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ESR - Encapsulation and Strain Relief
Signature Spas
Rock Waterfalls
Water Features
The "LEAK PROOF" Pool Building Process
Alfresco Pools is the only "Leak Proof" swimming pool builder in Houston.
This ESR proprietary pool plumbing system was developed to eliminate leaks in pool plumbing, caused by clay / expansive soil types. (Also referred to as "Gumbo").
Plumbing Leaks in Traditional Pools
Traditionally, the plastic PVC pipes for pool plumbing are routed in trenches next to the pool, and later covered with soil. The pool concrete deck is then poured around the pool, on top of the plumbing.
In Houston (and other areas) with clay and "gumbo" soil types
with high shrink and swell characteristics, a great number of
swimming pool leaks occur each year, as a result of the soil
movement caused by the hydrating and dehydrating of the soil during
different rainfall seasons.
For pools, this soil movement has the effect of cracking plumbing
fittings, dislocating glue joints, and cracking pipes, causing
plumbing leaks. The only way to get to and repair these leaks in
traditional pools is to break up the deck, surrounding the pool.
This is costly, and will leave the deck with unsightly patches.
Research with two of the big leak detection companies in Houston,
revealed that more than 5,000 (Five Thousand) leaks in swimming
pools are being detected and repaired per year.
Alfresco Pools is building our "Leak Proof Pools" with our
ESR - "Leak Proof Pool"
system (Patent Pending), that was designed to do
away with swimming pool leaks.
This difference from other Houston Swimming Pool Builders allows us
the ability to offer extended warranties against plumbing leaks on
pools built with the ESR
pool plumbing system.
Soil with high Shrink and Swell Characteristics
Houston Black is a classification of soil that have a very high
shrink-swell characteristic. This Highly Expansive Soil Structure
will shrink and swell considerably with different moisture content.
This soil is a Hall of Fame Series and a Benchmark Soil Series.
To read more, click on
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/TX/factsheets/fact_houstonsoil.pdf
Spatial data for soil surveys include a Taxonomy Report with
Characterization Data that indicate the Cole (Coefficient of Linear
Extensibility) indicating shrink / swell characteristics of soils.
Soil with particles 2u in size, has a Cole of 0.06 - 0.09 which is
high, > 0.09 is very high. This is normally the case for soils
classified as the “smectitic” Family.