Trying to figure out the best practice for winterizing a gunite / shotcrete pool with a sun shelf. Please post ---
- Depth of water you try to maintain over sun shelf.
- how far down from bottom of tile that water level is.
- how diligently you maintain that level
- type and age of pool surface
- type of winter cover
- any damage you can attribute to winter freeze conditions on the shelf / stairs
And of course anything else that might help others.
The basic question is what depth of water is best to leave on the sun shelf for a winter freeze to prevent damage to plaster? If you leave only a few inches then there will be a a ice brick sitting on the shelf floor for the winter. Or do you drain below the shelf so no ice forms on the shelf?
________________________________________________________________________
- Depth of water you try to maintain over sun shelf.
My pool co. Drained below the sun shelf and told me to maintain that level for the winter.
- how far down from bottom of tile that water level is.
13-14"
- how diligently you maintain that level-
very
- type and age of pool surface
2 yr old med grey plaster
- type of winter cover
do not cover pool in winter but pool tech put a insulated tarp on the shelf for UV and stain protection.
- any damage you can attribute to winter freeze conditions on the shelf / stairs
I probably can not be counted in this category because I am convinced I had a poor plaster install. My plaster has shown far more than normal mottling and is now spalling. Most of the spalling is on the shelf and did occur after the winter but it is happening in other areas as well so I do not think the spalling on the shelf is all from winter damage, instead I believe I just have a week / poor plaster install. The PB has agreed to replace the plaster so I would assume something did go wrong with the install.
The first spring (just after having plaster installed in late fall) everything looked great with the exception of some organic staining under the tarp. I attribute this to some organics that were on the tarp the tech used, so the next year we placed a fresh clean plastic sheet on the shelf then the insulated tarp. I did not get the staining but I did get the spalling .
- Depth of water you try to maintain over sun shelf.
- how far down from bottom of tile that water level is.
- how diligently you maintain that level
- type and age of pool surface
- type of winter cover
- any damage you can attribute to winter freeze conditions on the shelf / stairs
And of course anything else that might help others.
The basic question is what depth of water is best to leave on the sun shelf for a winter freeze to prevent damage to plaster? If you leave only a few inches then there will be a a ice brick sitting on the shelf floor for the winter. Or do you drain below the shelf so no ice forms on the shelf?
________________________________________________________________________
- Depth of water you try to maintain over sun shelf.
My pool co. Drained below the sun shelf and told me to maintain that level for the winter.
- how far down from bottom of tile that water level is.
13-14"
- how diligently you maintain that level-
very
- type and age of pool surface
2 yr old med grey plaster
- type of winter cover
do not cover pool in winter but pool tech put a insulated tarp on the shelf for UV and stain protection.
- any damage you can attribute to winter freeze conditions on the shelf / stairs
I probably can not be counted in this category because I am convinced I had a poor plaster install. My plaster has shown far more than normal mottling and is now spalling. Most of the spalling is on the shelf and did occur after the winter but it is happening in other areas as well so I do not think the spalling on the shelf is all from winter damage, instead I believe I just have a week / poor plaster install. The PB has agreed to replace the plaster so I would assume something did go wrong with the install.
The first spring (just after having plaster installed in late fall) everything looked great with the exception of some organic staining under the tarp. I attribute this to some organics that were on the tarp the tech used, so the next year we placed a fresh clean plastic sheet on the shelf then the insulated tarp. I did not get the staining but I did get the spalling .
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