Liner notes: Pools are a lot of work
You can’t just put one in and forget about it
Ilove pools.
But they’re expensive; it’s not just the installation but the maintenance and heating costs as well. Not to mention your home’s electrical will need to be upgraded to 200 amps. (Most new homes have 100-amp service, and older homes typically have as little as 60 amps.)
That’s one reason there aren’t too many homebuyers out there falling over themselves trying to buy a house with a pool.
If it’s a smart investment you want, you will be better off putting that money toward a new roof, windows, upgrading the electrical wiring, finishing the basement or renovating the kitchen — these are things that all homebuyers can appreciate, especially if it can save them money in the long run.
In fact, pools are often a limiting factor in selling your home. Don’t install one thinking it will increase your home’s value.
And I will always recommend first taking care of the essentials — such as the foundation or building envelope — before thinking about getting extras like a pool. Any money spent on a pool is a huge waste if your house is falling apart or your energy bills are through the roof.
However, if you’ve done your homework, kept up with your home’s maintenance and you have the budget, a pool can make sense — especially if the plan is to stay in the same house for many years.
But there’s that maintenance. You can’t just put one in and forget about it. If the concrete on the pool deck starts to crack or the lining has a leak, it’s time to call a swimming pool professional.
When a pool liner leaks, the water has to go somewhere, and it will get in behind the lining and start to rust the pool wall. If that happens, the entire lining has to be removed and replaced, and if the rust is bad enough, your contractor will have to grind the entire wall. A pro will then use a pre-galvanized paint primer or rust-inhibiting paint and paint the whole pool to protect the walls from future rust.
The liner itself has to be replaced; this is usually a two- to four-week job — and three to four weeks during the peak spring and summer season.
A professional pool service provider will come in, remove the liner, check out the pool, make any necessary repairs, and take measurements to send to the liner manufacturer (all pool liners are custom). It can take a minimum of four to five days before the new vinyl liner gets delivered.
When it comes to the pool deck, you have options. Duraroc has a rubber surfacing material that is a very good solution for worn pool decks. It’s resistant to mould and mildew and can go right over the coping or plastic lip of the pool. It can pretty much cover everything but bare metal.
This product becomes a solid after 24 to 48 hours — so solid you will need a jackhammer to remove it. And because it’s rubber, it moves with the concrete underneath it, so you don’t have to worry about cracking. Remember: Concrete shifts and heaves because of freeze-and-thaw cycles.
For anyone who has a pool, the best time to start thinking about maintenance is at the end of the season. Get a pro to take a look at your pool at the end of summer so they can talk to you about your options and budget. That way you can start planning ahead instead of being blindsided by maintenance costs come next summer.