Why is My Pool Cracked?

Swimming pools are intended to improve quality of life and be visually appealing, so no pool owner is happy to find a crack running through their investment. For liquid-containing structures like swimming pools, cracks are more than just an aesthetic nuisance. Crack control is critical to maintaining the durability and function of the structure. So why does a concrete pool crack?

Understanding AAR in Watertight Structures

Potential AAR damage can be mitigated by selecting appropriate concrete materials for the fresh concrete. Understanding the contributing factors and careful attention to materials used in the mixture design, proper reinforcement and skilled shotcrete placement can all play a role in controlling, if not preventing, AAR harm.

Boundless Waters – 2024 Outstanding Pool & Recreational Project

The Boundless Waters pool project is a contracted water feature that draws its contemporary design from the architecture of the new house installation. The house is a modern version of the old costal mansions once built and adorned on the Hudson River by the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Vanderbilts.

Synthetic Mesofibers: The Sustainable and Practical Solution for Shotcrete´s Pool Industry

The construction industry has witnessed a paradigm shift in recent years with a growing emphasis on innovative materials and techniques. One such advancement that has gained significant attention is the use of synthetic fiber-reinforced shotcrete (SFRS) in the construction of swimming pools. Traditional concrete structures face challenges such as volume change due to drying shrinkage, as well as moisture and temperature variations. This article explores using synthetic fibers in shotcreted concrete, a highly versatile construction material, to enhance the durability and performance of pool structures.

We are having a pool installed and would like to know if shotcrete should be placed when severe weather is forecasted for late in the day or the next day? Is it possible to cover the area after application to protect it?

Shotcrete is a method for placing concrete. Concrete has a set time that provides hardness of the in-place concrete. Final set may take anywhere from an hour to several hours depending on the concrete mixture and the weather.

Hot weather has a faster set time than cold weather with the same concrete mixture. If the pool is shot in the morning, it may be hard enough to tolerate a rainstorm in the late afternoon. The concrete should certainly be set by the next day unless there is a very cold overnight temperature or a problem with retarder in the concrete mixture. Tarps could be placed over the vertical walls to protect them from a sudden rainstorm. The floor may be harder to protect as the rainwater wouldn’t necessarily drain off the floor.

If concrete is exposed to rain and the surface isn’t washed off in any way, the concrete should be good. Similarly, if you are expecting freezing temperatures overnight, the fresh concrete must be protected from freezing. This may require using vented heaters and insulated blankets. The goal of the cold weather protection is to keep the surface temperature of the fresh concrete above 50°F (10°C). More details on cold weather protection can be found in ACI PRC-306-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting available directly from ACI’s bookstore (concrete.org/store.aspx).

Water’s Edge

The Water’s Edge pool project was a contracted water feature that drew its contemporary design from the architecture of the new house addition. The house is a modern version of the old coastal mansions once built and adorned by the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Vanderbilts. The house, with its surrounding architecture and landscape architecture, incorporates a contemporary, strict linear version of the old-world construction.

Shaw Residence

How does one provide a backyard transformation that includes a water-in-transit pool, complete with all the outdoor living amenities one could ask for when facing a 75° waterfront sand cliff located on an ever-shifting chain of barrier islands susceptible to a multitude of severe weather patterns?

THUNDERBIRD FALLS

Building a swimming pool on the edge of a cliff can be an exciting and challenging project, especially when using shotcrete as the main building material. Shotcrete is chosen for its strength, durability, and ability to create complex shapes, which is essential for a pool in such a unique location.