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Below are some additional considerations and details regarding your gunite inground pool remodeling, above ground pool work and our related services:

 

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GUNITE POOLS & GUNITE INGROUND POOL REMOLDEING

Our Gunite Inground Pool Remodeling Services are Extensive and Include:

 

• Gunite Pool Resurfacing
• Pool Tiling / Tile Repair
• Gunite Pool Finishes
• Gunite Pool Plastering
• Pool Masonry Repair
• Pool Coping Stone Repair / Replacement
• Pool Wall Repair
• Pool Paver Installation / Repair
• Sandblasting
• Acid washing
• Skimmer Replacements
• Crack and Bond Beam Repair
• Spa Spillway Repair
• Caulk Expansion Joint Repair / Replacement
• Underground Plumbing Repair / Replacement

 

PLASTERING A GUNITE POOL

 

Plastering a gunite swimming pool is the process of putting plaster, (a layer of waterproof material), on the walls and bottom of your pool. Pools made of concrete / gunite can last 50-100 years if properly installed. But both are porous materials, which means they aren’t waterproof. The plaster coating acts as a waterproof barrier between the water / elements and the gunite pool shell.

A plaster surface is long lasting and looks great. Pool plaster consists of a mix containing Portland cement, marble dust, limestone, and quartz sand. Pool plaster can last up 10-20 years in a properly maintained pool – but not forever. Eventually, the plaster coating can start to stain, crack, or degrade. When gunite starts to peak through via bare spots or cracks, the water level will decline as it seeps through the concrete shell.

 

When To Replaster A Pool

How do you know when your pool needs to be resurfaced? Below are the signs to look out for:

• Your pool has stains and the walls are dirty.
• The surface of your pool has developed bumps and is rough.
• There are fissures and cracks along your pool walls.
• Your pool water level continually drops.

Now there are temporary solutions such as water-proof paint along with acid washes for stains, but these are the equivalent of putting Band-Aids on the problem. At the end of the day, it’s more cost effective to hire a professional to replaster your pool.

Trusted for over 40 years, New England Pools, Inc has been restoring pools back to new all over the local regions.

We specialize in professionally resurfacing commercial and residential gunite pools. From the prepping and pre-plastering, to the plastering and finishing touches, we handle the whole process from start to finish.

Contact New England Pool Remodeling, Inc today to set up an appointment. We’ll come out to inspect your pool and give you a free quote.

 

GUNITE POOL TILING

 

Gunite swimming Pool tiles are a great choice when it comes to pool interior finishes. Along with adding a touch of decorative elegance and uniqueness, they also serve as an extra level of protection between your gunite shell and your pool water. They can be installed on the waterline only or within your entire pool.

In fact, pool tiles can last up to 20 years in the right conditions! This boast in durability and pool longevity make them a popular choice compared to standard pool plaster alone. Pool tiles also require less maintenance in general, however should still be cleaned from time to time.

There are several pool tile styles available such as glass tile, ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and natural stone tile. All options are built to last and withstand the outdoor elements extremely well.

Porcelain and Ceramic Pool Tiles -These pool tiles are typically the most common choice. They are easy to clean, install, durable, soft, and available in many styles / colors.

Glass Pool Tiles – These tiles give your pool a more luxurious look. Glass mosaic pool tiles for example have a transparent aspect that reflects the water and sunlight creating a beautiful affect.

Stone Pool Tiles – If you’re looking for a more natural look or Mediterranean style, these stone tiles are the way to go. Popular designs include limestone, sandstone, bluestone, granite tile, pavers, and cobblestone.

 

When To Retile Your Pool

Though well-maintained pool tiles can last up to 20 years, it’s not uncommon for them to experience signs of aging. You may notice stains, cracks, chips, or pool tiles falling off completely. When pool tiles develop small cracks, water can get behind the tiles themselves causing issues.

If you need you gunite pool tiles repaired or replaced, we’re the team to call. New England Pool Remodeling, Inc. are pool tile repair experts. Give us a call today to discuss.

 

WHAT IS POOL COPING?

 

Swimming pool coping is the outer edge / frame that separates your gunite pool from the surrounding surface area. It’s the protective cap that sits on your pool walls and gives your swimming pool that finished look. Pool coping serve a few very important purposes.

 

• Protects your in-ground pool from getting water behind it, and thus preventing water damage. Splashed pool water for example will flow from your pool to nearby drains when coping is properly installed.
• Keep leaves, grass, and dirt from entering your pool.
• Gives you something to grab on to when in the pool or trying to get out.
• Covers the pool wall, also known as the bond beam.
• Provides an accessible cover for any mechanical parts installed such as automatic pool covers.

 

Types Of Pool Coping

There are several common types of pool copings.

Brick Pool Coping – Brick pavers are a great choice as they’re easy to replace, readily available, and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. They stand up vigorously to the destructive effects of chlorinated pool water and are naturally water resistant.

Concrete Paver Coping – Concrete Pool Pavers are very similar to bricks and are also a very popular choice. They come in a wide range of finishes and sizes, are very durable, and are low maintenance.

Likewise to bricks, concrete pavers are also readily available and can be purchased individually. This makes repairing concrete pavers easy since you only need to replace the damaged ones.

Natural Stone Coping – If you’re going for that extra aesthetic appeal, natural stone is a great choice. Along with its natural beauty, these paver stones are extremely durable. Popular pool stone paver choices include granite, travertine marble, flagstone, and sandstone.

Keep in mind not all stones are created equal. For example, Travertine is know for it’s anti-slip features, but it also a more porous stone and therefore requires extra sealant compared to other natural stones.

