You may have noticed a hairline crack when performing routine maintenance in a concrete pool near the corner of a step. There may be a slight crack where a spa tub meets the pool. These are small cracks in the plaster that is part of the concrete shell. The cracks are easy to repair, but they must be fixed immediately to avoid further damage that can cause leaks.

Location

Small hairline cracks and fissures are easy to spot at the top of the concrete pool or spa tub by the steps. Small cracks in the plaster occur with the use of a heavy object comes into contact with the pool shell.

Deeper cracks can occur in corners of the pool or beneath tiles. Cracks can develop in the tile caulking, or a tile may become loose. A loose tile is an indication that the bond seam is not holding.

The pool may require careful draining to just below the tile line. Often tiles are on the upper walls of the pool just below the deck. Water loss will be minimal if draining is necessary. Before refilling the pool inspect all of the tiles lining the edge of the pool.

You may also find a crack in a concrete pool under the tile and waterline. A professional pool leak repair service will be able to repair pool cracks without draining the pool to repair this type of crack.

Finding the Crack in a Concrete Pool

A red dye is used to locate a crack beneath the waterline. The crack will suck in dye, especially if there is a leak. A special epoxy sealer is injected to fill the crack. The sealer adheres under the water to the wall.

Most crack repairs are possible underwater. Don’t drain the pool unless the plaster is completely gone. In that case, water must be removed from the pool while a new coat of plaster is applied.

The best solution to avoid plaster cracks is to keep hard objects out of the pool. Check the surface of the pool frequently with your hands. Look for rough patches where the plaster over the concrete or gunite might have a small crack. (Gunite is a mixture of sand and concrete.)

Always check corners, especially by steps. Also, check the fittings by the ladders. Cracks and leaks can occur where metal fittings meet the concrete pool shell. This includes the underwater light.

Call Aquaman Leak Detection if you find a crack in your concrete pool. Catching cracks as soon as possible ensures the least amount of disruption to plaster. Although there are do-it-yourself kits and materials, a professional repair will last longer. We guarantee our work in repairing leaks. Aquaman serves Brevard County, FL and all of Florida.