How-to Guide: Caulking Your Swimming Pool | Pools NJ

How-to Guide: Caulking Your Swimming Pool  – If you’ve been noticing cracks and holes around your pool, it’s necessary to address these problems right away to prevent further damage and leaking. Caulking will help with this, plus it will make your pool more aesthetically pleasing because those cracks will no longer be visible.
You may not realize it, but your pool is continually expanding and contracting, which is why your pool has an expansion joint. This connects the concrete to your pool so the changes that come with temperature fluctuations won’t cause lasting damage. The joint is sealed with caulk to prevent water from seeping in. Mostly concrete pools are the ones that have this expansion joint, although some vinyl pools do. This caulking will need to be replaced regularly over the years. If you neglect this task, you could be opening the door for expensive repairs down the line, so it’s best to stay on top of this.
If your caulking is looking brittle, it’s time to re-apply. Here are some tips.
Pick up the right supplies: First, head to the hardware or pool store and get the following items:

• Water-proof silicone caulk (color of your choice)
• Caulking gun
• Cloth
• Flat cardboard
• Foam backer rod
• Sand (optional)

Be prepared for hard work. You’ll be on your knees and bending over a lot, so wear comfortable clothing that you don’t getting dirty.

• Use a leaf blower to clear the area where you will be caulking so no leaves or dirt remain.
• Scrape off the old caulking before applying the new caulking. Blow that away as well.
• Put the foam backer rod inside the crack and press firmly so it adheres well.
• Place the cardboard on the ground near your work area.
• Pull the trigger on the caulking gun and run a long bead of the caulk over the whole area.
• Wipe away any excess caulking with your cloth (make sure it’s damp).
• Put the caulking gun on the cardboard when you take a breather so none of the material gets on the ground or pool area.
• Once finished, do a once-over and fill in any places you may have missed.
• If you’d like to match your concrete, you can add some sand to the caulk to complement the texture.
• Allow to dry. Do another layer if you think it needs it.

Caulking is a somewhat messy job that takes some time, but it’s relatively easy to do as a DIY project. Despite how easy it is, it’s an extremely important task because it keeps leaks at bay and makes your pool area look streamlined. This is just one job you can do on your own to extend the life of your pool and surrounding decking, so you and your guests can enjoy it for many years to come.
Need help with maintenance on your pool? Call Central Jersey Pools and schedule an appointment for our technicians to visit your home.