Gloucester pool tiling, fixing the cause, not just the tile.

Pools along the Severn

Gloucester is a cathedral city on the River Severn, with the Forest of Dean to the west and the Cotswolds to the east. Pools here range from leisure and school pools in the city to health club and hotel pools, and private pools in homes in the villages and countryside of Gloucestershire.

With the M5 running past the city, it is a straightforward journey for us from Warrington. For works lasting more than a day or two, the team stays nearby so time on site is spent tiling rather than driving.

Why tiles keep coming loose

Re-fixing a loose tile on the same old bed rarely lasts. If the adhesive has failed, the background has moved, or water is getting behind the tiles through open joints, the repair will fail again. On older pools, layers of earlier patching can also hide what is going on underneath.

We tap around the problem area, look at movement joints and edges, and where needed open up a small section to see what is behind. That tells us whether a local repair is likely to hold or whether a larger area needs work.

• Open or missing grout letting water behind the tiles
• Movement joints that have been grouted over or have failed
• Old patch repairs with mismatched adhesive or tiles
• Cracks running through tiles from the structure below
• Hollow areas spreading out from one loose tile

Help us by noting what you see

If your staff can note when a fault first appeared, whether it has spread, and when the pool was last drained, it helps a great deal. Dated photos are even better. They often point straight at the cause and save time on site.

Sharp edges or lifting tiles on steps and the pool edge are a safety matter. Close the area and tell us straight away.