What do I do if I have cracks around the perimeter of my pool?

Having a pool in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is almost essential, especially when the sun is blazing down and all you want to do is take a dip to cool down. However, homeowners need to always view their pools as investments, and work to maintain the healthiest conditions in the structure itself, the water and the surrounding deck area to avoid big headaches down the road.

The best way to ensure that your pool will be ready for some good swimming times is to simply keep a regular pool service schedule with Poolman, your go-to provider of all pool needs.

Cracks in the perimeter of the pool can cause big issues, especially when the problem isn’t quickly reconciled. A variety of factors can contribute to damages around the perimeter, and you’ll need to keep a close eye on the deck – especially when the weather gets more inclement. However, there are several proactive steps you can take to prevent the problem or minimize the risks of long-term damages caused by cracks in the perimeter.

Potential causes
There are several problems that can lead to cracks in the perimeter of the pool and the surrounding deck:

• Cold temperatures: Though homes in the Fort Worth area will very rarely experience sub-zero temperatures, the average lows in January are generally 31 degrees Fahrenheit at night, while the record is -7 degrees Fahrenheit. Prolonged cold can begin to compromise the integrity of the foundation of your pool.
• Drying shrinkage: This is one of the more common issues with concrete foundations, as the vast majority of concrete is mixed with more water than needed to hydrate the materials. As it slowly evaporates, it could put stress on the foundation and lead to cracks.
• Corrosion: Many pools have reinforcing steel and other metals embedded in the foundation, which can corrode and lead to deterioration of the pool’s perimeter.
• Thermal cracks: Heat can cause issues as well, as internal increases in the temperature of a cement foundation will cause tensile stresses on the surface. When July rolls around in Fort Worth, this can be a very real threat.

If you have water tile or other materials for the perimeter of your pool, they’ll come with other risks of cracking.

All of these causes can be mitigated by maintaining a strict schedule with Poolman throughout the year.

When cracks spread
Unfortunately, one little crack that might appear to be purely cosmetic at first can spread quite rapidly depending upon the conditions of the area. Though maybe an abstract thought, you can draw a connection between a crack in a glass and a crack in the pavement. Once the infrastructure’s integrity has deteriorated slightly, the chances of it continuing to spread increase.

Long-time pool owners who have learned this fact the hard way can testify to this point, especially when it comes to the integrity of the perimeter. If you were to simply leave the crack unfixed, you’d see it spread throughout the entire area over time, connecting with other cracks and causing substantial damage to the pool.

There’s no doubt that these cracks could potentially occur because of poor construction, but virtually no materials are completely immune to this issue. Your pool needs plenty of love and care to stay healthy, and you should remember that the costs of repairing significant damages will almost always far exceed the price of simply keeping it maintained.

Don’t wait until you have a major problem with cracks in the perimeter of your pool – nip it in the bud today by calling Poolman for your regular servicing needs. If you do already have cracks in the perimeter, contact this Fort Worth pool service as soon as possible.