SWIMMING

POOL RENDERING & TILING IN THE UK, (POOL FINISHING).

By DAVID COULSON
A PAPER TO HELP ANYONE CONCERNED WITH THE RENDERING & TILING OF SWIMMING POOLS DIY, POOL TRADE, BUILDER, OR STUDENT OF CONSTRUCTION.
[ C o m p a n y A d d r e s s ]

WWW.DIAMONDPOOLFINISHERS.CO.UK

SWIMMING POOL RENDERING AND TILING IN THE UK, (POOL FINISHING) BY DAVID COULSON

Helen Coulson
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THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MOST POPULAR SWIMMING POOL TANK BUILD METHODS EMPLOYED TODAY FOLLOWING MATERIAL METHODS

1) SHOTCRETE, this can be defined as a mortar or concrete, pneumatically projected at high velocity through a pressure resistant conveying line onto a surface, where it is compacted on impact. 2) BLOCKWORK, reinforced concrete blocks, or reinforced patent block systems, Cavity reinforced concrete blocks containing reinforced concrete. 3) SITE CAST OR POURED-IN-PLACE reinforced concrete using formwork /shuttering THE SWIMMING POOL SHELL / BASIN / TANK Swimming pools are deemed water-retaining structures whichever method of construction is utilized and shall be designed and installed to be capable of meeting the water tightness criteria in accordance with the specifiers instructions A WATER TIGHTNESS TEST should be carried out BY THE MAIN CONTRACTOR prior to the commencements of any of the SWIMMING POOL FINISHERS CONTRACTOR WORKS are commissioned, (obviously the TANK should pass the water tightness test before the commencement of the finishers works), THE BASIC STRUCTURE SHOULD BE WATERTIGHT. And confirmation must be obtained in writing before commencement of the finishing works. LINING / POOL FINISHING WORK The lining /finish of a swimming pool tank with sand and cement /mosaic / tile or pool plaster materials, will requires the exceptional skills sets and specific experience of a highly skilled swimming pool finishing contractor such as www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk therefore, when placing your order for the finish, one should not so much look for the lowest bidder, but consider the expected quality, efficiency and reliability of such specialist contractors

THE SWIMMING POOL TANK /SHELL /OR BASIN MUST BE Left to fully cure, before any pre finish inspections take place

THINGS THE LINING CONTRACTOR WILL NEEDS TO CHECK THE POOL TANK (SUBSTRATE) FOR And objections should be made to the main contractor especially if any of the following are found, IN WRITING! 1) Considerable unevenness 2) The substrate surface offering insufficient mechanical key (a constant problem with site cast or poured tanks) 3) Efflorescence 4) Cracks from tensile stress or setting 5) Oily surfaces (again site cast or poured tanks from shuttering oil) 6) Visible reinforcement or salient metal parts (proud of the substrate) 7) Particles of shuttering timber 8) Algae (if the pool tank has been left to stand for a long time) 9) Dust and debris (must be removed) 10) Leaks or fissures in the tank

When the above preparations of the tank to be lined have been addressed

and you are satisfied, then you can commence with the next stage, after a good sweeping and cleaning out, this will be SAND AND CEMENT RENDERING /SCREEDING It must be said at this point that if it is possible to construct the tank to a high degree of dimensional accuracy so that the tile/mosaics can be fixed in (the DIRECT METHOD), then there is no need to apply a render and screed to the tank, (this is very unusual), and most swimming pool tanks are rendered/screeded Ideally it is important in swimming pools that the render, screed, and tiling is carried out by the same specialist contractor such as www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk The walls to be rendered should be clean and free of any loose or dusty material, and given a good damping down with CLEAN water, An SBR (a white styrene butadiene emulsion used to improve the properties of cement renders, screeds and mortars. It is also used in conjunction with Construction Chemicals Tanking Slurry as a priming coat or tight render basecoat. Used with Sulphate resistant cement it will resist the movement of salts within the wall). This is mixed with OPC (ordinary Portland cement) until it is a slurry, then painted onto the wall, just prior to the first application of the render scratch coat. This is about 9mm in thickness and is evenly applied all over the wall, then scratched with a combed scratching tool. This is designed to leave an indented wavy pattern all over the wall (mechanical key), to enable the next coat over the top of the scratch coat to tie into and mechanically bind to this coat. The next coat or floating coat should provide a flat level and true surface ready to receive the finishes. This is achieved when the floating coat is spread about 9mm thick all over and on top of the scratch coat, it is ruled-off with a straight edge. The low spots are filled in and ruled flat all over. It is left to tighten-up, then rubbed-up with a plastic float, then a trowel over to close it up and leave a smooth surface finish, ready to receive tiles.

