What you all think of the plaster job?

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SpongeBob

SpongeBob

Gold Supporter
May 7, 2021
61
Austin, TX
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
CircuPool RJ-60
So we finally got the pool completed, filled last week and running through the start-up. Love to hear from any PB's, especially folks who plaster on what they think of the job. I'm ready to go back to the PB on Monday with a list of issues, plaster being one of them, however, am I being too nitpicky?

Color: Midnight Blue from Finest Finish.

Now that I have most of the plaster dust out, and leaves from the Trash Tree, here are some pictures, love to hear y'all feedback, good or bad, let me know.

From a distance, pool looks great, love the color scheme etc.
20210828_163238411_iOS.jpeg

Plastering day:
20210824_190550842_iOS.jpeg

Took 53 hours to fill, 17,500 gallons

Steps started to get hair line cracks while during fill... The did close up after filling, looks more like scaring now, little fine lines that are whiter then then the rest.
20210825_210216290_iOS.jpeg20210825_210314908_iOS.jpeg

However, when you look closer...
20210828_175440441_iOS.jpeg20210828_175451115_iOS.jpeg20210828_175524438_iOS.jpeg20210828_175606534_iOS.jpeg

20210828_175618509_iOS.jpeg20210828_175628049_iOS.jpeg
 
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And this is the number one reason why exposed aggregate became so popular as a pool finish. I was in a training class at the Western Pool and Spa show years ago for a new product called Pebble-Technology and the instructor said this was going to be the wave of the future for pool finishes because it hides all the imperfections of the finished product. The last picture shows poor product coverage from application and should not be accepted as typical quality in a finished product, Ray.
 
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Tell the PB your thoughts, but he will likely suggest waiting for a while before making any conclusions, and he would have a legitimate basis to say that. It is important to keep the water balanced meanwhile for your own protection regarding plaster problems. Keep records of the water test results.
The photos seem to show some plaster issues, but again, we need to wait. They will either get better or worse. Then you will know if you have a reasonable basis to complain.
 
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Thanks everyone for your replies, much appreciated. For now I'm following the 28 day startup, balance, balance, balance, brush, brush, vacuuming and running all my water chemistry checks through Leslie Pools so that I have a record on hand in case I need to dispute anything. The PH rises pretty quickly so have to be ontop of it. The Plaster company owner came out yesterday to take a look, he said everything looks fine and will take 30 days or so for it to become uniform in colour. Also said to try and keep the PH at 6.9 if possible. I'm assuming he wants it to be acid to help chew through some of the mottling, will see how this works out.
 
onBalance said:
The request for a pH of 6.9 violates the NPC's recommended water chemistry start-up guidelines, and their long-term guidelines.
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Would this be a "quick fix" by the plaster company to get away with crappy work? I read the NPC startup and it was pretty straight forward, was doing that until yesterday when the plaster guy said drop the PH. I have noticed that I get it down to 7.2 range, next morning it's back up to 8.2, add more acid, gets it down, 8-12 hours later its back up again. I guess continue to do this until it stabalizes.
 
Btw, how long doesn’t the Ph roller coaster ride go? Should I expect this to raise constantly for the next 28 days or is there a day when things start to stabilize finally? Last night I was at 7.4 PH before bed, this morning, 8.2 again. Added more acid to get it back down.
 

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SpongeBob said:
Btw, how long doesn’t the Ph roller coaster ride go? Should I expect this to raise constantly for the next 28 days or is there a day when things start to stabilize finally? Last night I was at 7.4 PH before bed, this morning, 8.2 again. Added more acid to get it back down.
Click to expand...

It can take a year or more. Some plaster pools alway a rising pH and high acid demand.

Don’t expect your pH to stabilize in the short term.
 
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proavia said:
What is the TA? High TA will also cause the pH to rise quicker.

Share your PoolMath logs here. There is a setting in the app to share logs.
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TA = 92 (just over what is recommended range)
PH = 7.4

I have been focusing on PH only as I assume TA will rise and fall with PH. I been shooting for 7.2 PH, lower end of the range, which should keep TA in the upper end of the range.

Appreciate the suggestion on pool logs, let me get that going.
 
proavia said:
How did you measure a TA of 92?
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I take water sample each day to Leslie's and they provide the report. Check PH in the morning, add acid, take water to Leslie's around 4pm, get a report, get home and add additional chems as needed per the NPT startup.

They use this contraption to test the water: Home | WaterLink® Spin Touch

Here is what the report looks like:
20210901_171709590_iOS.jpeg

I started yesterday with adding Chlorine and so far, gallon and a half in and it's yet to register. I guess it's got stuff in the the water that is consuming it. So will keep going until it starts to rise, then add CYA.
 
Why do you have Leslies do your water tests when your signature says you have a TF-100 test kit?

