Resin For Swimming Pools
We sell only Fibre-Shelkote II vinyl ester resin manufactured specifically for the resurfacing and repair of swimming pools, hot tubs, and spa’s, using the “hand lay-up” method. It is not for the corrosive or marine markets. The gel time is longer than other vinyl ester resins, providing additional time to roll-on the resin and fiberglass.
High quality fiberglass swimming pools are manufactured with:
- Vinyl Ester Resin
- Fiberglass
- Swimming Pool Gel coat
- Pigment (added to gel coat)
When fiberglass swimming pools and fiberglass panels for in-ground swimming pools where first manufactured in the United States, the above materials were used exclusively. Today, nearly 50 years later, the same exact materials are still used in the manufacturing process.
Best of all, those first fiberglass pools, excluding those destroyed by acts of nature, are still providing seasonal or year round enjoyment to those fortunate enough to own one.
Resin is an extremely important component in the composite material. The top-of-the-line fiberglass pools are molded using expensive vinyl ester resin exclusively. The low-end pools are a combination of vinyl ester resin and cheap polyester resin. But even on the cheapest fiberglass pools, the layer of resin closest to the inside of the pool is always vinyl ester.
The reason vinyl ester resin must be closest to the pool interior is because gel coat will not laminate to polyester resin. Without the final coating of gel coat, the pool wouldn’t last five years. Without gel coat, the resin would begin rubbing off within three years, the inside layer of fiberglass would begin causing injury, and algae would take over the swimming pool very soon thereafter.
Fiberglass boats are a perfect example of the need for vinyl ester resin. The hull of every fiberglass boat is a vinyl ester resin composite. Above deck, manufacturers use polyester resin to save money. But underwater, vinyl ester resin must be used for both strength and marine gel coat lamination. Without gel coat, the saltwater (among other things) would quickly destroy the porous resin.
In other words, anything constantly immersed in water, be it salt water or chemically treated pool water, must have a thick coating of non-porous gel coat.
Swimming Pool Repair and Resurfacing
Exactly the same rules apply to pool resurfacing. Without gel coat, the application will fail rapidly. But, as we now know, gel coat will only laminate to the more expensive vinyl ester resin. This presents two problems for resurfacers. First, vinyl ester resin is more than twice as expensive as polyester resin and second, gel coat is even more expensive than vinyl ester resin.
The cost, plus the reach of the internet, has opened up a whole new can of worms: THE 2-PART EPOXY “HIGH-BINDERS“. Suddenly, by magic, it works on fiberglass pools. Why, you ask? Well because it’s 100% solids (whatever that means), or it’s made from peanut butter and it’s eco-friendly, or it’s been tested on airplane hanger concrete floors and even battery acid can’t hurt it. These peddlers are all from the P.T. Barnum School that’s based on the principal “THERES A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE”.
With more than three million swimming pools in the U.S. alone, a huge market for resurfacing has emerged over the past twenty years.
This article written by Bill Nash, author of Pool Resurfacing Made Easy, and CEO of UGlassIt. Permission is granted to reproduce this article in its entirety, with full credit given to Mr. Nash.
