Pairing ICF with PVC interior membrane
The growing popularity of ICF pool construction can be attributed to the pandemic’s affect on the pool construction industry (both demand and supply chain shortages) along with the new PVC membrane offerings that are now readily available in Canada and the U.S. Pool builders have been known to use other finishing materials within the pool interior, but many of those require expensive upfront investments in equipment or are more difficult to maintain.
“We started with a plaster interior when we started building the ICF pool; however, plaster is a porous product and, as a result, it’s difficult for pool owners to maintain the water chemistry,” says Teinert. “There is always a migrating back and forth on the surface which can cause issues with the plaster as well as the water chemistry. Apart from the simplified maintenance advantages for pool owners, builders are appreciative of the immediate accessibility of PVC membrane rolls. These rolls can be procured without delay, with builders only needing to order the necessary quantity of rolls for each pool project. The longevity and high-quality of the 60, 70, and 80-mil reinforced PVC membrane material further pique the interest of consumers seeking a top-tier, robust, and long-lasting pool interior solution.”
Additionally, the introduction of new architectural finishes, along with an array of colors and textures, has quickly propelled these PVC membranes into the residential pool spotlight.
Therefore, instruction and training concerning the correct installation procedures for PVC membrane are of utmost importance.
“It’s not hard to weld, but the training is important, it’s like wrapping the box from the inside out,” says Teinert. “It requires a lot of attention to detail; precise cuts hold great significance so it’s important to take your time and not rush.
“Our team received manufacturer training and even assisted our initial installations to ensure we were doing everything correctly which helped cultivate a sense of confidence in our procedures.”
There is a learning curve, like anything else. However, pool professionals need to understand it is not that difficult and there is no need for expensive equipment.
“I found the heat gun to be intuitive making the pool interior welding easy,” says Lavio. “But this winter, I will go to get more training to increase my speed and learn new techniques, tips, and tricks with corners, and other custom features on the pool to master the installation.”