Doing your own testing will be more accurate and repeatable.

Break out your TF-100 and post what those results are.
 
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I am also starting up a pool at the same time. You will be fighting the PH battle every night. It is less radical than the first week, but I'm typically adding 2-3 cups of 30% muriatic acid a day (note, I'm much more precise when I pour, but this is a generalization). I try to stay ahead of the climb by testing and treating first thing in the morning - make sure not to exceed the maximum dose in a 4 hour period. Then on schedule finish the daily treatment. This means I'm adding chlorine usually in the evening (I'm at that phase now).

I think it's fine to get your test at Leslies - in addition to testing on your Taylor kit. To ajw22's note, it isn't as precise as your Taylor test kit. The reason I advocate for the Leslies test is that it provides an independent log of your chemical balance efforts during start up phase. I go daily or semi daily while I'm out for other errands.
 
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ajw22 said:
Why do you have Leslies do your water tests when your signature says you have a TF-100 test kit?

Doing your own testing will be more accurate and repeatable.

Break out your TF-100 and post what those results are.
Click to expand...
Reason I'm having Leslie test is for paper trail. If for whatever reason their is a plaster issue, I want to make sure the PB doesn't tell me it's because the first 28 days the chemistry is off. Atleast with Leslie I have a 3rd party documented I tested the water, here are the results. Now for precision. I doubht 7.3 or .75 is going to make a difference compare to say 6.8 and 8.4, Keeping PH in a range is my goal. My testing in the morning and evening is mainly PH and now Chlorine since I started to add it. I know TA will flucuate with PH. PH goes up TA will go up, PH goes down TA will go down. Trying to get TA stable with an unstable PH I feel may be futile. Maybe I'm wrong :)

When the PH is 8.4 the TA is 104, when the PH is 7.4, TA is 92. Once this drastic swinging stops, I can then focus on get TA in the sweet spot, then work on getting PH in the sweet spot, aeration etc.

Hopefully that makes sense.
 
SpongeBob said:
Reason I'm having Leslie test is for paper trail. If for whatever reason their is a plaster issue, I want to make sure the PB doesn't tell me it's because the first 28 days the chemistry is off. Atleast with Leslie I have a 3rd party documented I tested the water, here are the results. Now for precision. I doubht 7.3 or .75 is going to make a difference compare to say 6.8 and 8.4, Keeping PH in a range is my goal.
Click to expand...

Do us a favor and file the Leslie reports in your drawer and report to us your TF-100 results.

SpongeBob said:
I know TA will flucuate with PH. PH goes up TA will go up,
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That is not correct. pH rising does not cause TA to rise.

If the pH rises naturally the TA will not change.

If you add pH UP chemicals it will also cause TA to rise.

SpongeBob said:
PH goes down TA will go down.
Click to expand...

That is correct and it is the acid you add that causes both to go down.

SpongeBob said:
Trying to get TA stable with an unstable PH I feel may be futile. Maybe I'm wrong :)
Click to expand...

You are trying to juggle two variables which never works well.

TA only becomes "unstable" when something is introduced to the water to change the TA. Stop tickling the TA and it will stay stable.

pH on the other hand will rise naturally even if nothing is introduced to the water.

Manage the pH reducing it as needed to keep it in the 7's. Let the TA find it's natural equilibrium for your pool environment.

SpongeBob said:
When the PH is 8.4 the TA is 104, when the PH is 7.4, TA is 92. Once this drastic swinging stops, I can then focus on get TA in the sweet spot, then work on getting PH in the sweet spot, aeration etc.
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TA of 104 vs 92 is meaningless. That is not a drastic swing. Ignore it.

pH of 8.4 is what you need to manage.

NO, you don't get your TA into a sweet spot and THEN manage your pH! You manage your pH and LET your TA find its natural sweet spot.
 
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ajw22 said:
Do us a favor and file the Leslie reports in your drawer and report to us your TF-100 results.



That is not correct. pH rising does not cause TA to rise.

If the pH rises naturally the TA will not change.

If you add pH UP chemicals it will also cause TA to rise.



That is correct and it is the acid you add that causes both to go down.



You are trying to juggle two variables which never works well.

TA only becomes "unstable" when something is introduced to the water to change the TA. Stop tickling the TA and it will stay stable.

pH on the other hand will rise naturally even if nothing is introduced to the water.

Manage the pH reducing it as needed to keep it in the 7's. Let the TA find it's natural equilibrium for your pool environment.



TA of 104 vs 92 is meaningless. That is not a drastic swing. Ignore it.

pH of 8.4 is what you need to manage.

NO, you don't get your TA into a sweet spot and THEN manage your pH! You manage your pH and LET your TA find its natural sweet spot.
Click to expand...
Today I learned.... :)
 
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