Top 5 Fiberglass Pool Problems and Solutions

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By Jason Hughes

If you're considering the purchase of an inground fiberglass pool and done any research on the web, you've probably come in contact with some discussion of the problems associated with fiberglass pools.   The purpose of this article is to address, with full disclosure, five of the most common problems associated with fiberglass pools.....but we won't leave you there.  We'll also discuss the causes of these problems and how you, the consumer, can avoid them.  At River Pools and Spas in Virginia we have had the opportunity to install over 600 inground fiberglass pools.  Yes, that's a lot and No, every job did not go perfectly.  Because of our extensive experience, we have an intimate knowledge of the good, the bad, and the ugly of inground fiberglass pools.  Congratulations, now we can share this information with you in the hopes that you'll never end up on one of those online swimming pool forums asking "What the heck do I do?"

Problem #1:  Repairs on colored fiberglass pools

Colored fiberglass pools are gorgeous...there's no doubt about it, and most manufacturers now offer a variety of colors beyond the standard white and baby blue marine gel coat.  The problem is that the great majority of these manufacturers offer a pool color that is not repairable.  After the fiberglass repair, the pool is structurally fine but the repairs simply stick out like a sore thumb.    This is, as Al Gore would say, a very inconvenient truth (please insert opinion of Al Gore here).  This is fine if you are fortunate enough to NEVER have a problem with your fiberglass swimming pool that requires a repair, but let's think about this logically for a second.  "Problems" with your fiberglass pool that would require a gelcoat repair can range anywhere from a rock flying up and hitting the pool during shipping to a massive structural crack.  Granted these instances are in the minority, but they do happen!  So you're probably asking "what's the solution?"  Well, we can't change the fact that some fiberglass pools are going to need repairs for one reason or another.  But what if there was a fiberglass pool manufacturer that offered a colored finish that was 100% repairable every time?  There is, and Leisure Pools USA (www.leisurepoolsusa.com) is that company.  Their exclusive Aquaguard gelcoat, which is light years above the competition, makes this seamless repair possible.  The problem with most colored fiberglass pool finishes is that they are applied in multiple coats.  This makes it virtually impossible to proportion the various layers during a field repair so they are consistent with the finish that was applied during manufacturing. It's a confusing process of mixing in metallic flake or color and praying that the repair will be acceptable to the customer.  Leisure's Aquaguard gelcoat is a simple one-coat application that matches(or at least comes very, very close) every time.  In fact the process is so simple that Leisure Pools actually trains their dealers to do any necessary repairs.  This is in stark contradiction to other pool manufactures who keep team after team of experienced fiberglass repair technicians on the road traveling the country making repairs that still look bad.  Look, I was highly skeptical at first, but after our first field repair I was an instant fan.  Leisure Pools Aquaguard gelcoat is the solution to the repair problem that plagued us for years.  We can finally sleep well at night knowing that we have a product that is fixable if any problem were to ever occur.  Whenever I offer my opinion to a customer with regards to a design question or any product that we sell, I always put myself in their shoes.  What would I do if this were my pool?  I'm telling you now that it is my honest opinion that any colored fiberglass pool finish other than Leisure's Aquaguard gelcoat is a gamble.  And if I'm making an investment of this magnitude, I'm not leaving anything to chance.   

PROBLEM:  Repairs on Colored Finishes Conspicuous

SOLUTION:  Leisure's Aquaguard gelcoat

Problem #2:  Spider Cracks in Gel coat

Spider cracks have always been the black mark on the face of the fiberglass pool industry.  They've always been accepted because, well, no product is perfect right?  But what exactly is a spider crack?  Spider cracks are hairline cracks that occur in the surface layer, or gel coat, of any fiberglass product.  They are usually not structural in nature as the crack is normally only through the thin layer of gel coat and the structure of the pool is not affected.  The origin of the name spider crack stems from the manner in which some of the cracks begin in a center point and branch out like the spokes of a wheel.   But to fully address this issue, we need to address three questions:  What causes gel coat cracks?  What can be done to prevent them?  And is there a treatment for them once they occur?   

What causes gel coat cracks in fiberglass pools?

