Grouting is much more than the "white color" between the tiles. It is the fundamental barrier that prevents water from seeping behind the mosaic tiles, protecting your pool's structure and preventing costly tile loss. In addition, a joint in poor condition is the perfect refuge for black algae and bacteria. Professional and durable sealing is essential to withstand the demands of our Mediterranean climate (extreme heat, salinity). At Servinmosol, we restore your pool to its "newly built" appearance using state-of-the-art materials and specialized labor.
When is it necessary to regrout your pool?
Pool joints suffer constant wear and tear from chemicals (chlorine, acid) and solar radiation. You should consider an urgent renovation if you observe any of these symptoms:
- The 2-3 Year Rule (Preventive Maintenance): Grout does not last forever. To prevent structural damage, a residential pool with normal use and traditional chlorination should have its joints maintained every 2 or 3 years.
- Empty, hollow, or rough joints: If you run your hand over it and feel the sharp edge of the tile, it is dangerous (causes cuts on feet) and requires urgent intervention. Furthermore, rough joints damage the rollers of your automatic pool cleaner.
- Stubborn black algae: If black or green spots appear on the lines that do not go away when brushing, it is because the pore of the joint has opened and the algae have rooted deeply inside the cement.
- Falling mosaic tiles: It is the final symptom. It indicates that water has already penetrated behind the coating and rotted the cement glue holding the piece to the basin wall.
- Severe discoloration or yellowing: White joints that have turned yellow or brown due to the accumulation of sunscreens, limescale, and metals from the water, completely spoiling the aesthetics of the water.
What is the best time for regrouting?
We highly recommend doing this work exclusively in winter or spring. The reason? To regrout, the pool must be empty. Doing this in the middle of summer exposes the structural shell to the scorching sun, which can cause extreme expansion and cracks. In addition, the excessive heat of July or August causes the grout to dry too quickly, "burning" it and preventing it from curing and sealing properly.
Estimated Execution Times
Regrouting is a fast process, but it requires respecting the technical drying times. Normally, it takes between 2 and 3 days depending on the size of the pool. For example, for a standard 8x4 meter pool in moderate condition:
- Day 1: Emptying using pumps and high-pressure acid cleaning.
- Day 2: Total drying of the shell, sanitation, and replacement of fallen mosaic tiles.
- Day 3: Manual application of the grout, final cleaning, and filling.
*Heavily deteriorated pools requiring manual scraping of the old joints may add 1 or 2 extra days. Our team minimizes the time the pool remains empty, protecting its structure.
Our Application Process: Meticulous Work
It is not just about "throwing paste" over the tile. A poorly executed regrouting will last barely a few months. For the grout to endure years underwater, the preparation of the support is everything:
1. Emptying and Deep Acid Cleaning
We empty the pool in a controlled manner and perform a deep acid cleaning of the basin. We use industrial pressure washers combined with chemical descalers to remove lime traces, algae roots, and sun cream embedded in the walls. This is vital because it opens the pore of the tile and the old joint, ensuring the new grout adheres with maximum strength.
2. Joint Scraping and Sanitation
Once clean and dry, our team inspects the most damaged areas (such as the waterline or steps). We manually scrape away loose or rotted material. If new grout is applied over old, crumbling material, the new product will inevitably fall off within a few weeks.
3. Replacement of Fallen Mosaic Tiles
During the preparation process, we manually inspect the entire basin by touching the panels. If we find loose, hollow, or missing mosaic tiles, we remove the old cement, prepare the base, and replace them with high-adhesion cement glue before applying the grout, leaving the surface structurally perfect.
4. Technical Grout Application
We prepare the mixture respecting the manufacturer's exact proportions to avoid shrinkage cracks. We apply the grout using vulcanized rubber floats, spreading it forcefully in all directions (diagonal movements) to ensure the product penetrates to the bottom of the joint and does not just stay on the surface.
5. Final Cleaning and Curing
After the exact drying time of the mixture, we proceed to emulsify and clean the surface. We perform an exhaustive manual cleaning with special sponges and cleaning trowels to remove the excess. This is essential so that no "white haze" remains on the tiles and the water looks crystal clear and the mosaic shines from the first day of filling.
Materials: Cement or Epoxy?
We offer two types of highly professional finishes depending on the chemical needs of your pool and your budget:
Water-Repellent Cementitious Grout (CG2 AW)
The improved classic option. We use flexible technical mortars classified for continuous immersion, formulated with water-repellent technology and anti-mold additives that delay the appearance of algae. It is the ideal and economical option for standard residential pools treated with chlorine tablets.
Epoxy Grout (Premium)
The ultimate and lifelong solution. It is a fully waterproof, two-component resin, hard as a rock, that does not stain, wear out, or lose color over the years. It is the highly recommended (almost mandatory) option for saltwater chlorination pools, heated pools, or spas, since salt quickly destroys traditional cement.