Pool Cracks
What We Recommend
We highly recommend sealing the crack first. When we visit a pool for the first time, we have very limited information about its history — we don’t know if/when it’s cracked prior to the visit, how much the soil has shifted, or how the structure responds to stress. By sealing the crack with a polyurethane sealant or our “liquid plaster” option, we can observe the pool over time and see how it behaves. Does the same crack re-open? Are new cracks forming elsewhere? This approach provides a much clearer picture of your pool’s specific conditions before moving into a more costly structural repair.
We can certainly begin with a full gunite crack repair, and many companies do, but if shifting continues and the same area reopens, the homeowner is left paying for another major repair. Starting with a seal allows for monitoring and helps ensure your investment is made at the right time, not just the first time.
There are also situations wherein previous homeowners or pool companies re-plaster over existing cracks without properly repairing them — often before selling a home. In these cases, the cracks hidden underneath will eventually make their way back through the new plaster, sometimes within weeks. Proper crack treatment before re-plastering is essential to prevent this cycle from repeating.
In rare cases, soil migration beneath the pool can be so extensive that the only lasting solution is to fully re-gunite the pool. Fortunately, the majority of our clients never reach that point — most experience no major issues for over 15 years after repair. Still, it’s important to understand all possibilities to ensure proper repair from the first visit.
Our Warranty
There’s a reason many companies don’t offer warranties on crack repairs — soil migration is unpredictable. At Precision Pools DFW LLC, we take a more careful approach. Our standard crack repair includes a 1-year repair warranty, but when we begin by sealing and monitoring the cracks over time, we gain valuable insight into how your specific pool behaves.
If conditions remain stable during the 2-year injection warranty following our polyurethane injections, we can often extend coverage and warranty our crack repairs for up to 5 years — giving you added peace of mind that the repair was completed under the right conditions for long-term success.
During the crack repair warranty period, we will re-seal any openings from our repair at no charge. If a repaired crack reopens at any point during the warranty, simply let us know, and we’ll be out as soon as possible to address it.
Why?
Cracks in pools occur when structural or surface stresses exceed the strength of the pool shell or finish. Common causes include ground movement or soil settlement, poor construction practices, hydrostatic pressure from groundwater, temperature fluctuations that cause expansion and contraction, or improper curing of concrete and plaster. Over time, normal wear, chemical imbalance, and water intrusion can also contribute to cracking.
Prevention?
While there’s no way to permanently prevent cracks from ever re-occurring, there are steps that can help reduce the risk. Proper construction methods, quality materials, and correct curing of concrete are the foundation of durability. Maintaining balanced water chemistry, addressing drainage issues to reduce soil movement, and controlling groundwater pressure also play a role. Regular inspections and timely repairs can minimize damage before it worsens, but natural settling, temperature changes, and long-term wear mean some degree of cracking is always possible.
Plaster Crack vs Gunite Crack vs Leaking Crack
Not all cracks in a pool are the same — and understanding the difference is key:
Plaster Crack – This type of crack only affects the surface layer of plaster. It’s mostly cosmetic, though it can expand or stain over time if left untreated. These cracks don’t typically threaten the structure of the pool.
Gunite Crack – A crack in the gunite (the concrete shell) means the problem runs deeper than just the surface. These cracks compromise the strength of the pool and will slowly worsen if not properly addressed.
Leaking Crack – This is the most serious type. The crack has gone all the way through the gunite, which allows water to escape into the surrounding soil. This can accelerate ground shifting in that area, worsen the crack faster, and lead to more significant structural issues if ignored.
3 Crack Repair Options We Offer
Epoxy Application
This is the most affordable option, designed to stop leaks rather than permanently fix the crack. Epoxy seals the crack and prevents water loss, helping to slow down the acceleration of damage. We typically recommend it for pools with a large amount of linear cracking and budget is the main concern. While not a structural fix, it buys time to save for more permanent repairs without the constant expense of refilling the pool. Warranty: 90 days.
Seal Injection (“Liquid Plaster”)
This method seals opened cracks in the plaster and includes coverage for new cracks that form. We do not seal unopened hairline cracks, but opened hairlines are included. This option is ideal for monitoring how much shifting is happening with your pool. If cracks re-open or new ones appear, it often signals significant ground movement. Many pools can remain crack-free for decades, while others develop issues due to soil shifting beneath them. After the 2-year warranty, you can renew the coverage if needed, upgrade to a longer-lasting repair, or—if shifting is extreme—consider a full re-gunite. Warranty: 2 years.
Gunite Crack Repair (Carbon Fiber Staples)
For deeper structural cracks, we remove the surrounding plaster and gunite, seal the crack with polyurethane, and reinforce the area with carbon fiber staples rated for over 5,000 PSI (only in areas that are necessary). This strengthens the shell and helps prevent the crack from worsening. The warranty varies from 1–5 years, depending on the repair, and includes resealing any cracks related to the treated area. Note: this warranty does not cover unrelated future cracks that appear elsewhere.
How Long Will The Gunite Repair Last?
Crack repairs in the DFW area are difficult to guarantee because soil conditions vary widely. One pool may experience very little shifting over decades, while another may see significant movement in just a few years. Many clients see their gunite repairs last 10+ years with no issues, but there are always outliers — and it’s those outliers this information is meant to prepare you for.
Because every pool sits on different soil conditions that we can’t fully assess after a single leak detection, we highly recommend starting with the Seal Injection. It’s more affordable, allows us to monitor the pool over time, and gives both you and us a better understanding of how much shifting is actually happening before committing to a longer-term repair.
Cracks Constantly Forming In the Same Location?
When cracks continue to appear in the same spot, it’s a clear sign of a weak point in the pool shell. This weak point can be caused by multiple factors, but the outcome is the same — it’s where the tension releases and the gunite gives way.
For example, a pool with an above-ground spa may see recurring cracks beneath it due to the added weight pressing down in that area. In some cases, especially with newer pools, poor construction or bad pours can leave the gunite weak and crumbly — breaking into it can feel more like dirt than solid concrete.
Even drastic measures, like installing piers around the pool, don’t always solve the problem. We’ve seen situations where clients invested heavily in structural solutions, only for cracks to return in the same locations. Recurring cracks highlight the importance of addressing the underlying weakness rather than just the surface damage.
Can I Plaster Over A Leaking Crack?
• No. A leaking crack isn’t a plaster problem, it’s a gunite problem.
Plastering over a crack without addressing the underlying issue is only a temporary cover-up.
• The crack will quickly reopen because water is still seeping through the pool shell.
• This means your expensive plaster job will be wasted, as the same crack will reappear.
• Plaster is designed as a cosmetic finish, not a structural repair.
• Water movement through the crack continues to weaken the gunite, causing the crack to widen over time.
• In some cases, plastering over a leak can even hide the problem temporarily, making the eventual repair more complicated and costly.
• Proper crack repair methods (such as polyurethane injection and/or carbon fiber stitching) are required to stabilize the crack before re-plastering.
• Think of plaster as paint on a wall—if the wall is broken, painting it doesn’t fix the damage.