Gel coat spider cracks in fiberglass pools are a result of pressure on a given point of the pool shell that exceeds the gel coats ability to flex.   This pressure could be a result of improper shipping, improper manufacturing, or improper installation.  We've had pools by other manufacturers that were simply built too thin and couldn't withstand the pressures of lifting and shipping.  They arrived on the job site with gel coat cracks, and unfortunately, we had to send them back.  We've received pools that were built correctly but not stabilized properly during shipping with the same result.  But the most common human error that leads to gel coat cracks occurs during installation.  Sometimes a protrusion on the pool floor like a tree root or clump of dirt(neither should be there) exert enough pressure to cause a spider crack in the gel coat of the floor of the pool.  This occurs occasionally, but the most common cause of pressure on the floor of a fiberglass pool comes from the installer's attempts to level the pool shell.  Many times fiberglass pool installers are forced to attempt to level a pool shell that is 2"-3" out of level despite their best efforts to modify the base that the pool rests on.  This is done by lifting and tweaking the pool shell until they get it within a tolerable range.  This exerts a tremendous amount of pressure on the pool shell that sometimes results in gel coat cracks that happen immediately or eventually develop over time.  In reality, this problem stems from the pool manufacturer rather than the installer.

What can be done to prevent gel coat spider cracks in fiberglass pools?

So what's the solution?  Find a manufacturer that makes level pools and a reputable contractor who will perform a proper installation.  Leisure Pools uses all steel frame structures and laser level technology to produce the frames from which their pools are manufactured.  The steel doesn't warp over time like wood and the laser guarantees the product is spot on.  And spot on it is!  Our fiberglass installation crews love installing Leisure Pools.  They gloat that they are a "one set pool" every time.  This makes their life easy because they don't have to spend hours working on leveling the pool.  Better yet, less "tweaking" of the pool shell means less pressure on the gel coat and less spider cracks.  Finding a reputable installer is the other end of the equation.  At River Pools and Spas all of our customers, 600 and counting, are on our reference list.  We do provide quality installations, but don't take our word for it, ask our clients for yourself. 

Is there an acceptable way to repair gel coat spider cracks for fiberglass pool colored finishes?

You can repair any gel coat crack on any colored finish from any fiberglass pool manufacturer.  But the real question is "What will it look like?"  Unfortunately, it will likely be very conspicuous and probably look worse than the actual crack....unless your pool is a Leisure Fiberglass Pool.  Their exclusive Aquaguard gel coat guarantees a seamless repair every time.  Even though no company guarantees their product against gel coat spider cracks, it's good to know that in the unlikely event that one would develop in a Leisure Pool, you could have it repaired and the pool would be without blemish.   

PROBLEM:  Spider cracks in gel coat

SOLUTION:  Find a well manufactured pool, a great installer, and a repairable gel coat.

Problem #3:  Pool Walls bulging

If you talk to enough people or scroll through enough on line forums you'll probably come across someone who has developed a bulge in the wall of their fiberglass pool.  We encountered this problem years ago with several of our pools.  This caused us to scrutinize our installation process and thoroughly inspect the pools where these problems occurred.  What we found flies in the face of the standard and accepted method of installing fiberglass pools across the country.  The problem in our case stemmed from the backfill material that we used.....namely sand. 

