While Torque Lock Structural Staples are the standard in concrete crack repair, there are times when walking away from the job makes more sense; that is, some pools can’t be repaired. A customer may very well be convinced that epoxies are a solution, or that doing a full Torque Lock installation is going to repair the pool, but previous band-aid measures like epoxy injection are part of what leads to situations that can’t be fixed. Ignoring structural issues just makes them worse and contractors might want to opt-out of the repair work.
Jeff Todd called us about his pool. He had multiple contractors over the past ten years try to address the issues with rebar, epoxy injection and even replastering to stop the continued water loss in his pools shell. Over time, it was literally like a patchwork quilt. Temporary repairs, one after another and the shell continued to separate at the cracks. Then he found out about Torque Lock Staples.
When we arrived at the pool, it was already obvious that this was a total demolish job waiting to happen. Structural cracks in the wall led to cracking in the bond beam. At one section it even caused part of the patio to lift a couple of inches. Jeff believed that we could just staple what was now 30 plus feet of cracks in 3 different areas and that his pool would be saved. We walked away from the job and recommended he rebuild the pool.
Long-Term Consequences of Ignoring Crack Repairs
Customers don’t always realize the long-term damage of ignoring and improperly repairing cracks. The pressure causing the concrete to separate is going to exist after the repair. It takes an opposing force to stop concrete movement and the only product on the planet that provides that force is the patented Torque Lock Structural Staple. If it doesn’t say, Torque Lock, it simply won’t work. Rebar staples get set into concrete and customers believe it’s holding the concrete together, when in fact, the cracks will continue to lengthen and spread, breaking apart any concrete that was filled into them. The force behind the crack is continuing to push against that rebar and there is nothing stopping it from shifting. Torque Lock Staples, however, offer a controlled compression of up to 5,000 pounds to stabilize the concrete and keep the crack from widening. When properly installed, they literally stitch the concrete together and when the crack is repaired with hydraulic cement, it stays where it’s put and the leaking ends, the cracking stops, and the pool is saved.
Sometimes contractors have to opt out of a Torque Lock repair because the long-term damage on the shell itself is beyond the point of repair. Even with the staples installed, the crumbling potential, the shifting of the shell, and the amount of pressure causing it to separate have already been established and can’t be reversed. It’s okay to walk away from the job; while the staples may possibly be installed, they simply can’t guarantee the repair needed when that pool shell is simply past the point of repair. Just opt out, as it will ultimately lead to a call back stating that the pool is still leaking, the cracking is still taking place and the pool is simply ruined.\
Learn about the methods used to install Torque Lock and make repairs by visiting https://torque-lock.com or call 818-436-2953 to discuss your repair needs and to see if Torque Lock is the answer for your pool cracking.