Any external sharp angles in the pool tank, should be avoided if possible for obvious reasons, if these have to be incorporated then do not use any form of metal angle-beads to form them, (not even stainless steel) as they will all over time corrode and oxidize under the tile layer. This will lead to tiles (delaminating from the render/screed surface over time. Pool finishers would use the reverse RULE system to form any external angles, as practiced by www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk Most professional pool finishers will prefer to quarter-round any external angles by (reverse mould template) so as to give the correct radius for the mosaic size they are using on a particular job. The constituent materials for the cement-based wall render and its preparation and its application for both coats scratch /floating coats should comply with the recommendations given in BS8481: 2006, BS13914 AND BS5385-2: 2006 AND BS5385-4: 2009 where appropriate (FLOOR SCREEDING) the laying of any cement-aggregate mix in the horizontal, to a surface that will probably be walked upon.

SCREEDING THE FLOOR OF THE TANK, USING THE (BONDED METHOD) First, PREPARATION is to scrape the floor over and sweep up any loose debris. Wet the floor over with water, then scrub the same SBR/OPC mix as for the bonding of the walls into the floor, just prior to laying the fresh screed mix in to the wet bonding mix. This is painted/scrubbed into the substrate concrete; this process is called (GROUTING-IN). Lay long bands of the (PRE-MIXED) OR (HAND MIXED) fresh screed around the outer wall/floor intersection edges at least 600mm wide. Rule-off flat, level and true. One band/strip is laid down through the centre of the tank, these are used to work from, to keep your bays level, flat and true. Work your way out of the pool in alternating bays, as on a chessboard, so as to keep a wet working edge. Rule off and float over with your plastic float. Close up with your steel trowel

as you go, until the floor is laid. The screed should be laid in accordance with (BS8204-1) TOLERANCES should be no more than 3mm under a 2 meter straightedge.

CURING /DRYING. Once laid all screeds should be correctly cured by covering over with an impermeable membrane for at least 7 days or longer if possible. Once cured the screed should be allowed DRY for a further 3 weeks before installing the tiling. (At this point it is worth mentioning that CURING AND DRYING ARE TWO SEPARATE PROCESS). Adequate periods of time should be allowed as drying shrinkage is the most often encountered cause of any subsequent rendering/tiling failure

MOVEMENT JOINTS Any movement joints, should be continued thought the screed/render and into the tiling. This would also apply to movement joints in the walls sub-base, in accordance with BS5385-1 or BS5385-3 Movement joints, as are recommended in BS5385-4, should be sited at the intersection between the wall /floor/any corners of the pool tank and at any change in the plane of the floor of the pool tank. No movement joint should come to a dead end. This is a good example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NHgu7ij5NA of one reason movement joints are essential in a swimming pool tank. Movement joints should be placed at a distance of no greater than 6.5 meters. At this point I would like to say that SPECIAL CONSIDERATION would need to be given to the following: 1 DECK LEVEL types of pools 2 INFINITY EDGE types of pool 3 SALT WATER / SEA WATER types of pool 4 HYDROTHERAPY types of pool 5 COMPETITION types of pool Concrete swimming pools that are intended for holding types of water that will attack concrete, such as thermal, mineral or sea water, as well as medicinal brines, must resist a considerably higher corrosive stress than ordinary swimming pools. In these cases it is important that all the cement-based materials are shielded from these media, by the application of a suitable bonded lining

SWIMMING POOL TILE FINISHES (FIT TO BE USED IN A SWIMMING POOL AS A LINING). The choice of tiles or mosaics for utilization in the swimming pool tank is an area, which demands careful consideration prior to specification. The surface finish to a swimming pool has to serve several functions TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Ceramics as with other materials for use within the swimming pool tank need to be technically fit for purpose. Bla or B1bBSEN14411. They should have low water absorption of 3% or less if possible Either extruded type AlaAlbBSEN14411 or dry pressed type Product suitability should be sought in writing from the supplier and manufacturer Other areas to consider during your selection of tile should be safety. Tiles must have adequate SLIP RESISTANCE for location of use. The tile supplier / manufacturer must confirm their fitness for purpose. AESTHETIC REQUIREMENTS are usually a matter of personal choice, but some competition pools require special thought for ASA or FINA accreditation. So check this out.