Tens of thousands of fiberglass pools have been installed with sand backfill without incident, and most of our sand backfilled pools were fine as well.  But when the right (or wrong) combination of circumstances align fiberglass pool walls do bulge.  Question:  What happens to sand when it becomes saturated with water?  It liquefies.  That would be fine if the liquefied sand were resting against something other than fiberglass which is renowned for its flexibility.   Fiberglass pools are structurally engineered to remain full of water.  The outward pressure from the water works in conjunction with the structure of the pool to stabilize the vessel.  When sand liquefies it is heavier than the water on the inside of the pool and if the wall is not strong enough to maintain its shape a bulge develops.  High water tables as well as soils that hold water both lead to situations where a significant amount of water surrounds the pool structure and saturates the backfill material.  So does this mean that fiberglass pools are not suitable for installations with high water table or certain soils?  Quite the contrary; I would submit that there is no better pool to have in such circumstances.  You just need to make certain of two things.  First, that you're pool is strong enough to prevent bulges.  And second, that you eliminate the sand backfill and use gravel.  Is there a difference between the strength of fiberglass pools?  Yes, but from the perspective of the consumer it will be virtually impossible to rate the "bulge-ability" of the various pools on the market because all manufacturers claim to be the strongest and most stable.  The one thing you CAN control is the backfill material, and based on our experience, using gravel backfill is the only insurance against wall bulges in any situation with any pool.   Clean crushed blue stone ¾" or smaller is the gravel used in our installations because it has several distinct advantages over sand or even round pea gravel.  First, its properties do not change when it becomes saturated with water so it performs the same wet or dry.  This makes it ideal for any situation and especially in areas with a high water table or difficult soil conditions.  Second, the point on point friction that occurs between the pieces of gravel make it a very stable material on the sides of the pool; much better than saturated sand that liquefies or pea gravel that acts like little ball bearings.    Third, the gravel compacts upon placement unlike sand which needs to be placed in lifts and compacted with water.  This is further addressed in the discussion on plumbing problems below.  You will see that this is a major advantage as well.  Opponents to gravel backfill pitch against it by saying that it's a cheaper material and used in order to cut cost.  In reality it actually costs us significantly more to use gravel.  We feel it is well worth the investment because you can't put a price tag on peace of mind. 

PROBLEM:  Pool walls bulging

SOLUTION:  Gravel backfill

Problem #4:  Fading of Colored Fiberglass Pool Finishes

Yes, another gelcoat problem!  Are you seeing a trend?  Before we jump into the fading issue....why do you think 3 of the 5 most common problems with fiberglass pools are gelcoat issues?  The answer is "Because that's what you see!"  Most, not all, but most fiberglass pools are structurally sound and will remain so for a long time.  But the look of the pool is equally as important.  Who wants a pool that looks bad after 5 years?  Not me!  Unfortunately, fading IS a problem with most colored fiberglass pool finishes.  Some fade more than others, but this is understandable.  If you made me stand in the sun eight months of the year and in full contact with chlorinated water I'd probably change color a little bit too.  No one said this stuff was easy!  Fortunately you are not necessarily condemned to a lifetime sentence of faded pool.  Leisure Pool's Aquaguard gel coat saves the day yet again.  The stuff is like liquid gold!  It's not only repairable and crack resistant, but it also resists fading.  THIS IS NOT MY OPINION, THIS IS A FACT!  Test results show that the Aquaguard gel coat has a superior ability to resist fading.  This is backed up by Leisure Pool's mind blowing 10 year warranty on their finish that guarantees the color will not fade.  Don't take my word for it, research it for yourself.

PROBLEM:  Fading of Colored Finish                       

SOLUTION:  Leisure's Aquaguard gelcoat        

Problem #5:  Plumbing Settling causing Leaks

Why would the plumbing settle?  Good question!  The plumbing doesn't settle, the backfill material around the fiberglass pool settles and takes the plumbing with it.  Yes we're back to our sand vs. gravel discussion again.  This is great because this is a topic that needs attention.  The problem is that it's very difficult to fully compact sand around a fiberglass pool during installation.  Many times, despite a fiberglass pool installer's best efforts to bring the sand up in 6"-12" lifts and fully saturate the sand with water, the sand still settles some over time.  The plumbing is encased in this sand and as the sand settles, it exerts downward pressure on the plumbing of the swimming pool.  Many installers tie their plumbing up to help hold it in place, but not withstanding, that's still a lot of pressure.  Settled plumbing manifests itself in one way....leaks.  "Leak" is a dirty word!  We want to avoid saying that word, and we do so by using gravel backfill that just doesn't settle!  If the backfill doesn't move, the plumbing doesn't move.  It's as simple as that!

PROBLEM:  Leaks from settled plumbing

SOLUTION:  Gravel backfill

**If you liked this article, you may also find the following articles extremely informative:

Installing a Fiberglass Pool Properly: Sand vs Gravel, Which is Better?

It's not mere coincidence that we have legitimate solutions to the top 5 problems associated with fiberglass pools.  At River Pools and Spas we constantly scrutinize our products and processes to eliminate any potential problems and make life easier for everyone.  You want to enjoy a problem free pool for years to come and it is our goal to make that a reality.  For more information about inground fiberglass pools visit www.riverpoolsandspas.com  and www.PoolSchool.us.