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Typical Concrete Pool Construction
In ground concrete swimming pools are composed of a steel reinforced gunite or shotcrete shell, capped horizontally with coping. The pool surface is typically marbelite plaster, a cement based coating sometimes referred to as a whitecoat or marcite. The waterline is finished with a perimeter band of tiles, usually six inches tall.
The bond beam refers to the section of the pool shell beneath the coping to the frost line. This bond beam has additional steel rods, often larger in diameter. The bond beam also increases in thickness (typically 10" to 12") for additional strength. There is a caulked expansion joint between the coping and the pool deck.
The entire volume of water is circulated through a network of plumbing. The center of this circulation system is the pool pump, which draws the pool water in through skimmers at the water line and bottom drains. The water returns to the pool through fittings located either on the pool floor or walls.
Prior to returning to the swimming pool, the pool water is sent through a diatomaceous earth (DE), cartridge, or sand filter. A series of valves properly directs the water through the filters and isolates water flow through the filter and pump for maintenance. Finally, the filtered water is sanitized with the addition of an oxidizer, usually chlorine.
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