The problem on site
A swimming pool that loses water overnight presents an urgent and costly problem for contractors, site engineers, and project managers. In many cases, the loss is noticed only after the pool is filled and commissioned. The water level drops by several inches between evening and morning, exceeding normal evaporation rates. This ongoing water loss increases chemical consumption, demands constant top-ups, and risks saturation of surrounding structural elements, basements, or soil foundations.
When this happens, the immediate reaction on site is often to blame plumbing lines or fittings. However, once pressure testing confirms that supply and return pipes are sound, the issue points directly to the pool shell. Standard plaster coats and conventional cementitious slurries fail to prevent water from migrating through the concrete structure once the pool is filled and operational.
Why it happens
Swimming pool structures are exposed to continuous hydrostatic pressure combined with environmental stress. The concrete shell and the tile bedding layer do not remain entirely static. They undergo minor movements caused by variations in water load, ambient temperature swings between day and night, and structural settlement.
Rigid waterproofing coatings cannot accommodate these minor movements. When a pool is treated with a standard rigid slurry, the material bonds well initially, but it behaves like brittle stone. As the concrete shell experiences micro-cracking or shifts under thousands of litres of water weight, those movements translate directly into the waterproofing layer.
Because the rigid coating cannot stretch, it cracks along the same lines as the concrete substrate. Water easily penetrates the porous tile grout, passes through the bedding mortar, enters the fractured waterproofing barrier, and flows directly into structural cracks, construction joints, or honeycombed concrete in the pool shell.
How Space Arc Engineering approaches it
Space Arc Engineering works directly with site teams, builders, and contractors to address the source of leakage rather than applying cosmetic surface patches. As an experienced solution provider and distributor, our role is to evaluate why the barrier failed and help site engineers implement a durable, resilient system before finishes are placed.
Our technical team assists project managers in diagnosing the points of water loss across the pool basin. We look at critical transition zones, including wall-to-floor junctions, pipe penetrations, construction cold joints, and areas showing signs of honeycombing. Rather than recommending rigid barrier layers that inevitably fail under cyclic stress, Space Arc Engineering provides elastomeric waterproofing systems designed to move in tandem with the reinforced concrete structure.
The system we supply
To address structural movement and hydrostatic pressure in water-retaining structures, Space Arc Engineering supplies Fosroc Brushbond UltraFlex, manufactured by Fosroc. This material is a two-component, polymer-modified elastomeric coating formulated specifically for swimming pools, reservoirs, water tanks, and wet areas.
Unlike standard slurries, this system provides several distinct performance advantages for swimming pool construction:
- Stretches with the shell: The elastomeric polymer formulation provides high flexibility, allowing the cured membrane to accommodate minor structural movements and thermal shifts within the concrete basin without rupturing.
- Bridges fine cracks: The membrane retains the ability to bridge hairline cracks that may develop in the reinforced concrete substrate after the pool is loaded with water.
- Tiled over directly: The cured surface creates a compatible, durable base that allows direct application of approved cementitious tile adhesives, eliminating the need for bulky protective screeds that add dead weight.
- Resists hydrostatic pressure: Engineered by Fosroc for immersion conditions, it handles both positive and negative water pressure when applied correctly over a sound substrate.
What to check before you order
Achieving a reliable installation requires thorough site preparation and planning before material application begins. Before ordering your waterproofing materials through Space Arc Engineering, review the following conditions on site:
Substrate soundness and cleanliness
The concrete shell must be structurally sound, clean, and free from oil, curing compounds, form release agents, laitance, and loose aggregate. Any weak or hollow patches must be removed and repaired with an approved polymer-modified structural mortar before applying the membrane.
Joints and junction detailing
Right angles between pool walls and floors are high-stress zones. Ensure that suitable polymer-modified mortar covings or fillets are installed at all internal corners. Construction joints must be treated with appropriate waterstops or joint sealing systems prior to coating.
Pipe penetrations and fittings
Inlets, main drains, vacuum points, and underwater light niches require specialized detailing. Ensure that the concrete around all penetrations is properly chased out, cleaned, and sealed with compatible swelling waterbars or non-shrink grouts before the surface membrane is applied.
Moisture conditions during application
While cementitious-acrylic systems tolerate damp surfaces, the concrete must be saturated surface dry (SSD) with no standing water. Application should not take place during extreme mid-day heat or direct scorching sunlight, which can cause premature drying and affect polymer film formation.
Talk to our technical team
Do not let persistent water loss compromise your swimming pool project. Space Arc Engineering operates as an authorised project distributor for industry-leading construction chemicals, providing contractors and engineers across India with technical guidance, accurate material estimates, and prompt site deliveries.
For project enquiries, product recommendations, or technical assistance with your pool construction, contact our team directly:
- Phone: +91 99991 55255
- Phone: +91 72900 89007
- Website: www.space-arc.in
- Office: Space Arc Engineering, 11/155, Sector 3, Rajendra Nagar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201005, India
You can also explore our full range of project systems by visiting our solutions.