Today I’m going to give you the top five problems with fiberglass pools, and I’m going to giveyou the solutions as well.
Okay, you know the deal.I’m gonna set two minutes of my clock and try to get to the bottom of this before the little jingle goes off.
Okay, problem number one with fiberglass pools is that if a repair is needed on the gel coat finish, it could be very difficult to get the colors to match.
That’s because some manufacturers choose to apply their finish layer in a multiple layer finish.
They apply the color, maybe a secondary color or a shimmer, and then a clear coat finishof sorts.
But, when it comes time for a repair, if necessary, that can be very difficult to match and givethat factory look.
The alternative and the solution here is to use a sold surface gel coat finish and toapply the gel coat using Cross Lynx composite technology.
So, problem number one, solved.Problem number two.Spider cracks in the gel coat.Now, spider cracks can occur for a number of different reasons.
One, perhaps the gel coat or the finish layer was not applied using best practices or the pool was not handled with care during installation or not installed properly and there’s unduepressure from the outside of the pool.
Any flex beyond the gel coat’s capability could cause gel coat cracks to occur, and of course, if it’s not applied properly, it’s a weak layer in your pool.So, the problem is the spider cracks in the gel coat.
The solution would be best practices in applying it such as Cross Lynx composite technology,again, and also careful installation and proper installation.Number three.Bulges in the pool wall.
Now this can occur for one reason only if sand is used as a backfill material.So what happens with sand, as I discussed in a previous video, is that once it gets introduced to ground water it liquefies.
It shifts position; it shifts the shape; and puts undue pressure on the outside of thatpool, pushing it inward.Well … but I’ll keep going.
Once the sand shifts in position, it puts undue pressure on the outside of the pool,pushing it in creating a bulge.
The solution to this is Rhino Roc construction, which calls for a clean, crushed stone backfill material, which does not shift position or move or settle after and when ground wateris introduced.
So, bulges in the pool wall…eliminated it by the use of Rhino Roc construction.Wait a second.Time-out.You see, I left two things out there in terms of what could cause your pool wall to bulge.
Yes, the appropriate backfill material should be used, but if that backfill material isnot placed simultaneous to the water filling your pool and one gets ahead of the other,the water could push a bulge outward and the backfill material could push a bulge inward.
So the two need to be put in place at the same rate, at the same height to hold thatwall perfectly in place.
The other thing that could cause a pool wall to bulge is if it’s not appropriately constructed.
I mean, it needs to be thick enough and it should be no less then three-eights of aninch thick, so ask your manufacturer what the specs are for manufacturing their pools.Now, back to the regular program.Problem number four.
Fading or discoloration in the gel coat finish.So here’s the deal: you picked out a beautiful blue pool and you want to keep that same color throughout the life of that pool and as long as you own the home.
Fading or discoloration can happen for a couple of different reasons.First of all, during the manufacturing process, if best practices are not used and the highest grade materials are not used, that gel coat finish could break down prematurely.
The second reason that could cause fading or discoloration is a lack of proper careand maintenance of your fiberglass pool.Now, fiberglass pools are very easy to maintain and don’t require a whole lot of work.
But if the minimum effort is not put in, then fading and discoloration could occur.So, choose a high-quality manufacturer using best practices, again, so just Cross Lynxcomposite technology and also be sure to perform your weekly maintenance on the pool and maintain your chemicals.
Problem number five.Plumbing settling and … whew … leaks!Why does this happen?This happen because the backfill material settles, and when the backfill material settles,it drags the plumbing with it.
Now, that pressure on the plumbing will create a stress at the inlet or the return of yourpool creating a leak at that very point in the plumbing system.So is all of the backfill material going to settle?
It will if it’s sand, which is why you should insist on your pool being installed with RhinoRoc construction, which again uses clean, crushed stone as the backfill material, supportsyour plumbing system and does not produce leaks.