“It was fairly easy to sell them on the savings because of all the time, money, and hassle they had been dealing with over the years, as part of pool maintenance,” says Borland.
Once the team removed the old vinyl liner, they worked on preparing the surface for the new PVC membrane.
“There were so many layers of paint on that concrete pool,” says Borland. “Rubber paint, epoxy paint, it was like 60 years of paint.”
The team spent several days preparing the surface, smoothing it out, and making repairs before applying a glued felt backing. Then, they installed a PVC membrane, which was custom welded on-site. The team also ran new plumbing to ensure the pool functioned as new when the renovation was complete.
“The PVC membrane is a complete waterproofing membrane that is guaranteed for at least 10 years, and it is very forgiving. If the concrete shell shifts or cracks, the membrane will hold water regardless,” says Borland. “Clients want something long-lasting that isn’t going to leak so they appreciate the additional insurance the PVC membrane provides.”
Indoor campground pool
This was another example of a pool proving to be a huge maintenance headache for a local camp.
“The pool had some sort of rubber surface which was chalking in a way that when you rubbed it with your hand, you would get covered with a white film,” says Borland. “It was painted so many times I don’t even know what the initial surface was.”
After starting the project, Borland’s team discovered there was a high-water table in the area.
“We didn’t know it at the time, but clearly the high-water table was responsible for a lot of the pool’s damage,” he says.
Similar to the condominium project, this pool required a lot of preparation. However, knowing they were installing a PVC membrane on the pool, a long-lasting, watertight, waterproofing solution was guaranteed.
Once the surface was prepared, the team installed a felt lining along the floor and walls of the pool structure. The material, also referred to as geotextile, acts as an anti-bacterial to avoid bacteria proliferation behind the membrane to extend the life of the product. As a side benefit, the felt lining makes the floor more comfortable to stand on. This is especially beneficial for bathers using the pool for water conditioning, therapy, or aerobics.
After the geotextile is installed, workers roll out 1.8 m (6 ft) wide strips of the PVC membrane and heat-weld them together on-site for a smooth finish. They also cut, fit, and weld any steps, beach entries, safety ledges, etc.
The PVC membrane installed on the campground pool features a slip-resistant, embossed surface, which is generally used on steps, in shallow areas, and beach entries. Black PVC material was also used to create racing lanes, transitions, and depth markers.
