trouble with waterproofing pool

[casastaple]

I’m designing a pool and planned on using an external waterproofing membrane but the construction team that has built similar pools in the past advises instead suggests using an integrated crystallizing waterproofer in the concrete. However, the crystalline waterproofing's manufacturer's says that it can only waterproof cracks up to half a mm wide. I’m not too confident in that recommendation. Do I just drop the waterproofing membrane altogether? I’ve seen companies like eco finish (

https://ecofinishcoatings.com/)

are offering pool finishes that act as waterproof barriers, but I’m not sure how effective they are. If anyone has any ideas I’d appreciate it.

 

[dik]

Vandex type products are common and have been successfully used for decades. A good waterproof membrane is also very good essential...

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[HTURKAK]

Yes.. I will suggest the use of concrete admixture XYPEX ADMIX C-1000 if available at your region .



Use it up, wear it out;
Make it do, or do without.

NEW ENGLAND MAXIM

 

[JAE]

Crystallizing waterproofing may not be a good idea as you suggest: Cracks will eventually allow water to drain out - sounds like a nice fat future lawsuit.

 

[hokie66]

Is this an inground concrete swimming pool? They are typically built without a membrane. And those admixtures only work a bit once cracks form. Reinforce the pool in accordance with your local pool construction standards, which should control cracking. The finish these days is typically a very small colored aggregate mortar. Nothing lasts forever, so you should expect to have to refinish the pool after 10 or 15 years.

 

[WesternJeb]

To piggyback off of Hokie, Concrete tanks built in accordance with ACI 350 often have very minimal leakage and they rarely have full coverage water proofing membranes. If there are leaks, they are small enough to only repair every so often with some sealants.

Use the admixture and run with it.

 

[Brad805]

Typically you make the concrete waterproof with two strategies. Use enough rebar to limit the width to 0.2 - 0.3mm and then use a admixture that works for cracks up to that width. Kryton and Xypex both have similar products. The C-1000 limitation is shown below. A membrane works too.

 

[Tomfh]

First things first - why are you waterproofing it?

 

[Tomfh]

Use enough rebar to limit the width to 0.2 - 0.3mm and then use a admixture that works for cracks

Autogenous healing works anyway up to about 0.2mm-0.3mm doesn’t it?. Especially in pools. What advantage do the admixes give?

 

[hokie66]

Advantage to the admixture manufacturer. Snake oil. Like Tomfh said, autogenous healing will seal "static hairline cracks". Fancy cements are not needed when good old Portland Cement is doing its job.

 

[phamENG]

I thought that autogenous healing was up to 0.15-0.2 and works more slowly. Admixtures speed up the process and go up to 0.3. But that also may have been a brochure from an admixture manufacturer.

 

[Tomfh]

I just looked this up. It seems the admixes do provide real additional benefit beyond regular autogenous healing.

https://reximaco.ro/fisiere/Lista cu incercari XYPEX (EN).pdf

One abstract in particular:
It was
recorded that at 4 days all dripping ceased from the cracks of the Xypex treated
panels, while leaking continued through the control slab until the end of the test
period (25 days). It should be noted that the Xypex Admix sealed cracks well
beyond the 0.4mm (0.016 in.) width. SEM photographs taken magnifications of
500X, 1000X & 3000X clearly illustrate development of the Xypex crystalline
formation.

 

[JAE]

I thought this was an elevated pool over spaces below - not sure why I assumed that.

 

[hokie66]

Your assumption would be because that is the type pool which would require waterproofing.