Sunstone finish question

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T

TwoPutt

Member
Mar 18, 2022
6
Kansas City
Hello,

I've been lurking on these forums for some time but finally have a question and would appreciate any help. We are in the process of redoing a 50+ year old plaster pool. Did a lot of research on these forums and on pool companies, finishes, etc. We went with a very reputable pool company and chose to redo the interior of the pool in Sunstone Antigua.

We went to the pool company's showroom and really liked the Sunstone Antigua colors with the tile we selected. Long story short they just finished doing the plaster yesterdsay with the Sunstone Antigua and water is going in now. However, the appearance of the Sunstone is barely noticeable to the point even close up you can only make out some of the aggregate in spots. The plaster basically looks like white plaster with just the smallest hint of aggregate in spots and even then only if you get really close. We almost went with white plaster anyway but decided to spend a little more for the Sunstone finish. My question to, is this normally how a Sunstone finish looks right after completion? From some images I've seen on these forums and other sites I don't think so but just wanted some confirmation from the experts here.

I've attached multiple pictures including what we saw in the showroom and the way it looks finished in our pool in various locations and light from yesterday and this morning.

At this point with water going in I assume there isn't much that can be done. We are fine with the white plaster but I feel like we should be credited for the Sunstone upgrade. If there is aggregate in the plaster it sure doesn't appear they used enough product or didn't apply correctly.

Any input or help is appreciated.
 

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Yes, it would reduce smoothness and become more an aggregate finish, but that was what it was intended to be. It looks like they didn't mist and wash the surface as they troweled it in and left the top coat, burying your colored aggregate. The acid wash is after drying to remove the dried slurry film.

The only issue I see leaving it as is, if you like the smooth and don't mind losing your colored aggregates, is that the durability of that remaining top coat may not have much integrity. In other words, it may start to flake and chip later as it interacts with pool chemistry. Others may have better suggestions, but an aggressive acid wash at this state may also leave it too rough since a light acid wash didn't clean enough.
 
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Thanks for the reply Tox. Appreciate the insight. I think after talking with the PC this morning again, I'm going to see how the brushing/next 30 days go. I really don't want to do another acid wash. I think with the water now coming up over the plaster I'm seeing more of the aggregate. Appreciate the quick responses.
 
That's exactly where we left it with them. I will be scrubbing plaster for the next 30 days regardless so we will see how it looks at that point. He said if we are still not happy he would do another acid wash for us and front the water cost. I'm good with that. Other than that we are very happy with the way this pool looks. Considering it was built 53 years ago especially! Thanks again.
 
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How did your finish turn out? Did you end up acid washing again? I'm in the exact same spot as you but my finish was not acid washed at all.

New quartz finish, after 1 week still not a lot of aggregate exposed.

They used CL Industries product, and I'm following the startup instructions to keep TA at 80, and pH at 7.2. I've been brushing everyday, but you can see in there pictures, only some aggregate is exposed. They told me brushing would expose it all ... But I'm getting worried now. I asked about...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
Oh man, sorry to hear that bigorangesky. My PC is asking me to do the first 30 days (2 x a day) brushing to see how it looks since they are saying some of the scrubbing, which is required anyway, will expose more of the aggregate. I personally don't think it will make much difference. The finished plaster definitely doesn't look at all like what we saw in their showroom and even the tinting of the tan color isn't there. It's mostly white with a tiny bit of aggregate visibile. They have been good about it though and they recognize it doesn't match. The PC is saying if I'm not happy with it by the time fall rolls around, they will come back out and acid wash again and cover the cost of the water refill which I think is fair. Honestly, we almost just went with white plaster anyway but the aggregate is supposed to make it last longer. I've attached a pic of the sample piece we selected sitting next to the stairs before the pool was filled. You can tell it isn't very similar.

I hope your pool company stands by you. Did you not see them do the acid wash? You really should hold them accountable for that and make them redo it if they didn't. I had my home camera on when they finished the inside and could see them do the acid wash and they did it correctly. I think they just didn't put enough product in the plaster mix and, as Tox stated above, they didn't mist enough as they trowled. All in all, honestly, we can live with it. I'm not keen on another acid wash and the smoothness of the plaster looks good.
 

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oh wow your picture looks just like mine, but white. I was here the whole time watching, no acid wash. I asked they guy and he said "we don't do that for this and that reason". I've been brushing 2x daily but I don't see much plaster dust at all after about 5 days. Can't imagine that much more will come off.

The thing is, the pool looks good overall, and I could live with this finish ... but why should I have to settle for mediocre while paying top of the line prices?

My builder is MIA, and I'm pretty sure is going out of business. I seriously doubt I'll get him back to do any work, or any money back. I made my final payment the day they did plaster, as that was the last item before filling.
 

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Sunstone select sapphire just got done 2 days ago I hope it can bring more of the aggregate out after the 30 days brushing and chemicals are added.
 

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I hate to say this but I can tell you first hand based on my experience above, no amount of brushing will bring out that aggregate at the level I bet you were looking to get. We were told the same thing by our PC. To follow-up from my messages last year, even after several months of brushing, the aggregate looked almost the same as the day they finished it. Maybe slightly better but definitely not matching the samples we were shown. We almost went the acid wash route again, but we didn't want to shorten the life of the plaster. We went back to the PC and asked them to front us the difference from basic plaster to the Sunstone. They ended up refunding us that difference. While it wasn't the finished product we thought we are getting we were ok with the compromise as we almost just went with plaster without the aggregate anyway. This is a 53 year old plaster pool so the redo on the plaster itself made the pool look so much better and the last plaster lasted 15+ years without aggregate which I know from reading these forums is not the norm.

I would definitely push back on your PC but maybe your results will be different than mine. Best of luck 57poology.
 
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