While there are many aspects of pool repair that require professional help, minor pool tile breaks are easy to fix for the owner.
Your pool tiles are a beautiful and functional part of your pool system. Without the tiles, all of the water in your pool would soak the concrete pool walls and damage the foundation, shape, and general integrity of your pool.
Your pool will settle, or shift, as it ages, causing minor, and very normal, cracks, bursts, or crumbles of your pool tile. It is very easy to repair your pool tile as this happens. Just follow these steps and your pool tile will be as good as new in no time at all:
- Lower the water level in your pool to expose the broken tile.
- Remove all damaged grout and mortar surrounding the pool tile with a hammer and chisel.
- Prepare a batch of plaster with pool water and a pool plaster additive. The mixture should be like applesauce, thick but not too thick.
- Dampen the area on which you will place the plaster, then evenly coat the area with your plaster mix.
- Make a batch of pool repair thinset by mixing water with the thinset additive.
- Spread the thinset on top of the plaster as well as on the backside of the new pool tile.
- Press the tile into the open space, making sure to apply it evenly on all sides.
- Mix a batch of pool tile grout.
- Evenly and gently apply the grout to the area around the new tile with your fingers. Wipe off any extra grout and let it dry for at least 24 hours.
- Refill your pool and enjoy!
While repairing a pool tile is very DIY, most other aspects of pool repair will require a professional.
