Pool Reno Headache.

[Mycool]

Hello TFP,

I dropped my deposit to this company on March 9th for tile, coping, and plaster in DFW. The project was slated for 4-6 weeks pending weather. They haven't turned it over for swimming yet. The plaster was finally put in on Father's Day and there is water in the pool.

What happened to get us here:
Little to no communication.
The first subcontractor no-showed.
I asked for a refund so I could find a different company. Spoke to the owner of the branch and was given a deep apology, a 5% discount, and a new start date. (They didn't start)
They drained the 10-11ft deep pool well over a month ago.
The pool was close to 100% delaminated. Demo guys had to come out 3x because they didn't remove enough.
The primer failed 2x.

I told the contractor they wouldn't be getting a check until I can get in the pool to check the plaster job. I was waiting for it to be turned over for swimming this week. He said I could get in as long as I didn't have anything heavy or shoes on. I didn't intend on getting in until it was swim-ready but my 2yr old daughter poured her welches into the pool so I went to retrieve them and did a quick check while in.

The discolored area's texture was different from the rest of the pool.
There were some areas of pitting/denting and raised lumps. Some of the lumps felt like there was a golf ball under the plaster while others were larger.
The steps had a line at the crease where the steps met.
There was plaster on/in the grout lines of the new coping.
The tile was ok but uneven in some areas(I used to lay tile for a living) and at least 1 spot where the template material was through the grout line.

I can live the tile and clean up the coping but I am concerned about the plaster job.
TLDR: Is the plaster ok?

What do you think? What would you do?

 

[Texas Splash]

Let's see if we can get @onBalance to provide some thoughts. Sorry to see you go through this mess.

 

[onBalance]

What is the original color of the plaster? What area is discolored? Is this quartz, pebble, or normal smooth plaster?
Can you provide a couple of photos of the large "lumps?" A photo comparison of the "different texture," and of the steps which had a line at the crease where the steps met."
Is there plaster area that can be scratched (material removal) by a fingernail?

 

[Mycool]

I had a bit of time to look around the pool and realized the tile is awful as well. I have been slammed at work so I haven't been able to get in with my scuba gear and photo the plaster issues yet.

Plaster: NPT Tropics Blue min pebble

I haven't run across an area that can be removed by a finger nail yet.
A few of the tile issues are in the photos below. I have around 50 photos of one side of the pool where the tile was raised enough to poke you if you run your hand down it.

More updates to come.

 

[Mycool]

The pool contractor was supposed to maintain the pool for the first month. I reached out and told him the pool had a bloom. Nothing happened. From my understanding, I am not supposed to shock the pool for the first 28 days. Any recommendations on what I should do?

 

[chubbs]

Sorry to see you have this experience. Mine was very similar in many of the ways you've described. I'm not an expert so I can't answer any of your questions specifically. However living with some of the same issues you've got going on with your pool I can tell you the imperfections don't bother you as much after a while. You will not notice them very often unless you're closely inspecting your pool, and if you don't really notice them unless you are looking for them your guests won't either.

As for the plaster on the grout, I had the same thing happen where there were very noticeable big blue blotches and chunks of splattered plaster on the tiles and grout. I'd imagine it's hard to not splatter some on there when spraying the plaster. But I pointed it out and the builder did an acid wash and removed most of it. I haven't noticed any of those spots for a quite a while so if they haven't completely disappeared I couldn't even tell you they're still there. My tile from one side to the other is uneven like yours but you can only really tell if you focus on the water line from one side of the pool to the other. I've got tiles that stick out similar to the way yours do and the horizontal tiles inside my skimmer openings are uneven and some overhang or poke out over the plaster pool wall probably by 1/4" in some spots exposing the whole side of the tile. I only ever notice when I'm brushing the tile inside the opening. I could add more but I'm sure you get the point. I doubt any of my guests, or heck even my wife have ever noticed any of these things.

It sucks to be disappointed in the workmanship (as was I with my pool) but my best advice a couple years later would be as long as any of the pros here don't identify anything other than cosmetic issues and if they are not immediately noticeable or you absolutely just can't live with something the way it is, try not to think about the imperfections and just enjoy your pool (the picture with the blue water it looked really nice). I know this reply isn't much actual help but hopefully it'll make you feel a little better knowing there are other pools out there just like yours.

 

[Mycool]

Previous post: Pool Reno Headache.

The contractor fixed the tile that was sticking out.
The sales company said the discoloration would be fixed with an acid wash.
When they drained the pool it was apparent the step at the deep end had delaminated. The sales guy was vague but concerned about bulging in other areas. I never spoke with him again, he no longer works for the company.

New guy said no work was supposed to be done until all parties agreed on the solution.

A crew showed up today and chipped some plaster off the step(it came off with little effort).
I have some of the larger pieces of the removed plaster.

I am concerned the plaster won't match and more will fail in short order.

Any suggestions?

 

[Bperry]

Previous post: Pool Reno Headache.

The contractor fixed the tile that was sticking out.
The sales company said the discoloration would be fixed with an acid wash.
When they drained the pool it was apparent the step at the deep end had delaminated. The sales guy was vague but concerned about bulging in other areas. I never spoke with him again, he no longer works for the company.

New guy said no work was supposed to be done until all parties agreed on the solution.

A crew showed up today and chipped some plaster off the step(it came off with little effort).
I have some of the larger pieces of the removed plaster.

I am concerned the plaster won't match and more will fail in short order.

Any suggestions?

Probably need to call that new guy and find out what’s up. That bad of a failure would put the whole plaster job quality in question.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Was the old plaster completely chipped out down to the gunite?

That picture you show looks like a bond coat material has been applied which would suggest that all they did was rough up the old plaster and applied a bond coat material for the fresh plaster to stick to.

 

[Mycool]

The new guy is looking into it.

Most of the plaster was delaminated and removed. It took them 3 attempts at a primer before they thought it would stick.

 

[Mycool]

For the unnamed mod that merged the threads. When I went to post on the old one it said this: "Hello Mycool, This is an inactive thread. Any new postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. You will get much more visibility by Starting A New Thread."

 

[mknauss]

You are the Original Poster of the thread. You may post to it at any time.
We strive to keep an OP discussion in the original thread for continuity.

For the unnamed mod that merged the forums. When I went to post on the old one it said this: "Hello Mycool, This is an inactive thread. Any new postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. You will get much more visibility by Starting A New Thread."

 

[Bperry]

The new guy is looking into it.

Most of the plaster was delaminated and removed. It took them 3 attempts at a primer before they thought it would stick.

Are those pictures after whatever primer was applied? It doesnt look like the they removed the plaster down to the gunite. Or is that tan color what concrete looks like over there?

 

[Mycool]

Are those pictures after whatever primer was applied? It doesnt look like the they removed the plaster down to the gunite. Or is that tan color what concrete looks like over there?

They removed what was loose and hollow. So I suspect the answer is no they didn't take it to the gunite. Then applied a prime to it.

 

[Bperry]

They removed what was loose and hollow. So I suspect the answer is no they didn't take it to the gunite. Then applied a prime to it.

That looks like a prime example of why it should be taken down to the gunite. Looks like they may be doing it all over.