do fiberglass pools crack in cold weather

While you indulge in the excitement and eagerness you are feeling; you still need to remember to consider the type of swimming pool you will buy. If it’s not, it’s possible that the ground can shift after you’ve installed the pool. Surprising for a substance that is so strong, fiberglass is very flexible compared to other pool materials. Do not drain the pool in cold weather as this also reduces the stretching capability of the liner. This means that water that freezes would not press against the shell of the pool and cause it to crack. Neither hot nor cold temperature extremes are a problem for fiberglass pools. “Eliminate one part of the system after another, in a consistent order,” Lavery says. Swimming Pools Canada. Are Fiberglass Pools Affected by Cold Weather? It would be best if you chose a swimming pool that will endure the tough test of time. Be wary of any pool that calls the inside of the pool “xyz finish”. They can do this because of the exceptional qualities of their material: If ever there was a great testing ground for the cold weather resiliency of fiberglass pools, it’s Canada. The most common although almost nonexistent would be the run of the mill car accident. “As long as you follow the same procedure every time, you’ll eventually find the leak.” Leaks on fiberglass installations fall into two general categorie… Swimming pool cracks are often on the surface of the pool body in the plaster coat, and do not run all the way through the pool body itself. The principle is the same as frozen water in an ice cube tray. Improper gel coat thickness. The majority of in-ground pools are constructed of 6 to 8 inches of gunite or shotcrete, a concrete type of material, spayed over rebar steel reinforcement. Fiberglass will not rip, tear, crack, chip or leak, providing a longer-lasting surface. And as long as their plumbing is properly winterized, they open up every spring undamaged and ready for action. Fiberglass pools are a great option for both warm weather and cold weather climates. Thats because the gel coats and fiberglass itself have great cold weather properties. The structure is held in place using poured concrete, much like a fiberglass pool, but the walls of the pool are made of metal or polymer and aren’t prone to cracking in cold weather (they also aren’t as durable in harsh climates). There are a few different ways that a fiberglass pool will crack. Consequently, they worry themselves without doing proper research on the subject. Although fiberglass pools can seem flimsy compared to concrete, they’re actually very durable and easy to maintain. Placing plastic on the inside of the pool and calling it a high end finish is getting more and more popular. “Winter is coming. Fiberglass Problems: Cracks. Well, in a nutshell, the answer to this question is… yes, your fiberglass pool can handle winter weather with ease! Rumor is that one manufacturers shells are so far off that they recommend the installer use the excavator to push the uneven corners down then fill it. Proper winterizing is a key aspect of pool maintenance. Oct 4, 2017 / by With proper care (though not much is required), they cycle through season after season, hardly showing any signs of wear. However, you can run into some problems with the vinyl liner surface over the winter months. The concrete edge acts as a collar to hold the fiberglass pool in place, if you ever need to drain and service the pool. The bottom line: Fiberglass pools come with minimal risks in cold … HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The cold weather can cause big problems for your sprinkler systems and swimming pools, but some simple steps can keep you trouble-free. This forcing of the pool into level will stress the shell and cause spider cracking at best and giant wall cracks and bulges at worst. They are more susceptible to damage create by freezing temperatures which can call for a hefty toll on your wallet in the form of repairs. Well that can be just about anything. This makes fiberglass pools more cost-effective, as there’s less need for chemicals and scrubbing. Spider cracks may also occur when the contractor is attempting to level off the swimming pool. Notorious for its brutal winters, the country has fiberglass pools from coast to coast. Systems that are not running or that experience a power outage during freezing weather: Cold temps have little to no affect under normal. Every fiberglass pool builder in the northeast has installed a pool in below freezing temps and they never have a problem. And that's why fiberglass pools are a great choice for upstate NY. The cracks that form are sometimes referred to as spider cracking of the gel coat. In other words, it is resistant to pool cleaning solutions, sanitizing chemicals, ultraviolet light, etc. Improper backfill and or installation. In the past 5 years I know of only one pool where the driver hit a low bridge. Unlike plaster, fiberglass cracks are not caused by drying out or temperature. But unfortunately that’s just how it is. There is a very small margin for error here so the factory must have quality control factors in place when manufacturing your pool. One of the biggest myths surrounding fiberglass pools is that they … Can my fiberglass pool handle it?” This is a question we frequently get from potential and existing owners. I’m not a scientist, I don’t know exactly why this happens, it just does. Accidental Damage. Examine the defect to get an idea of the severity of the problem, which will help you … The more we all know the better off we all will be. Protecting pool pipes from freezing. Gel coat applied to thin will crack just as easily as gel coat applied to thick. The dropping temperatures and harsh weather conditions can wreck havoc on a pool that is not properly prepared. The areas of the pool that are to low, need to be lifted into proper place. Even though these will not compromise the integrity of the pool, this issue can give it the visual appearance that there is a potentially fatal flaw in the structure. The concrete edge acts as a collar to hold the fiberglass pool in place, if you ever need to drain and service the pool. If they are on the bottom, the pool will require emptying. Our backfill material and the use of the CMP Fiberglass Pool Return which has a large 2" nut on the back properly secures the return to the pool. When lifting, if the contractor is not careful about the amount of pressure applied to the pool, they may cause a crack then. Always been told to try and not expose fiberglass