Tankline were contacted by a school in the Isle of Man after their swimming pool was forced to close due to a failed GRP liner. The previous contractor had applied GRP directly onto unprepared tiles, which resulted in complete delamination and a costly shutdown of the facility.
The client, understandably frustrated by the poor workmanship, had already engaged a local builder to remove all tiles and repair the pool shell before our arrival.
Rebuilding Trust in GRP
After their negative experience, the client was hesitant to try GRP again. However, we explained that proper surface preparation is the key to a successful, long-lasting GRP system — something the previous installer had clearly neglected.
Surface Preparation & Repairs
Once on site, our team carried out diamond grinding to create a keyed surface for maximum resin adhesion. We then thoroughly vacuumed the shell to remove all dust and debris, ensuring the surface was perfectly prepared for lamination.
Pool-Line Lining System Installation
With the surface ready, we applied a Vinyl Ester primer and allowed it to cure. Unlike polyester or isophthalic resin systems, we use Vinyl Ester resin exclusively, which offers superior resistance to chlorine, water ingress, and osmosis.
Our Pool-Line laminate system included:
2 layers of 450g/m² glass matting and a surface veil on all vertical surfaces
2 layers of 450g/m² glass matting on the floor of the pool
Each section of matting was pre-cut to accommodate the pool’s varied depths, and our skilled applicators completed the full installation and allowed it to cure thoroughly.
Finishing Touches
Once cured, the entire surface was blanket sanded to eliminate any sharp spots or imperfections, ensuring swimmer safety. The area was then vacuumed clean to prepare for the final finish. We then applied a pigmented ISO NPG Vinyl Ester topcoat, complete with jet black lane lines, to complete the transformation
Result
The school now benefits from a seamless, chlorine-resistant, and visually striking pool lining system that offers far superior performance and longevity compared to traditional liners. More importantly, Tankline helped restore the school’s confidence in GRP — by doing it the right way.
