Popularity of smaller garden swimming pools has soared, but make sure you pay attention to the advice below when choosing to tile a swimming pool.
Before you start tiling, it's important to test the pool to ensure it's watertight – any repairs should be carried out using the appropriate methods, and tiling should not be viewed as a method of waterproofing the pool.
If the concrete shell has a smooth finish, tiling may be applied directly onto it, otherwise it'll need rendering and screeding. Tiling may commence when the surface is clean, smooth, and free from dust and imperfections.
As per BS 5385: Part 4, there are minimum time intervals between different stages of the construction process:
| Stage | Time interval |
| Between completion of shell and rendering/screeding | 6 weeks |
| Between rendering/screeding and commencement of tile fixing | 3 weeks |
| Between completion of fixing and commencement of grouting | 3 days |
| Between completion of grouting/movement joints, and filling the pool | 3 weeks |
Please also be aware that:
These time periods should never be reduced but may need to be extended in wet weather. If the shell of the pool requires rendering before tiling we would recommend using weberend OCR-T.
For further information The Tile Association (TTA) have produced a range of comprehensive documents including tiling advice for swimming pools.
Fix the tiles with weberset SPF — or any of our other tile adhesives for swimming pools — and use the solid bed method, pressing the tiles firmly into the adhesive to ensure that there are no voids behind them. Back buttering the tiles is good practice when tiling a swimming pool shell to help eliminate the possibility of voids behind the tile. It is also good practice to occasionally lift a tile to ensure a solid bed is being achieved. Wipe away any excess adhesive from between the joints.
Movement joints should be incorporated as in BS 5385: Part 4:2015
When choosing a grout for swimming pools, you'll need to choose either an epoxy or a cement-based grout with a high level of redispersable polymers.
Although a cement-based grout may be used, it will gradually become damaged by corrosion from the pool water and by erosion from water movement and cleaning, for this reason it is better to choose a grout with a high level of redispersable polymer included in the powder such as weberjoint premium (available in a wide range of swimming pool tile grout colours).
Epoxy grouts are also recommended swimming pool tile grouts as their longer working life outweighs the higher initial cost. This is especially so for salt-water pools. Pools surrounds are particularly sensitive areas where the above requirements also apply, due to the alternate wetting and drying and high frequency of cleaning.
If you have any questions or would like assistance, please contact our technical team which is available Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 5.00pm.