MOSAICS When fixing mosaic that has been assembled with a backing material it is essential that reference should be made to BS5385-2:2006 CLAUSE 5.3 which states that: For a mosaic that has been assembled with a backing material, it is essential that: A) the backing material and its adhesive does not occupy more than 25% of the area of each tessera; the critical factor is the spread of the adhesive over the back of the tesserae; B) the backing material and its ADHESIVE does not deteriorate in service and that they are compatible with the mortar or adhesive bed in accordance with the manufacturers instruction. http://www.infotile.com/pdfFile/advicetopic/48201031834.pdf This is a very good source of reading that we would recommend for anyone ADHESIVE SPECIFICATION For most areas of wall and floor tiling throughout a swimming pool installation, POLYMER modified cementatious adhesives are recommended. Where it is known that aggressive water conditions are present, especially where mosaics are used, then fixing and grouting with a REACTION RESIN product is advised. Ref to BS EN 12004; 2007 should be consulted. At this point, it is worth advising that the water local to the swimming pool build, is checked and tested for suitability.

 PREPARATION OF ADHESIVES When working with hydraulically setting thin-bed mortars, (THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE STRICTLY OBSERVED) During the preparation of the thin-bed mortar, clean tools and clean / fresh water must be used. The prepared mortar should be lump-free and of a uniform, plastic consistency. The preparation of the mortar should be carried out by means of electrically operated agitators. The maturing time indicated by the manufacturer should be adhered to. The prepared mortar must be used within the POT-LIFE. Any mortar that has begun to cure MUST not be made workable by the addition of water, but MUST be discarded. ADHESIVE APPLICATION. The thin-bed mortar is applied using the flat edge of the correct sized combed trowel onto the substrate as in this example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyt2US_SSBM&NR=1good We would recommend that you first DAMP down the substrate with a sponge and water. Comb out the adhesive with the serrated edge of the trowel, then back butter the tiles one at a time. Lay immediately into the mortar bed on the substrate. When using the back buttering method the thin-bed mortar should be applied uniformly to the back of the ceramic lining material. The tile must be placed in position with a twisting and pressing motion to ensure 100% contact with adhesive. Sheets of mosaic should be batted into the adhesive bed. All joints should be cleaned of squeeze out and sponged clean on completion of tiling GROUTING The minimum period between completion of the tile fixing and commencement of grouting is three days, where cementacious adhesives are being used. It is also NOT good practice to grout finished work in small patches. The use of epoxies or rapid hardening cementacious adhesives MAY allow a reduction of this period. POOL TANK FILLING OF H/2O (WATER) The completed installation should stand empty for a minimum period of three weeks before filling commences providing that all criteria for curing sealants have been met. Pool filling should be undertaken slowly in order to minimize stresses arising from loading and THERMAL CHANGES arising from the impact of mains water http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr0yMWdWie0 as explained here, THE RATE OF FILLING should be carefully controlled to ensure the water level rises at no more than 75 cm in every

24 hours TEMPERATURE RISE Similarly stresses arising from initial heating should be restricted to 0.25 degrees centigrade per hour. All the above information has been recommended by www.diamopndpoolfinishers.co.uk We will be writing further papers on swimming pool practice to help educate people interested in building their own pools or maintaining them and to help professionals understand this industry in a better context FOOTNOTE This short paper is aimed at filling the considerable gap which exists in the literature on the techniques of modern swimming pool rendering & tiling or as the trade call it (POOL FINISHING). DAVID COULSON has been Senior lecturer in Plastering & tiling, and is currently CEO of www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk MR COULSON is also available for technical inspections, witness reports, diagnosis & solutions for swimming pools and can be contacted through the above web-site Details DIAMOND POOL FINISHERS also provide the best pool finishing service to individuals, the swimming pool trade, builders, & local authorities throughout the UK and can be contacted anytime through www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk

www.diamondpoolfinishers.co.uk web-site http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGooner59 ?blend=6&ob=5 you tube channel .