Crack has returned in less than 6 months

[penquinizer]

Hi all!

My question is whether special cement or epoxy should be injected into the holes with the staples before they are covered by hydraulic cement. I saw this in a few videos of pool crack repairs.

I had my pool crack stapled and replastered within the last year. It was done with just rebar staples covered with hydraulic cement.

EDIT: The crack has returned, right along where the previously patched area and part of the crack repair was done. The crack runs from the bottom of the pool to the coping cement. Doing a dye test, it seems that the water is only leaking at a specific section of the crack. Compared to the photos they sent when the crack was stapled... it's leaking right where they didn't put a staple. Pool guys took a look and said it isn't covered due to the 'floor' moving.

I've stuck some putty in the crack for now while we figure out whats next.

Arrow showing leak location. Green dots show where the crack starts and ends. (not a full complete line) Also including the photo after they applied the scratch-kote.

 

[Bperry]

Hi all!

My question is whether special cement or epoxy should be injected into the holes with the staples before they are covered by hydraulic cement. I saw this in a few videos of pool crack repairs.

I had my pool crack stapled and replastered within the last year. It was done with just rebar staples covered with hydraulic cement.

It depends On what kind of staples were used. Some staples specify that you need to use structural epoxy but if they just used bent up rebar, then there’s really no rules. I think it’s better to use. A bit of epoxy in the holes the holes are filled well rather than just putting hydraulic cement over the top of the staples

 

[penquinizer]

It depends On what kind of staples were used. Some staples specify that you need to use structural epoxy but if they just used bent up rebar, then there’s really no rules. I think it’s better to use. A bit of epoxy in the holes the holes are filled well rather than just putting hydraulic cement over the top of the staples

Yeah they just used bent up rebar as staples.

They had mentioned "fill with special concrete" before the hydraulic cement. So when I didn't seem to see them inserting the "special cement" before the epoxy I got curious. Unfortunately they weren't ever straight forward with their response and it got me worried that the rebar staples wouldn't be as strong and re-crack.

 

[sktn77a]

It was done with just rebar staples covered with hydraulic cement.

So no "special cement" or epoxy was used?

 

[penquinizer]

So no "special cement" or epoxy was used?

Correct, none was used.

EDIT: The crack has returned, right along where the previously patched area and part of the crack repair was done. The crack runs from the bottom of the pool to the coping cement. Doing a dye test, it seems that the water is only leaking at a specific section of the crack. Compared to the photos they sent when the crack was stapled... it's leaking right where they didn't put a staple. Pool guys took a look and said it isn't covered due to the 'floor' moving.

I've stuck some putty in the crack for now while we figure out whats next.

 

[sktn77a]

Given the scope and magnitude of this problem and their response, I'd talk to a lawyer.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Given the length and location of that crack, there appear to be a significant amount of movement in the base under this pool.

Is this a new pool build? Old pool renovation?

Did anyone do a soil analysis in this area to see if it could hold a pool?

It’s hard to tell what’s around the pool. I see some deck and parts of the home. Can you show a wider angle shot?

 

[JamesW]

Given the length and location of that crack, there appear to be a significant amount of movement in the base under this pool.

I agree.

If the ground is settling, there is no fix that will hold.

You have to stabilize the ground.

In my opinion, staples, epoxy injections etc. are mostly a waste of time because the propagation of any cracks depends on the stability of the ground.

Any type of fix can only provide minimal protection from new cracking.

Pool patch won't hold

Hi all, I have a patched area near the bottom of the pool. It extends down from the sidewall. The patch started deteriorating and cracked around August. Since it's near the bottom, I went ahead and used EZ patch FS on the cracked area and around it. It held well for about a week before it...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JamesW]

Given the scope and magnitude of this problem and their response, I'd talk to a lawyer.

It depends on what the contract says about any sort of guaranty.

It is not a new pool with a structural warranty.

 

[JamesW]

Their reasoning was that the staples may not hold and there's a chance you'll need to cut in and repair the area if it doesn't hold so the "extra" life of the more expensive surfaces is a potential waste from that point of view.

They told you that the staples might not hold, so you have little recourse if you accepted this risk.

Regarding repairs, they all seem to say they're going to staple the cracks and then inject them with epoxy.

