Alternatives to putty fix for plaster

[CMorrow]

Hi, folks. Brand new pool (finished November). Am dealing with several issues from resulting from sub par contractor work. Am wondering if anyone can help.
1) Noticed chip out of plaster recently. It's about the size of a nickel. I know putty works in these types of situations but wanted to be prepared when I talk to PB about possible solutions. For a brand new pool, I'd like a more comprehensive fix, if such a fix exists, especially if I can get a genuine plaster fill from the subs who first applied it -- rather than a putty fix, which is something I can do myself. Anyone have alternatives to putty? Anyone have a small area like this reapplied with plaster?
2) A few hairline cracks have appeared on the deck coat, in exaclty the same areas where the concrete pour cracked before the deck coat was applied. So my gut tells me these cracks go below the deck coat and into the concrete. What are my options for repair? I believe they can grind it out and fill back in with concrete, etc., but they did that to the original pour and now it has cracked again. I also believe I can apply Sika flex, or a similar product just to seal it up so no water gets in and freezes. Any ideas as to a fix for these? Again, just want to be prepared when I talk to PB. I'd like to hold them accountable for the fix. Thanks y'all. I've also included an original pic of one of the cracks in the concrete before it was fixed and topped with the deck coat.

 

[CMorrow]

Oops. Forgot to attach pic of original crack in concrete below deck top. Here it is. Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

Is that pool plaster chip the only one? If so, I would putty it or leave it alone. You are the only one who will ever notice it. Any plaster fix can end up being more visible. Celebrate if that is the only problem with your plaster job.

 

[CMorrow]

Yep, that's the only one I have been able to find thus far. So hopefully that's it. And you're probably right about it being rather minor. I'll take that to heart.

Any thoughts on the hairline cracks in the deck topping? I'm thinking about filling them with Sika flex. Any ideas there?
Thx

 

[ajw22]

Any thoughts on the hairline cracks in the deck topping? I'm thinking about filling them with Sika flex. Any ideas there?

Concrete is not my thing. Let's see what others have to say. Especially since it sounds lie this is the second try when you said:

I believe they can grind it out and fill back in with concrete, etc., but they did that to the original pour and now it has cracked again

 

[CMorrow]

Yep. It cracked after the original pour, then was repaired, then topped with textured deck coat. Now cracking again. We'll see if PB has a solution.

 

[ajw22]

Yep. It cracked after the original pour, then was repaired, then topped with textured deck coat. Now cracking again. We'll see if PB has a solution.

They put any rebar in the original pour?

 

[CMorrow]

Allen, yes, they put rebar in before the original pour. However, I didn't know enough at that stage of the game to check over their work properly, ensure they had compacted the ground before the pour, etc. I suspect that had I known more of what to look for, I might've had some issues to discuss with them before the pour. That said, what's done is done, so now I'm hoping to just enjoy everything and not worry too much about what I might've noticed. Looking forward, then, I'm hoping to get these hairline cracks filled properly so they don't create any problems, which are hopefully just aesthetic anyway.
Btw, PB came out the other day and suggested I just hit them with a little extra deck topping paint, which he claims is waterproof and, I believe, thicker than your average exterior paint. That's not exactly the option I was hoping for, but I can start there and see what happens, then get back to him if / when cracks reappear.
Thanks.