Your pool tiles may be beautiful, but they are also functional.
Without your tiles, the pool water would soak into the pool walls.
This water seepage not only causes expensive water loss, but can also damage the shape, foundation, and general integrity of the pool.
Most in-ground swimming pools settle with age, meaning the ground surrounding the pool shifts.
This shifting and settling may cause the tile to crack, burst off, or crumble.
Pool tile repair is a crucial and fairly simple part of pool maintenance.
Follow these ten simple steps to repair your pool's tile to restore the beauty and functionality of your pool.
Step 1.
Let down the water level in your pool so that the tile or tiles, you need to fix are exposed.
Allocate 24 hours for the area to dry.
Step 2.
Using a small mallet and chisel, pry off the damaged grout that surrounds the tile that needs replacing.
Using the same hammer and chisel, also get rid of any mortar on the pool wall behind the broken tile.
Step 3.
Calculate the depth of the substrate that will be behind your new tile.
If the depth is greater than 1/8th of an inch, you must apply plaster to bring the depth to less than 1/8th of an inch.
Step 4.
To prepare the plaster, mix it with the special swimming pool plaster additive that will come in the pool tile repair kit.
The plaster should have the constituency of applesauce.
Step 5.
Apply some water to the spot where you want to put the new tile to keep the plaster from hardening too quickly.
Then, evenly apply the plaster on the uncovered substrate with a putty scalpel.
Leave enough space so that you can apply a tile, and 1/8th inch of thinset after the plaster has dried for 24 hours.
Step 6.
Prepare the swimming pool thinset by mixing it with water.
It should be the consistency of whipped potatoes.
Step 7.
Evenly spread 1/8th of an inch of thinset on top of the plaster and the undecorated side of the new tile.
Press the tile into the thinset, making it flush with the other tiles.
Step 8.
Prepare at least a half of one jug of pool tile grout.
It should be the consistency of whipped potatoes.
Step 9.
Apply the grout into the spaces among the tiles using your fingers.
Be sure to wipe off any extra grout before it dries.
Allow it to dry for 24 hours.
Step 10.
Fill the pool back to the required depth, and enjoy! Pool tile repair is a crucial step in the maintenance of your pool.
Use this ten-step guide to help you correctly repair your pool tiles to maintain the beauty and functionality of your swimming pool.