Pebble Tech experts needed

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amati5

Well-known member
Sep 13, 2011
233
So Cal
Attached are the images of the problem areas of my 16 yrs old Pepple Tech Pool. One shows the problem area and one shows the adjacent normal area and one shows both area at normal view (just to see bad it looks). I called the original contractor and after looking at it he said nothing is wrong with the plaster, just black algae (which I do have in other areas). What I see is the plaster in the problem area came off causing gaps between the stones. They said they can not repair (replaster) and recommend acid wash. Can you please look at the images and tell me what you think so I can take proper step to have it repaired.

Thx
 

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Sorry, it's below water line, on the step. I have many areas like this and all are

on the steps. In case you ask if the steps are heavily used, no. We use the pool about 5 times a year and no kids.
Thx
 
I think the only “fix” is a replaster job.

Other then cosmetics what problem is it causing?

Post your water chemistry including CSI.
 
It’s mainly just cosmetic but I have more than one spot like that. The problem I see is it seems to attract black algae more than normal areas and very difficult to remove. My chemistry is sort of out whack right now due to the recently rains. I have some black algae on these areas but the rest of the pool is crystal clear. I want to shock the pool but I might have to wait to find out if the pool needs to drain for repair. For now I trying to at least bring cya up to the correct level.
 
20 years is a very good life span for a plaster pool surface. Beyond that is exceptional.

Depends a lot on how accurate and responsive you were to maintaining your pool water chemistry at the proper levels.
 
If hard water is one of the factors that is harmful for plaster pool then we in So Cal are screwed ?. Is shocking the pool too often bad, too? The contractor told me I could drain the pool then poor liquid chlorine on the spots with black algae and let it dry to get rid of it. I was a little surprised when he said that because I’d thought one of the possible causes for the plaster to come off was maybe I used too much chlorine when shocking the pool.
 
There is a reason TFP has this chart: Trouble Free Pool Using this chart should keep any of this happening. I will also say black algae is very hard to remove and has to be a dedicated battle of a SLAM with lots of brush to get it up and out of the plaster/pool.

Have you tried putting a tablet on it for about 5 mins or so? How about vitamin C?
 

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As Marty and Kim hinted, your problems may related to how will you maintain your pool. How do you test your water? Are you using the TFP method of pool care? If so, for how long? What is your current CSI? You may want to post a full set of test results from a reliable kit which may provide some hints on what's going on with your pool. Hard water is prevalent in California (ask me how I know) but you can mitigate its effects by maintaining a properly balanced pool.
 
I am aware of the slam procedure and have been doing that for years. I am trying to bring the chemical back up slowly now that the rain seem to stop, then start a shock to see if it helps getting rid of the black algae. Haven’t tried vitamin C yet but will see.

So if I drain the pool and pour liquid chlorine on it like the contractor recommended, it won’t hurt the plaster?
 
Last edited:
Have your reviewed Black Algae?

Pouring liquid chlorine on it will not make much difference. It is extended exposure to elevated FC based on your CYA with brushing to disturb the bio-film.

Your statement of 'shock' is not a SLAM. But you say you know that. Good luck.
 
It will be difficult to brush the black algae biofilm that is in the cracks where the plaster has been lost. It is going to take a lot of fine detailed brush work to get at that black algae.
 
I normally brush the algae with metal brush before pouring chlorine to start the procedure and keep chlorine at that level until no overnight loss and no CC (is that a slam or a shock?).

Hopefully I can find a company who is willing to replaster just the problem areas (plaster loss).
 
Did you read the Black Algae article I linked to? You must maintain the elevated FC well past the time you see no overnight loss.

I doubt a company will 'spot' replaster. It will not look good at all.
 
Read the article.
"Maintain an FC level between the high end of the recommended “Normal” range and the Shock (SLAM) level according to your pool’s CYA level. For example, if your pool’s CYA is 40, the high end of the “Normal” FC range is 7 ppm and the Shock/SLAM level is 16 ppm. Maintain FC within this range until all signs of black algae are gone."
 

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