to constant temperature swings above and below freezing as it will result in stress cracks. Fortunately, this is not the case with fiberglass. Fiberglass pools are great for climates that are both hot and cold; they are extremely durable in these situations because the fiberglass is somewhat flexible, making it more resilient to the hold/cold temperature swings. But don’t worry, they really don’t require much care at all. Gravel comes out of a shovel 95% compacted and the rule is if you get to 98% you can build just about anything you want on it. I have seen this on a pool before and there is not much I can do about it once it gets to me but send it back from where it came from. The layers that make up a fiberglass pool shell work together to give it flexibility that is not present in the structure of concrete or vinyl liner pools. They can do this because of the exceptional qualities of their material: Structural stability. Fiberglass pools have a gel coating that can develop hairline cracks over time. Unlike fiberglass pools, gunite pools can be made on-site which allows for more flexibility and is easier to install. Advantages Fiberglass is considered to be a “dielectric” substance, which means It’s more often from a stress placed on the walls or … The thing is, fiberglass pool shells can (and do) crack also. The first step necessary for the fiberglass pool is to drain it so that you can have full access to the crack and the surrounding area. The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Cold temperatures are not a problem for fiberglass pools, so long as you properly care for them. That’s why it’s critical to stick to a series of steps for narrowing the range of the problem. Why do swimming pool cracks occur? From there it’s just kick back, fantasize about your summer pool days, and wait for the warm weather to arrive. Mike Fox. With varying humidity and temperatures this is unavoidable for these cheaper molds. Pool pipes located above the ground can crack if they pump is not running when temperatures dip below 32° for several hours. If a pool shell is produced off a wood framed mold most likely that mold has warped over time. The water inside the pool weighs it down, and keeps everything locked in place. Fiberglass exhibits less expansion and contraction due to heat or cold than other pool materials like concrete and vinyl. I remember at the end of 2010 just before Christmas breaking over 1000 pounds of ice that froze inside a pool that was waiting to get installed. Fiberglass pools are a great option for both warm weather and cold weather climates. ... Gel coat cracks do happen. Now this one is a strange phenomenon. As you break and move the ice on the surface this can cause damage to tiles, plaster, vinyl and even gel coats on fiberglass pools. Manufacturers state heaters should not be run at temperatures 68 and below. Travelling down the road can place huge stresses on a fiberglass shell because of the bumps in the road. It’s a myth that fiberglass pools crack in cold weather. Well, we all know everything has a breaking point. Instead, it would go over the edge of the pool slightly. Fiberglass pools are designed in such a way that allows them to expand upward when water freezes during cold weather. The first thing to know is that any crack in the pump, body or connection points, will cause the pump to not prime. This means that while the soil around a pool may expand, contract, and move as it freezes and thaws, a, If ever there was a great testing ground for the, Fall and winter are great times to do your fiberglass pool research. When they crack, fiberglass pools are hard to repair, as they are not designed to remain empty in the ground. The trick is getting a product where the breaking point is so far out of reach that you will never get near it. When pool water freezes, the tile along the pool's edge may crack. ... Also really liked the idea of covering with a roof and walls that open up in the warmer weather, however if you only use the pool occasionally this will not be a cost you'd be wanting. When you head out on a service call involving a leak, it’s often impossible to guess where the problem lies. We all know just how tough Mother Nature can be and temperatures well below freezing are notorious for damaging property. Low quality gel coat or even worse a gel coat alternative. So, not only do the physical properties of fiberglass suggest it can survive freezing temperatures, real-world “stress testing” confirms it. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(482700, '783ad99b-398a-4705-b76b-4c4c21cbd97c', {"region":"na1"}); Topics: Frozen pool pump - If you experienced freezing weather and your pool system was not closed and winterized then you might have experienced some damage to your pump. Any cracks that do show up are just surface cracks on the gel coat. Fiberglass exhibits less expansion and contraction due to heat or cold than other pool materials like concrete and vinyl. Fiberglass Pools- the Perfect Choice for Cold Climates. However, although it might not look pretty, these cracks shouldn’t cause any leaks or damage to the pool itself because the concrete doesn’t make up the actual structure or surface of the pool. Fiberglass is chemically inert, meaning it doesn’t react with other substances. If you have seen something I missed please leave it in the comments. It is not unusual for the prefabricated fiberglass swimming pools to develop spider cracks in their clear topcoat. When water freezes, it expands upward, not outward. A Fiberglass pool should always have water in it. Pool Step Repair slideshow of the before and after of a few of the many swimming pool stairs Pool Step Specialists have repaired over the past 25 years. That is not a true gel coat and has a been known to fade and just plain delaminate. After you learn all about the great qualities of the material, you can start checking out the many beautiful designs that are available. When water freezes, it expands upward, not outward. The upward expansion means that the frozen water would not press against the pool shell that will cause cracking. Fiberglass pools should also have a cantilevered concrete edge around the rim of the pool. You are better off to leave the ice to form on the surface than to attempt to manually break it up. Many people wonder if their fiberglass pools are strong enough to withstand the extremes of winter weather. Follow this by letting it dry. Instead, it would go over the edge of the pool slightly.

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