Do you have White plaster? Houston, Texas

[consoleman]

We are ready to renovate our pool and would like some personal insight from someone who has recently installed white plaster.

We've read bad stories about plaster not lasting more than 5 years or is lifting up. We have looked into getting pebble tech and other options but its estimated about $11k plus $1500 to remove plaster. They also install white plaster but the estimated price doesn't go down enough to even make a difference.

Thanks.

 

[bdavis466]

Plaster longevity has a great deal to do with the installation process and the day to day water chemistry that is maintained long term.

So long as you find a quality contractor and maintain the pool appropriately, you should see at least 10-15 years out of your new finish.

 

[pooldv]

Plaster can certainly fail in 5 years if the water chemistry isn't managed. Properly maintaining pH, TA and CH in your pool can add a decade to the life of your plaster. Scaling and etching are the two biggest threats to plaster life. More here, Pool School - Calcium Scaling

 

[Just-a-PB]

Spend the extra few dollars for a upgraded plaster, I wouldn't waste money on a standard plaster job, unless you are selling your house.

 

[bmoreswim]

After 4 years our plaster looks and feels like day 1. If you plan to sell within 10 years and you maintain good water chemistry, it will almost certainly look fine for selling. It is clearly more prone to damage from poor water chemistry but you control that. But the savings has to be there or it's a non-starter.

 

[yankeelawyer]

Bmoreswim has beautiful gray plaster. Have you considered a colored plaster?

 

[consoleman]

We currently have a 16 year old plaster but the old plaster company no longer exists. I don't want colored plaster because of possible fading issues. I assume you mean upgraded plaster with pebble but as plaster wears off and the pebbles are more exposed it become uncomfortable. I have gotten white plaster bids of 3K vs 11K for pebble

Anyone in the houston area that can PM me a white plaster company that have used?

 

[Just-a-PB]

We currently have a 16 year old plaster but the old plaster company no longer exists. I don't want colored plaster because of possible fading issues. I assume you mean upgraded plaster with pebble but as plaster wears off and the pebbles are more exposed it become uncomfortable. I have gotten white plaster bids of 3K vs 11K for pebble

Anyone in the houston area that can PM me a white plaster company that have used?

No not speaking of pebble.
Base white plaster has no manufacturer. It is a mixture of white marble sand, white cement and water. It is the cheapest plaster to install.
An upgraded plaster has a manufacturer, and some kind of additive. A pozzolan, or polymer is added to make the mix much much stronger and will last longer and resist staining longer. Next level is a added quartz, with or without a additive.

 

[consoleman]

Just a pb,
I just read somewhere that there where strong suggestion that quartz acutally added no longetivity to the plaster. This information was posted 7 years ago when 3m was going out of business. Can you clear this up?

 

[pooldv]

Yes, it is generally thought that quartz lasts longer than plaster and pebble last longer than quartz. It tends to go like this

Plaster 7-10 years, up to 20 with excellent water chemistry
Quartz 10-15 years, 20+ with excellent water chemistry
Pebble 15-20 years, also more with excellent water chemistry

I have seen all of the above fail and need to be redone in less than 5 years with poorly managed water chemistry. Managing pH, TA and CH is critical to long term plaster life.