Posted by Jason Hughes on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 10:15 AM
We have found that people considering the purchase of an inground fiberglass pool frequently have questions about the installation of waterline tile.
Some of the most common questions are:
- How is it applied?
- What type of tile is used?
- What materials are used as adhesive and grout?
- Why do you use silicone based products?
- Is it recessed into the pool or applied to the surface?
- What does it look like after the patio is installed?
The following video addresses all of the questions and shows the step by step installation of waterline tile, also known as perimeter tile, on one of our fiberglass pool projects.
Be sure to check out our other fiberglass pool tile articles:
Waterline Tile on Fiberglass Pools: Questions and Answers
Do Fiberglass Pools look like Bathtubs?...A Prevention Guide.
As always, thanks for visiting and remember to subscribe to our blog to receive instant updates before leaving the site.
Jason Hughes, www.PoolSchool.us
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Sun, Sep 06, 2009 @ 01:51 PM
5 Ways to Ensure Your Fiberglass Pool Doesn't Look Like a Bathtub
I've been talking quite a bit about this subject lately, but because there are still so many misconceptions out there regarding fiberglass pools and how they look I feel it necessary to further address the ‘bathtub' phenomenon.
You see, when fiberglass pools came of age about 40 years ago, they had some major drawbacks for various reasons. In fact, when it came to their structures (poor choices of resins used) and their aesthetics (white shells), they were quite a flawed product. Luckily though, fiberglass pools have advanced light-years in the past 40 years but notwithstanding, there is still the occasional perception by some consumers that they have a bathtub-like appearance.
In order to address this ‘bathtub' concern, I've listed here the five keys to ensuring that your fiberglass pools looks beautiful, permanent, and aesthetically dynamic- enough so to rival the best concrete pool available on the market today.
- 1. Non-White Surfaces: With 2009 coming to a close, every fiberglass pool manufacturer in the industry(Sun, San Juan, Viking, Leisure, Trilogy, Aloha, etc) is now offering colored surfaces (typically deep blues) on their pools....Finally!!! Although some of these colored finishes are better than others in terms of quality(as we've discussed in detail with other blogs), they still give the pool a much more pleasing aesthetic appearance than a plain white or cloud blue surface color.
- 2. Cantilevered Concrete: The old method of pouring concrete decking around a fiberglass pool was to pour the concrete up to the fiberglass lip, versus on top of the fiberglass lip. Pouring concrete up to the lip left a 6 inch strip of fiberglass around the top edge of the patio, giving the pool a very ‘modular' and ‘temporary' appearance. Cantilevered concrete is also the most structurally sound way of building a fiberglass swimming pool because it acts as a structural bond beam around the pool, locking the shell in place and completely integrating it with the decking.
- 3. Waterline Tile: Although waterline tile isn't a functional requisite on a fiberglass pool, many people do feel that an inground pool just isn't an inground pool without this tile highlighting the water's edge. My general recommendation to pool shoppers is that waterline tile becomes more necessary the lighter the pool's surface. For example, if someone chooses a white fiberglass pool, waterline tile is an aesthetic imperative. On the other hand, if someone goes with a very deep blue or black pool surface, tile becomes much less important.
- 4. Inlay Tile: Inlay tile in a fiberglass pool's steps and seats is a great way to at character to the pool and also give it quite the ‘custom' appearance. Beyond this aesthetic enhancement though, inlay tiles in steps and seats also serve a functional purpose, highlighting clearly for swimmers the different entry and exit points of the pool.
- 5. Water Features: Although water features really have very little to do with a fiberglass pool's surface, they still put off a custom, classy, and permanent feel to the swimming pool.
So there you have the five best ways to ensure your fiberglass swimming pool doesn't have the appearance of a bathtub. If you can think of any more ideas to share with your fellow pool enthusiasts just add them to the comment section below and as always, happy swimming!
Marcus Sheridan
http://www.poolschool.us/
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Posted by Jason Hughes on Sat, Jul 11, 2009 @ 12:19 AM
Fiberglass Pool Waterline Tile: Questions and Answers
by: Jason Hughes
Fiberglass Pool are unique.....at least when it comes to waterline tile (also called perimeter tile). With a gunite pool waterline tile is requisite to avoid a waterline staining, and tile is certainly not an option with an inground vinyl liner pool. Only inground fiberglass pools give you the choice of going with a waterline tile or leaving the pool shell exposed above the waterline. So the question before the fiberglass pool consumer is: "Do I want fiberglass pool tile?" Here are some FAQ regarding fiberglass pool tile to assist in making a decision.
Q: What type of tile is used on fiberglass pools?
A: The same exact tile as gunite pools. Normally ceramic tile but glass pool tile is sometimes used also.
Q: What is the method of fiberglass pool tile installation?
A: Fiberglass pool tile is installed differently than tile on a gunite pool. Gunite pool tile is adhered to the concrete pool shell with a cement based thin set and then grouted with a cement based grout. Then the plaster or finish coat is applied to the shell. Fiberglass pool tile is adhered with a silicone based adhesive and grouted with a mildew resistant silicone grout and this is applied to the finished pool shell. This is done for several reasons. First, silicone provides a superior bond to both the fiberglass pool shell and the tile. Second, the tile needs to have the ability to flex and bend with the pool during shipping, installation, and as the pool makes subtle expansions and contractions after installation.
Q: What are some common pool tile designs used on fiberglass pools?
A: Two of the most popular tile designs used on our fiberglass pools are offered by National Pool Tile Group. They are the 6"x6" Aztec series and the 2"x6" Neptune series.
Q: Can waterline tile be added later to a fiberglass pool?
A: It's possible but not practical. The short answer is "no".
Q: How much does fiberglass pool waterline tile cost?
A: Average cost is $1,800-$2,500
Q: How long will waterline tile last on a fiberglass pool?
A: A minimum of 8-12 years if it is installed correctly and you keep your water ballanced.
Q: What other types of tile are offered on fiberglass pools?
A: Most fiberglass pool manufacturers offer mosaic tile as an option. Examples are dolphins, sea turtles, palm trees, etc. which can be placed anywhere on the pool floor or on seats or steps. This tile is inlayed into the pool shell so it is actually flush with the pool surface. Another common type of tile used on fiberglass pools is a strip of 1"x1" tile placed along the edge of steps and seats so they can be clearly identified. 2"x2" diamonds are also placed in the center of steps and seats for decoration.
Q: What does a fiberglass pool look like with and without perimeter tile?
