So I'm new to this forum and think it is a great place for everything pool related!

We are just about to start our pool build. We originally wanted a stacked stone raised wall sheer descent water feature. Our PB says that they are impossible to clean and after a couple of years look really bad due to calcification. Can you guys share your experience and opinions?

Thanks!

Welcome to TFP!

Anything like that where you are getting some evaporation from water splashed on the stone is going to show some calcium deposits after a while. You can adjust your chemical levels to minimize it, but there isn't any way to completely eliminate it. How much of an issue this is depends on how much water splashes on the stone, how high your CH levels get, a big deal in places with high CH fill water and lots of evaporation, and how much the calcium deposits show on the stone (depends on how much variation there is in the stone color).

Nothing is impossible to clean. However, cleaning it might not be any fun (depending on what kinds of things you call fun). Worst case a bead blaster will be able to clean it up, but that is a fair sized project. Balancing that out is how nice a well done stacked stone wall can look. Many many people find that they are well worth the extra effort.

I think they are awesome looking, but it will be harder to clean. I like it enough that it's worth the extra effort.