unified movement.
Concrete pools are more likely to sink or shift. A sinking or shifting pool is the worst possible outcome. With excavation required to fix, homeowner's insurance may or may not cover the repair. The cost to repair a sinking or shifting pool could run into thousands of dollars or could be a total loss.
Structural cracks v.
Not all pool cracks mean that the pool is leaking, i.e shrinkage cracks are normal; they are shallow and just part of the curing process that occurs when the pool is first shot with gunite or shotcrete.
“When we see a structurally cracked pool, it's usually pretty obvious. It's a crack running either down the side of a pool from the tile or through the bottom coping down the walls, across the floor, in corners, and very often, it's opened up enough that it can leak and bring water in.
Concrete deck areas around in-ground pools and spas usually develop cracks over time. They're basically a maintenance item but occasionally may be a warning sign of more serious problems. Large cracks distract from a pools natural beauty and can be trip hazards for both adults and kids.
As we stated earlier, concrete comes ready mixed. With gunite, on the other hand, a dry mix is fired through a hose with the water being added at the point of delivery. Unlike concrete, when building gunite pools, you can stop and start without any problems, which will help give a smoother finish.
Yes, it is safe to put salt in a concrete pool, there is just more to watch with concrete pools than with other pool types. If you don't have anything in between your water and your concrete, your concrete can erode faster, but it does not affect the quality of the water or your health.
The first consideration to think of here is the material your pool is made from. Concrete pools generally need more effective pool heating systems, as concrete is a naturally cold material which is not particularly efficient at retaining heat.
Except the ultimate answer to whether a replacement vinyl liner can be installed in a concrete pool is anything but straightforward. Starting on the simple side of the equation, the answer is “yes” a vinyl pool liner can be installed in a concrete pool.
It varies depending on the type of pool, with plaster or cement pools needing to be resurfaced every 3-7 years while fiberglass pools can sometimes go as long as 15-30 years.
Once the fiberglass has been applied to the concrete pool, the next step is to add the surface layer. Typically, gelcoat (a colored resin) is mixed on site and rolled over the dry fiberglass layer using a roller. Alternatively, your contractor might use an epoxy pool paint or another type of swimming pool paint.
Diamond Brite® finishes are blends of selected quartz aggregates and fortified white Portland cement ideal for new or re-finished swimming pools. Diamond Brite® finishes are factory blended to provide the pool owner with an extremely durable and attractive alternative to traditional pool coatings.
Fiberglass pools need the least maintenance, and they cost the least ($3,750 over 10 years).
A fiberglass pool is not prone to growing algae, which is one of the main reasons why this pool is easier to maintain. Anyone who is looking for a pool that doesn't require a lot of maintenance may want to consider going with a fiberglass pool.
A pool can increase not only your social worth but also the value of your home. However, the increase is probably not as much as you think. According to HouseLogic, there's no real guarantee that you'll make your money back. In fact, adding a swimming pool may only increase your home's value by 7%.