- Assuming the hole in your concrete swimming pool is under water, you must first drain the pool of all water and allow it to dry out completely in the sun. This may take a few days if you do it naturally, or you can take a hair dryer or some other type of portable heating appliance and set it up over the hole in the concrete to dry out the moisture. Regardless, you can't start the patching job until the concrete around the hole is entirely dry, otherwise the new concrete you add to the hole won't adhere and will quickly dissolve when the pool is refilled.
- Regular concrete will work for a short time to repair such a hole in the swimming pool, but it's best to use a waterproof concrete that has a liquid rubber base that bonds with the concrete. Many of these types of concretes are sold at hardware or masonry supply stores. Mix this concrete in a five-gallon bucket and apply it to the hole in the pool with a trowel. Wait for it to dry, which could take a good six hours or so, and then add another coat, to ensure all the cracks are filled around the hole and the shrinkage that will occur from the concrete drying. Once that second layer dries, sand down the concrete patch smooth so that it is less noticeable.
- Once the patch is in place and has been sanded down, and you are confident the hole has been fully taken care of, refill the pool to just above the top of the patched hole. Watch for bubbles to come up from the hole; this is a sign that air may be trapped beneath the patch you just put down, which may lead to the hole recurring. However, this doesn't mean the job hasn't been completed. Fill the pool up the rest of the way and keep an eye on the concrete patch by running your fingers over it every so often under water. If it feels solid, like the other sides of the pool, then it is holding strong. If it feels crumbly, like it may come off with added pressure or you notice cracks forming in it, then you have to drain the pool and redo the patch.
Dry Out the Pool
Mix and Add Concrete
Check the Patch
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