5 Questions Before a Pool Renovation

A practical framework for facility owners, aquatic directors and design professionals before materials are selected or bids are requested.

A commercial pool renovation can begin with a deceptively simple question: What should we replace the existing surface with?

But for facility owners, aquatic directors and design professionals, that question often comes too early.

A pool is not simply a vessel with a finish. It is a combination of structural, hydraulic, waterproofing and operational systems that must continue working together after the renovation is complete. Before selecting materials or requesting bids, owners should first understand what problem they are trying to solve and what they expect from the renovated facility.

Here are five questions worth asking before the project begins.

1. What problem are we actually trying to solve?

A deteriorated pool surface may be the most visible problem, but it may not be the only one.

Is the facility experiencing water loss? Cracking? Deteriorated plaster or tile? Failed joints? Aging fittings? Suspected piping leaks? Frequent maintenance? Or is the primary objective simply to modernize an aging facility?

Those conditions do not necessarily have the same solution.

Structural repair, waterproofing and interior finishes perform different functions. A new waterproofing system, for example, should not be expected to correct a structural deficiency that first requires engineering evaluation.

The first step in a successful renovation should therefore be diagnosis rather than product selection.

For public aquatic facilities, applicable codes and guidance should also be reviewed early. The Model Aquatic Health Code provides guidance covering the design, construction, operation and maintenance of public aquatic venues and is an important reference for many aquatic professionals and jurisdictions.

Understanding the actual problem makes it easier for the owner and design team to develop the appropriate scope.

2. What condition is the existing facility really in?

Once the project objective is understood, the next question is what lies underneath the surface.

Before renovation begins, the project team may need to evaluate:

·  The structural condition of the pool vessel

·  Existing cracks and deteriorated areas

·  The adhesion and stability of existing finishes

·  Embedded piping and pressure testing

·  Main drains, returns, lights and other penetrations

·  Overflow gutters and perimeter conditions

·  Groundwater and hydrostatic conditions

·  Previous repairs and modifications

An existing pool can look remarkably similar above the waterline while hiding very different conditions below it.

Zack Tanner of ZTI, an experienced commercial aquatic contractor who has worked with reinforced PVC membrane systems for decades, considers existing-condition investigation fundamental to protecting both the owner and contractor.

“You have to find the leak before you put a PVC membrane in.”

— Zack Tanner, ZTI

His point is important regardless of which renovation technology is ultimately selected. If an existing piping leak, structural condition or other source of water loss is not identified before construction, a newly installed waterproofing system can later be blamed for a problem it did not create.

For that reason, Tanner regularly emphasizes pressure testing existing piping and understanding the source of known water loss before the new system is installed.

Renovation systems interact with the existing structure differently. Some become directly dependent on the substrate, while others can create a separate interior waterproofing layer. Neither approach eliminates the need to understand the condition of the structure and systems underneath it.

3. Are we buying a product or specifying a system?

This may be one of the most important questions an owner can ask.

Waterproofing materials do not operate independently. Their performance depends on how they interact with the substrate, penetrations, fittings, terminations and other components around them.

For example, a reinforced PVC membrane installation involves considerably more than rolls of membrane. A complete system may include substrate preparation, separation layers where required, compatible fittings, mechanical or welded terminations, accessories, hot-air welded seams, trained installation personnel, field quality-control procedures and documentation.

Other waterproofing and finishing technologies have their own system requirements.

Owners should evaluate the complete system rather than comparing individual materials in isolation.

That means asking not only what material is being proposed, but also:

·  How will critical details be handled?

·  Which components are compatible with one another?

·  What qualifications are required of the installer?

·  What testing or inspection will occur during construction?

·  What technical support will be available?

·  What documentation will remain with the owner?

Mike Mintenko, Director of Sales at Myrtha Pools, offers a useful perspective from the engineered-pool-system side. Myrtha uses reinforced PVC membrane as a core component within a coordinated construction system, and Mintenko points to long-term maintenance, repairability, facility downtime and operating cost as important considerations for owners.

For operators responsible for keeping programs running year after year, those factors can ultimately be as important as the initial material price.

4. Who is responsible for each part of the renovation project?

Pool renovations often involve a surprising number of participants:

The owner. Architect. Aquatic consultant. General contractor. Pool contractor.

Specialty installer. Equipment suppliers. Manufacturers.

Problems can arise when everyone assumes someone else is responsible for a particular detail.

Before construction begins, responsibilities should be clear for items such as:

·  Structural evaluation

·  Piping inspection and testing

·  Substrate acceptance and preparation

·  Waterproofing details

·  Fittings and penetrations

·  Product substitutions

·  Installer qualifications

·  Field inspections and testing

·  Deviations from approved details

·  Start-up and commissioning

·  Warranty documentation

Tanner sees the people executing the work as every bit as important as the materials being specified.

“The whole key is having the proper personnel do the work that you’re doing.”

— Zack Tanner, ZTI

From his contractor’s perspective, that includes having the appropriate engineer for the project, an experienced pool contractor and qualified specialty personnel working together rather than treating membrane installation as an isolated scope of work.

Specifications play an important role in establishing those expectations before the project reaches the field. Tanner has seen experienced contractors avoid projects where specifications are so loose that qualified bidders cannot realistically compete against proposals based on very different scopes and assumptions.

Clear requirements help protect everyone involved—the owner, designer, contractor, installer and manufacturer.

5. What happens after the contractor leaves?

Project completion should not simply mean filling the pool and opening the doors.

Aquatic facilities may remain in service for decades, while facility directors, maintenance personnel and contractors can change many times during that period.

Owners should therefore ask what information will remain with the facility after the project is complete.

A useful closeout package may include:

·  Approved product and system information

·  Final drawings and details

·  Operations and maintenance instructions

·  Warranty documents and conditions

·  Installation and inspection records

·  Product or material identification

·  Recommended water-treatment parameters

·  Repair procedures

·  Manufacturer and contractor contact information

This documentation becomes particularly valuable years later when someone who was not involved in the original project needs to repair, modify or evaluate the facility.

Think Beyond the Surface

A successful pool renovation begins well before a new surface is installed.

Owners who first define the problem, investigate existing conditions, evaluate complete systems, establish clear responsibilities and plan for long-term operation are better positioned to make informed decisions and protect their investment.

Industry experience repeatedly points to the same conclusion: good materials alone do not guarantee a good project.

The specification, existing-condition assessment, system details, qualified personnel, quality control and documentation all matter.

The objective should not simply be to make an aging pool look new again.

It should be to create a facility that can be safely, reliably and efficiently operated for years to come.

About the Author

Brandon Mays leads the Engineering Department for the Pool division of American RENOLIT Corporation. He brings more than 25 years of professional experience in design, project management, business development, operations, and company ownership, including more than a decade focused on the commercial swimming pool and aquatic industry. His combination of technical expertise and firsthand understanding of the builder’s perspective allows him to provide practical, solutions-oriented support to designers, builders, and other aquatic industry professionals. He can be reached at brandon.mays@renolit.com

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