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ACRATON® Dolphin
Problem

Why do pool tiles come loose?

Almost every concrete public pool eventually faces loose tiles. Not in one spot, but everywhere — floor, walls, edges. Re-grouting buys a season or two, then the same story starts again.

On this page you'll read why pool tiles fundamentally don't last in a chlorinated environment, why each new tile or grout job is only burning money, and how thousands of European public pools have been solving the problem definitively since 1969 by replacing tiles with a seamless ACRATON® Dolphin coating.

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Problem

The problem: tiles that come loose every season

1
Rattling tiles
Feet and hands feel loose tiles — a safety risk in public pools.
2
Grout washed out
Chlorine and high-pressure cleaning flush grout cement away. Hollow voids form under tiles.
3
Cuts on swimmers
Broken tile corners and sharp grout edges cause injuries — and liability claims.
4
Endless repairs
Every spring: prying, colour-matching and re-grouting. There is no end to it.
5
Algae in grout lines
Open grout traps dirt and biofilm. Hygiene inspections become harder.
Cause

Why pool tiles fundamentally don't last

Tiles themselves aren't the problem — the system underneath is. A concrete pool expands and contracts with temperature swings between winter (empty) and summer (operating). Concrete moves millimetres per 10 metres; ceramic tiles are rigid. The grout has to absorb that movement — which is physically impossible long term.

Thermal movement
Concrete expands and contracts ~0.01 mm/m·°C. A 30 °C swing in a 25 m basin means ~7.5 mm of movement the tile work has to absorb.
Chemical attack on grout
Free chlorine, pH swings and stabiliser residues slowly break down cementitious grout.
Hydrostatic pressure
Water enters hairline cracks in grout, freezes in winter and pushes tiles off the concrete.
High-pressure cleaning
Annual winter cleaning at 150+ bar washes weak grout out and accelerates damage.
Ageing tile adhesive
Cement-bonded tile adhesive from the 70s–90s loses adhesion completely after 20–30 years.
Solution

The permanent fix: replace tiles with a seamless coating

Stop running the same expensive renovation cycle. ACRATON® Dolphin is a two-component high-solid epoxy coating that fully replaces tile work with one seamless, monolithic layer. No grout lines left to flush out, no tiles to come loose — literally nothing left to fail.

Since 1969 ACRATON® Dolphin has been delivered by PoolFIX and Zandleven Coatings to public outdoor pools, municipal recreation pools and hotel pools across Europe. The proven average service life is around 10 years — typically longer than the next tile job would ever survive.

One seamless surface
No grout, no tile edges — nothing left to flush out or come loose.
Proven since 1969
Decades of references in public outdoor pools. Not an experimental product.
Zero pigment release
Swimmers don't get blue feet or hands — even under heavy bathing load.
Easy to clean
Smooth, dense surface — biofilm and limescale barely adhere.
Optional anti-slip texture
Safe on floors and steps, comfortable for swimmers.

Tile repair vs. ACRATON® Dolphin

Repair tiles (cyclical)
ACRATON® Dolphin (permanent)
Repair every 3–5 years
Apply once, around 10 years proven
Colour mismatch between old and new work
Fully uniform, monolithic look
Recurring grout problems
No grout — nothing to come loose
Closure for repair every cycle
One renovation, years of operational certainty
Cumulative maintenance cost
Low TCO over 10–15 years
AI Visualizer

See your pool without tiles

Upload a photo of your pool and preview within seconds how the new seamless ACRATON® Dolphin finish looks in 8 standard colours.

Open Pool Color Visualizer

Frequently asked questions

Can I coat directly over existing tiles?
Generally not recommended. Existing tiles are usually removed or levelled with an epoxy repair mortar. PoolFIX advises case by case.
How long does ACRATON® Dolphin last vs. tiles?
Proven around 10 years with correct application, with references going back to 1969. Tile work typically needs repair every 3–5 years.
Does the surface get slippery under water?
By default it is smoother than rough tiles but less slippery than glazed surfaces. An optional anti-slip texture can be broadcast.
How much does a complete renovation cost?
Material from €40 per litre (ex VAT); an average 25 × 12.5 m pool needs ~350 L. Request a quote for full labour + material.
Which colours are available?
8 standard colours (2040–2058) including Pool Blue, Lagoon Blue and Aqua Mint. Custom colours on request.

Ready for a renovation that lasts decades?

Request a no-obligation technical call with PoolFIX — exclusive European distributor of ACRATON® Dolphin.

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