Brand new finish...chunk came out

[Rob73]

3 weeks into our new shasta sand interior (similar to pebble sheen). Tonight a chunk of the finish came out that was adjacent to the fixed infloor head. See pics.

Never seen this before. What does it portend? Was the whole surface shot poorly? What would cause a chunk to come loose? Do I insist on a total redo, or is this something that happens and you patch?

 

[ajw22]

Is this on a new pool or replaster of an existing pool?

If it was a replaster did you get a full chip out or plaster on top of old?

 

[Rob73]

Yes, they did a full chip out, though I told them I didn't think they did a great job with it. We had sparkle quartz in the pool beforehand.

 

[ajw22]

Did they put a bonding coat on before the plaster?

That chunk of plaster coming loose indicates you have an adhesion problem with the new plaster not adhering to the shell.

You can only wait and see if this is an isolated problem or the start of something bigger.

 

[Rob73]

Unfortunately, I wasnt home when they did it, so I dont know for sure. I know they were supposed to...

Im calling them first thing in the morning. I tend to agree with you on your assessment, as I complained to them that the chip out was poorly done. They felt it was fine, and went ahead with the job.

There was also some poor mottling and they said they would drain the pool in the fall, re acid wash it and pay for our water. I dont want them to say they'll just patch chipped out plaster at the same time.

Will this chunk cause other damage to the pool or shell?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

How thick is this piece of plaster? Was their plaster below this piece that came off or was the Shotcrete/Gunite exposed? When the product is applied to the pool shell it’s 3/4” to 1” thick with the thinnest at 5/16”. If your pictures are of the finished chip out two things are of concern. First, all the plaster is to be removed not just plaster in most areas, the whole reason for not reapplying new plaster to old is due to weak bonding. Sandblasting is a far superior method to accomplish this. Second, pointed tip chisels were used to remove the old plaster and that removes too much Shotcret/Gunite in the process. Can you provide pictures of the area that this piece came from?

 

[Rob73]

How thick is this piece of plaster? Was their plaster below this piece that came off or was the Shotcrete/Gunite exposed? When the product is applied to the pool shell it’s 3/4” to 1” thick with the thinnest at 5/16”. If your pictures are of the finished chip out two things are of concern. First, all the plaster is to be removed not just plaster in most areas, the whole reason for not reapplying new plaster to old is due to weak bonding. Sandblasting is a far superior method to accomplish this. Second, pointed tip chisels were used to remove the old plaster and that removes too much Shotcret/Gunite in the process. Can you provide pictures of the area that this piece came from?

The thickest part of this piece is 3/16 and is the piece that abutted the popup casing. I only saw more blue finish in the hole it left, but will take pics when the sun comes up.

Yes, agreed on the chip out and I complained when it was done, had the super out to inspect it, and they felt it was sufficient to proceed. The chip out crew lead told me that the sparkle quartz we had on there is extremely hard to remove. I knew it was a poor job but they wouldn't improve on it.

I feel if this has happened after 3 weeks, whats coming down the pike? Do I insist on them redoing the whole pool or accept a patch job?

How thick is this piece of plaster? Was their plaster below this piece that came off or was the Shotcrete/Gunite exposed? When the product is applied to the pool shell it’s 3/4” to 1” thick with the thinnest at 5/16”. If your pictures are of the finished chip out two things are of concern. First, all the plaster is to be removed not just plaster in most areas, the whole reason for not reapplying new plaster to old is due to weak bonding. Sandblasting is a far superior method to accomplish this. Second, pointed tip chisels were used to remove the old plaster and that removes too much Shotcret/Gunite in the process. Can you provide pictures of the area that this piece came from?

Here's a pic of where it came off. The dark dot is a soft hole. Not sure how deeply it goes down as we didn't want to mess with it. PB is coming tomorrow.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Let them attempt to repair the damaged area then re evaluate the situation prior to requesting a all new plaster job.
If possible find in writing the proper process of complete plaster removal for a correct re plaster application.

 

[Rob73]

PB came out of Friday. Said it was a small rock that didn't let the plaster adhere properly, as it was right up against the popup collar, and he said this area was the thinnest. He said they would send a diver to do a patch repair, and that this would not be a recurrent issue. He said if it was in the middle of the pool, it would be a different story.

Tonight, I found another hole in the plaster in the same area, but further from the popup head than the first.

Now I am no longer thinking this was some random small rock, but fear my first thought that they did such a bad job with the chip out, that the plaster is going to continue to pit.