For aging, damaged, leaking, or deteriorating commercial swimming pools, conventional renovations are often prohibitively expensive. A commercial pool renovation employing PVC (polymer) products can be both cost-effective, as well as highly successful.
Almost every major pool component can be manufactured from PVC. The most important elements such as piping, interior pool lining, gutters, grating, and pool deck are all available as a PVC product. Utilizing a watertight, sturdy PVC product in pool renovation is simply a logical technological extension since it has been the preferred method of all buried piping in the pool environment for fifty years. It is also quite cost effective when compared to other common materials used in renovation.
Products available in PVC include highly durable perimeter return/supply gutters that can effectively and efficiently handle the water distribution at the pool perimeter. Since PVC grating is often available in different styles and textures, it can also add to the pool perimeter’s beauty and slip resistant security. PVC itself is incapable of rusting, and can last for decades – this makes it ideal for part of the pool’s circulatory system.
A textured and reinforced PVC commercial pool membrane is another product that can dramatically reduce cost during a renovation. Instead of painting, plastering, or patching with a traditional method, a thick PVC membrane can be installed that will seal any gaps or cracks and prevent further water loss.
Many facilities have aluminum or metallic pools, and these pools face unique challenges. Due to galvanic corrosion, the combination of swimmers and water will cause deterioration of the metallic pool wall over time. PVC pool membranes offer even more benefits to metallic pools, because PVC itself is an excellent insulator, the PVC membrane protects the metal pool wall from electrical discharge that can create pinholes in a pool. By using a PVC pool system to renovate an aging commercial pool, the overall cost of the renovation itself will decrease when compared to conventional renovation, while offering unique benefits to pools with specific challenges.
The pool deck itself is another area that can benefit dramatically from the addition of a PVC product. Highly textured commercial PVC decking is available that will seal the damaged or aging original deck in total watertight encapsulation. Often having a PVC pool deck will provide much greater safety around the pool edge, especially with frequent water pooling and exposure. A chipped or cracked traditional concrete pool deck is a danger that can easily be solved by installing a high-quality PVC pool deck instead.
While a commercial pool renovation is a large undertaking, by specifying high quality, long lasting PVC products, a pool renovation can be significantly easier and less expensive – especially when compared to conventional pool renovation methods. PVC is versatile, watertight, durable and effective – making it the ideal material for use in the tough aquatic environment.
Jason Mart is the president and CEO of RenoSys Corp. He has worked in the aquatics industry for more than 35 years. Mr. Mart is a proponent of cost-effective commercial pool renovation using innovative products and techniques. Email: jasonm@renosys.com Phone: 800-783-7005
