Pool Crack Repair in Leander, TX

Most can, once the cause is known. Because shotcrete is simply a way of placing concrete, the American Shotcrete Association says any method used to repair cracks in concrete applies to a shotcrete pool; resin injection, hydraulic-cement plugs and new shotcrete bonded to the old shell all come from that toolbox. A structural movement crack still needs its cause worked out before the repair is chosen. Leander Pool Resurfacing gives free estimates on pool cracks of any size.

One that can move. For cracks that will keep moving or sit under water, the American Shotcrete Association advises a filler that tolerates thermal movement rather than a brittle product, notes that many injectable polyurethane grouts can do that, and says a coating laid over a moving crack needs enough thickness and elasticity to bridge it. Prime Resins, which makes both kinds, prefers water-seeking hydrophilic resins, which soak into the tight micro-cracks of wet concrete, and says water-repelling hydrophobic resins can fail a few months after the job; that is one maker's position. No industry body names a single best product.

No maker or industry body gives a number. What limits it is thickness: the National Plasterers Council says a cement-based finish should average at least 3/8 inch and no more than 3/4 inch thick, with small allowances for filled holes and dig-outs around fixtures, and that the finish can't be used to level an uneven shell beyond that maximum.

Often, yes. The National Plasterers Council says every cement-based pool finish develops some shrinkage or check cracking before the pool is filled, and that these cracks typically reseal underwater as the cement keeps hydrating. Wind matters more than heat: in the Council's analysis, a 100°F day with little or no wind doesn't reach the critical rate of water loss, but sustained wind above 5 mph does, and even a mild 75°F day can with sustained winds of 12 to 13 mph. SGM adds that a hot, dry shell makes plaster set too fast, causing check cracking and delamination.

Often the way the shell was built. The American Shotcrete Association's technical director lists the shotcrete problems he hears about most from pool owners and builders: reused rebound, lack of curing, too little velocity when the shotcrete is placed, inconsistent thickness and excessive porosity. The Association recommends at least 7 days of curing for new shotcrete and says that skipping it in windy, hot or dry weather raises the risk of shrinkage and cracking. An article in its magazine adds that too little concrete over the reinforcing steel lets water reach the steel and start corrosion that can spall the concrete off.