Waterproofing for swimming pools

Common issues and queries you can face

Swimming pools

Concrete walls or hollow-block walls are not sufficient to ensure a full waterproofing and avoid leakage of a swimming pool. A full waterproofing system should be applied before putting the swimming pool in service.

Step by Step solution

weber solution

  1. Substrate preparation

    The cement base products are ideal for this application. The concrete is to be treated before fixing the tiles and the following steps are to be considered:

     

    PREPARATION OF THE SURFACE

    Remove dust, oil and any remainders by using grinders and fresh water only; all substrate must be sound and clean.

     

    PRESENCE OF HOLES

    Mostly in newly built swimming pools, holes will appear caused by molding or else; such holes must be cleaned and damped. Use the plugging mortar weberdry 150 BLC and keep it moist for a period of 15 min. If any cracks are present, they can be treated the same way.

     

    HONEYCOMBING

    In some newly built swimming pools, honeycombing may be found occurred by concrete pouring or pumping. Honeycombing areas must be cleaned by removing all damaged concrete and existing laitance and the damp the concerned areas with water and use weberep 331 TX for filling honeycombing area and the cracks if any.

     

    BIG HOLES AND DAMAGED CONCRETE

    In the case of big holes or damaged concrete in old or new swimming pools, all damaged areas must be chiseled, cleaned and damped with fresh water. weberep 331 TX is to be applied in one or two layers depending to the depth of holes.

     

    JOINTS TREATMENT

    All joints between vertical walls and ground must be treated by creating a groove of 2 cm deep and 2 cm wide and reconstituted on the 90° corner an angle curve form in an appropriate thickness with a non-shrink thixotropic mortar like weberep 331 TX, at least 3 days before the application of weberdry 110 FX. In case it is impossible to have a curve form, open a groove of 2x2 or 3x3 cm, clean it and damp it with fresh water before filling it with weberdry 150 BLC.

     

    PLASTERING

    The substrate of the concrete walls must be aligned in order to have the tiles fixed, therefore, plastering work is to be applied after repairing work. Apply one coat of webepremix key coat on a thickness of 2 to 6 mm manually or by using a Tyrolienne spraying device. 

    For a better curing, keep spraying water twice a day. After 3 days of the curing process, apply one single layer of weberpremix fiber. Thickness can reach 15 mm and carry an additional 3 days of curing. In case more thickness is required to achieve the alignment, then scratch the finishing coat and apply another one following the previous steps.

     

    FLOORING SCREED

    The concrete floor has to be aligned as well, by using floor screed weberfloor 600 SCR. Mix 50 kg of weberfloor 600 SCR with 5.5 liters of fresh water and pour the mixed product onto the floor and spread it with a steel trowel for a thickness up to 50 mm. Control joints in the existing substrate should be respected. For large areas, joints should be created every 25 m². Avoid fast drying in case of hot temperature or wind by a regular curing process.

  2. Product Solution

    WATERPROOFING

    After assuring that all the above steps have been maintained, the swimming pool is ready to receive the final product in the cement waterproofing system, weberdry 110FX - the flexible high-performance product is to be used in 3 layers:

     

    • 1st layer with sufficient thickness 0.5kg/m²:
      - Use a brush or a roller.
      - Fix 20 cm width of fiber mesh on all corners, joints and cracks while the waterproofing layer is still wet.
    • When dry, apply the 2nd and 3rd layer in proportions of 0.5-1 kg/m²

    It is recommended that the tiling start one week from the application of weberdry 110 FX. When needed flood test on weberdry 110 FX can be carried out prior tiles fixing. Allow one week curing before flood test.

  3. Complementary systems

    TILING

    Walls and floor of the swimming pool are ready to receive the final step of this system. The tiles are to be fixed by using webercol flex as follows: 

    - Mix the two components of webercol flex by pouring the powder in the liquid progressively while stirring the liquid. An electric mixer with low rotation speed (< 300 rpm) can be used. Mix until a uniform lump-free paste is obtained.

    - Apply webercol flex evenly on the substrate. Use a notched trowel to have the required thickness. Apply the tiles on the substrate and press them firmly, while making sure that the paste does not slip from the tile sides. webercol flex can also be applied on the back of tiles to ensure full adhesion on the entire surface.

     

    GROUTING

    After the fixation of tiles, all the area must be cleaned with fresh water and kept untouched for 24 hours in order to allow the tiling to be set, then all the tiles joints should be filled with weberepox easy or weberjoint perfect. Apply weberepox easy or weberjoint perfect with a rubber spatula into the joints by filling all the gaps. Remove surplus grout with a damp sponge. Use the product within its pot life, after mixing. When the grout is dry, clean the tiles with a dry cloth.