Rebar – Reinforced Steel Bars for Pool Construction

Rebar in Pool Construction

Rebar is commonly used in building inground swimming pools because of it’s excellent bonding properties with concrete. The use of reinforced steel has been popular for decades and is widely adapted in Pool Construction.

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Why do Pool Builders use Rebar in Pool Construction?

Reinforced steel bars are one of the most popular forms of building materials used for inground swimming pools. The strength that reinforced steel provides in support of the Gunite / Shotcrete shell is a force multiplier in terms of durability and protection for the interior of the pool. Rebar is continuously one of the top choices for pool builders because of it’s versatility, durability, and economical price point. The use of rebar hasn’t changed much over the years in how pools are made.

1. Versatile – Can be bent and manipulated to form practically any shape freeform pool.
2. Range – The only limit to the shape you can create is your imagination.
3. Forming – Typically not required
4. Durability – Reinforced steel rebar adds strength & durability to the pool
5. Cost – Steel rebar is one of the most economical materials you can use in pool construction.

Watch The Pool Steel Process – Rebar Process in Inground Pools

Here is an excellent walk through on the process of installing rebar in an inground pool that will educate you on the installation process and why steel reinforced bars are used. In pool construction it’s essential to have a highly durable skeleton that can resist vibration, expansion and movement in the soil. This material has been the preferred choice of Pool Builders for generations, here’s why.

Why Use Rebar to Build a Gunite Pool?

Pool Builders prefer to use steel bars in gunite pools because of the bonding characteristics that cement has with steel. The two join extremely well together to form a highly durable pool wall that lasts years and is extremely resistant to harsh chemicals typically used to sanitize the water in the pool. Pool Construction techniques incorporate rebar as an essential material because of it’s similar expansion characteristics to those found in concrete.

1. Steel bonds extremely well with cement and is highly versatile in terms of construction.
2. Concrete offers amazing protection against corrosive pool chemicals typically used for sanitization.
3. Rebars expansion characteristics are very similar to that of concrete.

Why Is Rebar So Popular In Inground Pools?

Over the decades pool construction techniques have dramatically changed. Steel reinforced bars have continuously been one consistent element in pool construction that has not changed much. The techniques used in construction today don’t differ very much than techniques used 50 years ago. The chief reason being that the combination of steel and concrete remains the primary method of building highly durable structures that stand the test of time and the elements

1. The combination of steel and concrete is one of the most durable construction materials.
2. The strength of both building materials compliment eachother handsomely.
3. Concrete is one of the most durable materials and compresses nicely but is weak in tension.
4. Steel on the other hand is completely the oppositive, strong in tension but weak in compression.
5. Each has a yin / yang polar opposite strength that compliments the others weakness.

Rebar Use Cases In Swimming Pools:

Pool Builders and Pool Construction companies utilize rebar to provide added durability to the pool wall. The use cases of how to use rebar in pool construction are clearly defined below.

1. Reinforced steel must be used in order to prevent vibration & movement.
2. Reinforced steel must be used according to the structural plan
3. Steel bars placement should be at the size & spacing defined in the strutural plan.
4. Steel bars should not be exposed anywhere in the pool encasement.

Rebar Building Codes In Gunite & Shotcrete Pools

The building codes for using rebar in Gunite Pools may vary from state to state and locality to locality. There are a few steadfast rules about how rebar is to be utilized in most building codes.

1. Maximum sized bars allowed for reinforcement in residential pools No. 5 steel bars.
2. There is a required minimum height clearance between parallel steel bars of 2 1/2 inches
3. Using steel bars larger than No. 5 increases the odds of shadowing (voids that form behind the reinforced bars)

Of course the grade of steel bars you select will ultimately determine the total PSI strength. Check the Rebar Grade chart below for more information.

Rebar Grades

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