Precast Concrete Coping – Composite pool coping such has precast concrete make an excellent choice. They are easy to shape, modify, install, and come in different shapes such as corners, straight, and curved.

They also give your swimming pool a more cohesive looking frame while blending in nicely with other stone or concrete materials. With a good sealant, composite materials are extremely durable. They’re also water and salt resistant.

When trying to choose the pool coping type that’s right for you, you’ll want to compare the cost, safety, durability, and style of each to each other.

New England Pool Remodeling, Inc are experts in Pool Coping repairs and complete pool renovations requiring new installs of pool copings. If need your pool copings completely replaced or simply just the damaged ones, we’re the pool remodeling company to call.

 

 

ABOVE GROUND POOLS

 

Aside from our work with fully above ground pools, there are also some considerations and questions folks often ask when considering installing an above ground pool semi within the ground.

 

Going semi in the ground makes the pool nicer because it’s not as high

People decide to sink their pools down in the ground for a couple of reasons. One is to make it more accessible for elders or dogs, but the main reason is that they don’t want the pool to be as high off the ground.

It’s nice to have a deck built up high against an above ground pool so the water is at your feet. But if the pool is built on top of the ground, then the deck will be high and you won’t have as much privacy from your neighbors.

Pools that go partially in the ground can be well hidden when people build decks around them. A wood deck needs some elevation anyway since it has a support structure underneath the decking boards, so it can look like the pool isn’t in and ground at all.

Also, when at ground level in your backyard, it’s nicer to see the water of the pool. When an above ground is installed on top of the ground, you can only see the water at ground level when you are closer to it. And it can be easier to see the kids swimming from the inside of the house when the pool is semi in the ground.

 

Sinking an above ground pool partially in the ground will NOT cause any premature or added rust/corrosion

When it comes to rust, people have all kinds of opinions. And when their pool gets rust, they are quick to blame things that may or may not have anything to do with it. A pool being partially in the ground is usually a quick blame for why a pool got rust. And in most cases, that had nothing to do with the corrosion.

We have installed and worked on above ground swimming pools with decades of experience now. We have seen thousands of pools partially (and some fully) in the ground and we have seen thousands of pools that got rust. In all that time, we have not been able to link rust or corrosion with a pool being in the ground at all.

Although we know common sense will tell some that something metal being in the ground will cause it to corrode(rust) and if we didn’t know better, we would make the same conclusion with that same logic. Our extensive and long-term observation suggests otherwise though.
In New England, there are areas that are and stay very wet, and there are good “high and dry” areas. I have seen pools partially in the ground at every moisture level. Some have rusted quickly and some never got a speck of rust. And that variation had nothing to do with how wet the earth was or stayed.

In truth, we or no one else really knows why some pools rust. Sometimes it very apparent and sometimes we can’t even guess. We can say though, that an above ground pool being partially in the ground usually has nothing to do with it rusting.

 

Future deck considerations

The majority of people who sink their pools in the ground have plans for adding a deck to it. Keep in mind that a wood deck requires some elevation in order to build it. This usually works well with pools that go in the ground about halfway (2’-2.5’). You’ll want to have the pool out of the ground enough for this.

 

SITE WORK AND EXCAVATION

 

When New England Pool Remodeling, Inc needs to perform excavation and / or site work for your pool, we often perform a soil test to gauge the composition of the ground your pool is or will sit in if we feel it necessary. Salts, organic matter, clay, sand, gravel, and silt can affect the digging conditions for your pool.

As part of the excavation or site work process, we will bring in heavy duty equipment such as a backhoe to perform digging as necessary or a bobcat to help with the site grading. You may be surprised by the amount of dirt that will come out of the ground. Because there may be such a high volume of dirt, we will probably haul it away or else it will take up a major chunk of your yard.

During the process of digging or grading/site work, hauling dirt, and storing materials, you should be prepared for your yard to incur damage. Heavy equipment and trucks will create an access lane through your yard and destroy your grass. This is a necessary part of the construction or remodeling process.

 

POOL LANDSCAPING

 

Pool Landscaping, Paver Decks, Patios And Walkways & More

Decks, Patios and Walkways made of brick, stone, or concrete pavers look amazing after they are first installed. They are all bright, clean, perfectly aligned, and perfectly flat. Over time however, your walkway or patio pavers may experience some wear and tear.

You may notice a crack here and there, some discoloring, or even some unevenness. The issues and how severe will all depend on how old your patio or walkway is, along with how well your installer did when it was originally constructed.

Luckily sunken pavers, broken pavers, or crooked pavers can be fixed. Most of the time, damaged pavers can be easily removed in isolated sections and then replaced without needing to tear up the entire pool deck, walkway or patio.

 

Brick And Stone Wall Repairs

A stone or brick wall is a great landscape feature. They are not only decorative, but can be quite purposeful.

Common uses include retaining a hillside, controlling erosion, or simply providing extra seating around your beautiful patio or walkway. Stone or brick walls are also a great way to outline your property line.

Eventually however, your brick or stone walls may need some masonry repair work. Common signs of stone or brick wall damage include:

• Collapsing or tiling retaining walls
• Stone or brick wall separation from adjacent walls
• Bowing, crumbing, or cracking in portions of the stone or brick wall
• Frost heave damage or erosion
• Mortar deterioration

 

New England Pool Remodeling, Inc specializes in all your pool related landscaping needs such as deck, patio and walkway installs, repairs and refurbishment, repairing stone or brick walls and more. Give us a call today for a free consultation.