We get tons of questions about tile on gunite swimming pools in Michigan, so we’ll tell you about several common issues that homeowners face.

Shooting the gunite shell for a gunite swimming pool

When a gunite pool is “shot” or built, the gunite forms the pool in one continuous shell. The pool is then finished on the interior with a marcite, pebble, or other decorative finish. The tile line at the top of a gunite pool serves as a cosmetic finish. Since the pool water level will fluctuate throughout the season, if it were left as just the marcite or pebble finish it would result in a “bathtub ring” at many different levels.

Tile on the Gunite Pebble Finished Sun Shelf

The tile serves as a surface that helps to hide this unsightly water line. Here’s where it starts to get interesting. We are in the Michigan market, which means for 6 months of the year, the conditions are not conducive to swimming, and most pools are closed and winterized for the fall and winter months. Tile that is installed in Michigan should always be at least frost resistant. Even when the tile is applied perfectly, and frost resistant tile is used, we do see tile falling off swimming pools, and cracking in some cases.

Pool with Beam Shear Evidence behind the tile that keeps falling off into the pool each year.

Many of the pool tile jobs that we are quoting here in Michigan this year have evidence of beam shear behind the tile. What this means is that the ground movement that occurs during the freeze/thaw cycles in Michigan, or for other reasons has moved significantly and pushed the top of the gunite pool, known as the beam, resulting in a structural crack. This normally appears behind the tile (which can be seen in many cases where the tile has fallen off of the pool) as a horizontal line that travels either a short distance along a pool wall, or in some cases around the entire perimeter of the swimming pool. Once this occurs, there are a few things that can be done. Once beam shear is present, even with a tile redo, the underlying problem still exists. The beam could be redone if a homeowner desires, however, this would need to be done at the same time that the pool patio, coping, tile, and interior finish are redone, so it is a costly renovation to undertake.

This surface has been prepped for the new tile, with a new base established for the tile to adhere to.

Another solution is to perform a tile renovation, including grinding down the surface behind the tile where the beam shear is present, reform the new base for the tile to adhere to, and install new tile. We recommend installing new 6×6 tile if this is the case for a few reasons. The first is that there are less little pieces of tile, in case the problem reoccurs the fixing of larger tiles will be simpler to undertake. Another reason is that if the surface for the tile becomes uneven, and small tiles are chosen such as the patterned or 2×2 tile, there are many more grout lines to contend with and you may notice some of the shifts in the tile line.

The finished Pool Tile Redo

The result is a pool that has a new and updated look, as well as updated function behind the tile. It is still possible that during the subsequent seasons there will be some tile shifting as the ground moves, but we’ve done everything we can to ensure the best possible performance of the pool tile for the future.

Here are a few before and after photos of a gunite pool with the beam shear and small tile pieces that updated their pool and look with new 6×6 decorative tile and achieved a fabulous look!

Existing Tile in a dated color

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Most swimming pool owners would agree that their pool is a great addition to their home. Pools add value to a home, they are great for entertaining, and they provide homeowners with a place to relax and enjoy those hot summer months. However, the cost of running a swimming pool can be high.

The average swimming pool pump can use as much energy as all other home appliances combined. They can cost $1,000 per year or more to run! A new type of pump, though, solves this problem. Variable speed pumps can cut energy costs by up to 90%, operating on just pennies per day. Installing a variable speed pump can save a swimming pool owner up to $1,500 in utility costs every year.

Our favorite variable speed pump is the Pentair IntelliFlo. These pumps use a unique, advanced motor technology that provides a base savings of 30%. IntelliFlo uses a permanent magnet motor, like the ones used in hybrid cars, instead of a traditional induction motor. These types of motors are more energy efficient and will save you money right off the bat.

IntelliFlo is a smart pump. It comes equipped with variable speed capability, digital controls, and proprietary software that allow custom programming of ideal pump speeds for the specific tasks of your swimming pool. The speed of the pump will automatically adjust for filtering, heating, cleaning—even spa jets, waterfalls, and more. Older, one-speed pumps come with an unchangeable preset speed. This speed is almost never the optimal speed for any of the tasks of a swimming pool. We all know from driving a car: slower speeds are more efficient. When pump speeds are reduced by half, energy consumption is just one-eighth of what was previously used. Even “high efficiency” single-speed, two-speed, and multi-speed pumps that cannot be adjusted are substantially less efficient than a variable speed pump.

Another benefit of the IntelliFlo pump? It is unbelievably quiet. The permanent magnet motor that gives you outstanding energy savings is also a totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC) design. Because of this, and the slower operating speeds, IntelliFlo is the quietest pump you can install. When running at a typical speed, you can barely hear the pump.

