What are common problems with fiberglass pools?

Answer 1

What we are about to show you are the facts about toxic fiberglass products and why Epoxy is becoming so popular today.

First of all Polyester and Vinyl ester resins are ½ the strength of epoxy and secondly they do not hold water or can contain a liquid.

Example: If you rolled or sprayed polyester or vinyl ester resin on a surface of concrete, steel or any substrate, it would not hold water. It dries outward and under a microscope has small holes. Even when you use polyester or vinyl ester with a fiberglass matting it still will not hold water. You must apply a gel coat to contain the water. This is a well known fact to the boat builders of today. All gel coats made today are not warranted by the manufacture for more then 1 year. This is why most 1 piece fiberglass pools and yachts are only warranted for 1 year on the outer coating.

If you roll out an epoxy resin it will bond to concrete and steel and will film and dry from the top down causing the material to be non-porous. Under a microscope there are no small hydration holes therefore each and every coat of epoxy not only bonds to the material it is being applied to but is also watertight Standard fiberglass has been outlawed today for any use for food, drinking water, biological, and aquariums. The EPA and OSHA have found that polyesters, vinyl esters and gel coats continue to give off toxic fumes and eventually break down in many cases. Therefore all external and internal coatings must be a certified NSF product. NSF or ANSI products are all epoxies. The Federal Government must certify these products. Examples of problems with polyesters to vinyl esters and gel coats: In 1979 the biological tanks at a college were coated with a polyester resin which the substrate was made of concrete. While the material was being applied the fumes were so bad all the students had to leave the building and the fire department was called. The

EPA shut down the job and made them ventilate the building. The fiberglass and gel coat deteriorated in less then 60 days killing all the fish in the tank.

Some people have complained of the toxic fumes from the polyester as far away as ½ mile from Swimming Pools being resurfaced in their neighborhood. These fumes have been known to set off pace makers and cause Asthma attacks. (Polyester & Vinyl esters increase the heart rate and to some can shut the lungs down. What we are showing you is that polyester, vinyl esters and gel coats were good for the old days but they are pretty much prehistoric today. They do not and cannot compare to the new epoxies available today. Some companies still using the old systems of fiberglass will never change and their generation will usually not educate themselves about the new world and new products available. After doing some research we have found that most of these companies using the old systems are usually not members of any composite or polymer associations or do not take any seminars or courses to better educate themselves. They will eventually be like the dinosaurs and will slowly fade away. Hopefully, for all of us, they will take these toxic prehistoric products with them. A full version of this document is available as pdf file on my website

Answer 2

One major problem with fiberglass pools is that if the pool wall or floor develop a crack that starts to leak, DO NOT lower water level considerably nor empty the water out of the pool to try to repair it yourself as there is a high chance that the pool will pop out of the ground. ALWAYS contact your local fiberglass pool specialist to come and repair it. THIS ONE TIDBIT OF INFORMATION WILL SAVE YOU LOTS OF MONEY AND HEADACHES.

Answer 3

it can cause skin allergy to people who work with fiberglass or live around it.