Renovation
of existing Liner Pools
What is involved
Liner Pool Renovation?
Unfortunately liner pool
renovation to an old pool does not just involve taking out the old
liner and replacing it - if only it were!
Liner renewal to
modular panel pools is a waste of money
The procedures involved
on this page only apply to concrete or concrete block pools where
the structure appears to be ok. The renewal of the liner to a modular
panel pool wall is a waste of money because the unreliability of
the structure does not warrant the cost involved in liner renewal.
The Pool through
the wall Equipment
There are normally two
skimmers, three inlets, one vacuum point and one or two main drains
that have to be cut through the new liner and sealed with the proper
gaskets, held in place by the screwed front plastic retaining pieces.
The plastic on these
is invariably very tatty and the screw connections have often deteriorated
following corrosion. If you are very lucky and these components
have been provided by someone like Hayward or Procopi - we may be
able to buy new front pieces that will fit the pieces that have
been cast through the wall.
However the likelihood
is that we cannot match the components and so have to remove all
the old through the wall equipment and replace with new parts. This
involves draining down the pool, taking out the old liner and cutting
out the concrete around the pool wall equipment out with a compressor
and jack hammers.
This work is even more
complicated and expensive if the pool has submerged lights.
Margelles and Liner
Lock
To be sure that the new
liner is properly fixed the margells (pool coping stones) have to
be removed so that a new liner lock can be installed. The margelles
then need to be relaid and re-grouted. This process takes two or
three days on its own.
Pool floor and walls
The pool floor and walls
must be properly surveyed to ensure that there has not been any
structural movement that might suggest that the state of the pool
structure does not justify liner renewal. This is carried out using
straight edges and spirit levels. If there are any serious cracks
in the structure invasive investigation may need to be undertaken
by cutting concrete out to ascertain what is causing the movement.
Pool pipework
Leaking pool pipework
wastes water and can cause structural distress in the swimming pool
walls and so it is necessary to pressure test the pipework. This
involves the disconnection of every pipe in turn, sealing the ends
and then introduction of compressed air up to the design working
pressure of the pool plumbing.
The pressure is held
for a while to ensure that there are no pinhole leaks and then the
pipework has to be reconnected to the pool equipment both in the
plant room and at the pool wall end of the pipe.
Liner Installation
and filling the pool with water
Installation of the special
underfelt, including gluing to the walls and steps takes about a
day. The installation of the liner, the application of a vaccum
to suck it into a place and the controlled filling of the pool can
take 3 or 4 days depending on the water pressure available.
Pool paving subsidence
The pool paving has often
subsided and this is also an appropriate time to fix that as well.
This involves taking up the area of pavement concerned, filling
and compaction of the subsoil and relaying the paving.
Renovation of Fibre
Glass pools
It is sometimes possible
to install a liner to give the blown surface of an old fibre glass
pool a new look. However we will need to survey the pool in question
before we can provide a proposal.
Renewal of Pump
and Filtration System
We can also undertake
the repair and maintenance of pool pump and filtration systems for
all types of pool. This is far more straightforward and less costly
than liner renewal
Renovation
of pools built by builders
Builder
Built swimming pools
We sometimes
receive requests to provide quotations to renovate "builder
built pools". These are pools built in concrete blocks by French
and English masons / bricklayers - most often on a one-off basis
because they have done a good job on the renovation or construction
of a house and the house-owner has learnt to lean on their expertise.
Click on the following thumbnail to see a typical result.
This
pool was probably built partly on filled ground (that has since
subsided) and lined with fibreglass - a very expensive and risky
approach to pool construction because the concrete blocks expand
and contract under temperature change and the slightest movement
in the wall foundations results in cracks in the fibre glass and
a very leaky pool. We understand that the one in the photograph
was used for one season only!
Most
builder built pools will suffer this sort of fate or similar because
the masons / bricklayers are inexperienced in pool construction
- not because they are poor builders!
Maintain
the old pool full of water
There
is another issue involved here that rarely occurs to most people.
If a pool is full of water it is very unlikely to suffer from structural
failure because the water pressure pushes the walls back against
the surrounding ground. If the pool leaks badly then it invariably
empties out over the winter when not in use and it is then very
vulnerable to the highest ground water pressure that always occurs
in March / April of the next spring. So if a pool has been maintained
full of water it is more likely that we will be able to renovate
it.
Can
Bluepools renovate such pools?
Can we
renovate such a pool? - the answer is probably yes - but we may
not be able to provide our normal guarantees on structural life.
If we are doubtful about the structure we can perhaps build a smaller
pool inside the existing one.
We may
be able to upgrade an existing ceramic tiled / fibreglass lined
/ painted pool pool to a liner pool - if the pool structure is totally
stable and shows no sign of structural movment. If you want us to
look at this please fill in the contact form and type in pool renovation
in the last box.
If you
require a quotation please fill in the Contact Form at the top of
the page and type in "Renovation" where it requests pool
size.
Is
Relining and Renovation Justified as an Investment?
Yes
if the pool is put into an "As
New" condition
The answer
is yes If full renovation is undertaken as described above. This
should include a detailed structural assessment carried out by a
pool structure expert to ensure that the pool can be put into an
"As New" condition when the renovation is complete.
Cost
Full
renovation as described above takes about two weeks and requires
a team of two.
One of
the team must be a professional because decisions need to be taken
all the time the work is in progress and so more skilled input is
required than for the installation of a new pool where set procedures
are laid down that can be followed by the pool installation team.
The final
cost will probably be less than half the cost of a new pool of the
same size and the cost of removal of the old pool will be avoided.
Old pool
removal costs are seldom less than 5000 euros if filling material
has to be imported and so from an investment viewpoint comprehensive
renovation is justified.
What
will happen if we take a chance and just fit a new liner?
It is
very likely that the liner will leak through joints around the through
the wall pool equipment.
|