IntelliFlo also has a longer trouble-free service life than conventional pumps. The advanced motor produces less heat and vibration, and the TEFC design protects against the threats of an outdoor environment. The pump features built-in diagnostics that detect and correct conditions that cause premature failure. This protects against overheating, freezing, and voltage irregularities.

Whether you’re building a new swimming pool, need a new pump, or looking for a way to cut costs, a Pentair IntelliFlo variable speed pump is a great idea. While a variable speed pump does cost a bit more up front, the pump will pay for itself in the first year of operation. It is a great way to save money on utilities and do your part to go green.

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We’ve already had calls this spring from homeowners who have taken water out of their pool with a pump themselves, and it’s causing some issues. We’ve had one call each on gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl. Here’s what’s happening.
Gunite Pool Pop-Out

The Gunite Pool was pumped out for the winter, though some water was left in the pool. Over the winter, the ground water forces were greater than the force of the water holding the pool in the ground and significant pop-out damage happened. It could have been a hydrostatic valve malfunction as well that contributed. This can be prevented by leaving your pool full to just below the returns when you winterize the pool and then let the water over the winter fill up your pool, either on top of the plastic cover, or through the mesh of a safety cover (this is the best choice).

Fiberglass Pool Crack

In the next pool, the homeowner was pumping the water off of their plastic cover, of a fiberglass pool. In this case, the pool didn’t pop, but it did shift and “twist” causing a crack in the surface of the fiberglass. This is a significant repair, if not complete tear out and redo situation. A fiberglass pool, especially in Michigan or areas with groundwater, you must keep the pool almost full at all times. The water level is usually left above a typical closing level in a fiberglass pool, for added insurance that it will remain in place where it is supposed to! Brick pavers around a pool are also a bad idea. They allow water to travel between the stones to settle at the bottom of the pool. Pools should have concrete around them, with the expansion joint caulked, and any drainage issues should be addressed so water drains away from the pool and into another area in the yard.

This is a fiberglass pool pop-out that happened in 2011. When plastic covers are used and a “sump” type pump is placed on top of a pool, typically by a homeowner, the water is pulled through the weave of the plastic cover, so while a homeowner thinks they are draining the cover only, they are actually draining the pool.

Vinyl Liner Pool

We had an early spring call from a vinyl liner pool homeowner this year. He was draining his pool cover with a pump and noticed the pool water level was significantly low. A vinyl liner pool suffers the least damage if it’s pumped out too low, but issues can occur. A liner can float, and wrinkle when the water below the pool shifts the liner out of place. The advice to the homeowner this spring was to bring in a truck or two of water right away, before waiting for the opening of the pool (scheduled for a month later), to prevent any issues from occurring. If you do end up with a floating liner (as the photos show), you can Ask the Pool Guy to help. He’s got a system to remove and reset most vinyl liners that have issues that still have some elasticity to them. The older a liner, the less change we have of this procedure being successful, and a liner replacement may be necessary.

When in doubt, hire a professional. Always make sure your pool has the optimum amount of water in it – it’s important!

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This pool is really cool! It was built fairly recently, though in 2011 due to a storm, the barbecue was knocked into the pool and caused some damage. The great news is that it was covered by the homeowners insurance policy, and with a quick liner replacement the pool is as good as new and back to original (if not better) condition!

This amazing pool was built in Novi, MI, very near Northville, MI by Legendary Escapes – designed and built by Ask the Pool Guy, Al Curtis. It’s perfect for entertaining, lounging, sitting on the shallow step area, or the deep end loveseat. It was built as a freeform vinyl liner pool, with a raised spa and wrap around entry step. The firepit and large textured concrete patio offer this backyard a great oasis to unwind, relax, and enjoy life! (View the full photo gallery on our Facebook Page Here).

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This liner was replaced in a backyard in Livonia, Michigan, today! Look at how much new life a liner can bring to a backyard. From the old/faded liner to something bright and new.  The pool is about 15 years old, and was still functional – the homeowner wanted to update the look of the pool and get a few more years of enjoyment out of a pretty backyard pool.

Ask the Pool Guy, he’s been building and servicing vinyl liner pools for years – and liners are one of his favorite things to do! If you think you’d like your liner replaced, please call or email for a free quote. We still have some room to fit you into our 2012 spring vinyl liner replacement schedule. Let us know if you’d like a new look in your pool!

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As The Ask The Pool Guy says: “Everybody doing a little bit is great and everybody doing a little bit together is awsome.”

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What do you know about bio film in swimming pool or spa plumbing? You’ll want to watch this video to find out more about it, and what you can do to remove it from your swimming pool and spa for cleaner water and better equipment maintenance.

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