Determining the correct fix begins with an engineer determining why the pool cracked and what is needed to stabilize it.

As AJW noted, you needed to determine the cause of the cracks and a plan to stabilize the pool.

 

[ajw22]

You may need piers to stabilize your pool like what was done in this Texas pool…

Need urgent help with cracking/leaking pool on a hillside in Austin, TX!

We did hire an engineer and he wants us to make a hole from the center of the pool to the bottom of the outside wall but I am not sure who I hire to do that?!? He said this will give us a good cross section of the construction thru the crack. ... Any ideas on who I would hire to make the hole...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

You first need to talk to an “Expert Witness” in building designs and construction of swimming pools.

 

[penquinizer]

Given the length and location of that crack, there appear to be a significant amount of movement in the base under this pool.

Is this a new pool build? Old pool renovation?

Did anyone do a soil analysis in this area to see if it could hold a pool?

It’s hard to tell what’s around the pool. I see some deck and parts of the home. Can you show a wider angle shot?

The pool is old. We're the second owners of the home and pool from my understanding.

The pool itself is in the courtyard in the middle of the home. Courtyard is about 30'x30'

I believe the previous owner had some small trees removed and decked the whole area around the pool with stone.

 

[Bperry]

The pool is old. We're the second owners of the home and pool from my understanding.

The pool itself is in the courtyard in the middle of the home. Courtyard is about 30'x30'

I believe the previous owner had some small trees removed and decked the whole area around the pool with stone.

water leaking into the soil causes instability. If the ground hasnt dried out enough from the first leak then I wonder if its still unstable even after the crack was repaired. When I removed the plaster from my steps, I had water weeping through the gunite in that area for several weeks. Its amazing how moisture can do that.

 

[penquinizer]

Looking to get advice on what to do. I'm having a few foundation companies come out to take a look at my home foundation. They're saying the can help look at the deck also but I haven't found or gotten any responses from "pool foundation" companies.

In the meantime, I am:

- Losing around 1 inch of water overnight.
- I am jumping in the pool to patch with putty nearly every day.
- New cracks are forming almost daily.
- There is a crack line running right through the entire pool. Numerous cracks forming along the lines also.

Does it make sense to keep adding water and chemicals daily? Still has a high pH due to the new plaster. Algae is starting to form and I've been adding bleach nearly every day but it's starting to add up. Stabilizer is extremely low due to the water draining.

Pool company that did the repair and replastering is offering to send a guy out to putty the crack for a charge + drain and epoxy if the putty doesn't work.

Adding some photos below.

Old surface crack where water was leaking before repairs and replastering for reference. This crack didn't expand on the surface in 2 years since initial ownership. The cement and putty would 'wash away' / crack but adding putty would hold it over for a few weeks to months.


New crack (yellow line to help visualize size)


Close up of main leaking area. Includes grout.



Area of cracks that don't seem to be leaking. Has a lot of 'supplementary' cracks along the main line.


Crack line drawn over photo of the shotcrete. You can tell where the crack repair was done with the watery / unsmooth shotcrete.

 

[JamesW]

You need a geotechnical engineer to do a full evaluation and recommend a proper solution.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

This can't be patched. Something is very wrong with the ground underneath the pool and it sounds like you're having problems with the foundation of the house as well. The pool is the canary in the coal mine ... replacing the canary is not the solution. You need to have someone looking at your home and pool as they are telling you that there is a problem.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

DM me if you want a contact number for someone who deals with finding the causes of these types of issues, especially if legal action may be in the future, Ray.

 

[penquinizer]

This can't be patched. Something is very wrong with the ground underneath the pool and it sounds like you're having problems with the foundation of the house as well. The pool is the canary in the coal mine ... replacing the canary is not the solution. You need to have someone looking at your home and pool as they are telling you that there is a problem.

I agree with this. Trouble currently is finding someone willing to look at the pool foundation. Most everyone I've found thus far will only consider looking at the pool deck area and the home. That's who I've got currently coming out in a few days to inspect.

 

[JamesW]

especially if legal action may be in the future, Ray.

Who do you think has legal liability exposure?

The renovation company has no guarantee that the pool will be stable.

The poster is not the original buyer of the pool, so the original builder is probably not liable unless they provided a structural warranty that was transferred and still in effect.

I do not see any plausible cause of action against anyone.