First,
I do not recommend pools with diving boards, or even pools with deep
ends. In over 25 years, I have yet to see a pool with a deep end that is
regularly used by the home owners once the kids reach the age of about 16,
unless those kids are on the “School Diving Team". Two exceptions in the
thousands of pools, that I have serviced and repaired, is not a good track
record. A "Play Pool" will be used, even by grandparents,
throughout its entire length and width, and for their entire lives.
Ok,
so you have a diving pool. There are many "Diving Pools" out there,
and many have aging equipment. I normally stay away from diving board “repairs”.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread ... is a proper statement that
applies to most areas of diving board repair. I normally suggest that the
home owner contact one of the "major pool manufacturers" from the area to do
ALL of these types of repairs, unless all they want to do is clean the
surface (Use a 1 to 4 Muriatic acid/water solution and be careful not to let
any get on the deck. Use a little on a small surface area, with a brush (Wear
gloves) and rinse it off after a few seconds.)
Any
board that has any cracks should be considered unsafe. I know of families who
have ignored this advice and buried one of their children because of it.
Diving boards, even well maintained are very dangerous, and they encourage
behaviors that are even more dangerous. Personally, if I owned a pool with a
diving board, and my son wasn't on the dive team, I'd unbolt the board and
take a grinder to the bolts so a new one could not be easily put in. If you
are unwilling to do this, then call one of the big companies and have them
replace your board. The smaller companies cannot afford installation mistakes, where, if they
are sued, because a family member is hurt or killed due to a faulty
installation, or unseen defect. Of course, if thy do make a mistake that costs your family a price no person ever wants to pay, the smaller companies just declare bankruptcy, or sell their
business and restart under another name. Like I said, use a big name company.
And
yes, if your board is over 10 years old, even over 6 years old, I lean
towards replacement and not repair. The sun is hell on all exposed polymers
and fiberglass materials. Add the stresses of 200lb., plus people
bouncing on them, and I would not bet my life, or the lives of those I
care about, on an old diving board. And no, I do not replace them. No, I do not
repair them. As I said, I consider them dangerous and risky at best, and
what I am gambling with is the future of those I love. I will stick to play
pools and playing football, keep away, basketball and volleyball, pelt
each other with water balls, .... While we still get hurt, on occasion, getting hit
in the face, or someplace else, with a ball does a lot less damage than
getting hit in the face with the side of the pool, or a snapped diving
board.
I
would not like the feeling I would have to live with if I sold a diving
board, repaired a diving board, or replaced a diving board, and while having
some fun one of your kids broke his back, his neck, or outright died using
it. For this reason, if you need a diving board, I suggest you call the
biggest companies and have them do your work.
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