Hello All - had our pool installed appx 18 mos ago & selected OK Flagstone for coping and SWG (D/FW area). The builder did not emphasize the extra care required with this combination, suggesting sealing the flagstone coping as "optional" at the build and that "spraying off the entry/exit areas with a hose after use" would be sufficient to minimize flagstone wear.
Now, I'll say that (while I'm no Geologist), I do have the common sense to know saltwater will have an impact on stone over time. What I didn't know was that, without sealant, "over time" can be as little as 6-12 months.
We called the builder out around the 10 month mark to review and an assistant surveyed; said we should have 17 stones replaced and that the wear was in fact faster that it should have been (explaining that batches of stone all have different makeup & "sometimes we get bad batches"). But shortly after, a supervisor returned to say 1) it was "normal" 2) sealing at the build would not have been a good idea, because the stone needed some wear to rub off the top layers before sealing and 3) with a good pressure wash to pull up any flakes in progress + sealant (and annual sealant thereafter) we should be fine.
My questions:
- does this sound like a reasonable course of action: a good pressure wash / brushing / sweeping to pull up any flakes in progress + sealant?
- sealant suggestions (don't mind spending a little if it works and doesn't need multiple times a year)
- does this sound a little sloppy (or even wrong) as far as builders go?
Thanks In Advance...
Now, I'll say that (while I'm no Geologist), I do have the common sense to know saltwater will have an impact on stone over time. What I didn't know was that, without sealant, "over time" can be as little as 6-12 months.
We called the builder out around the 10 month mark to review and an assistant surveyed; said we should have 17 stones replaced and that the wear was in fact faster that it should have been (explaining that batches of stone all have different makeup & "sometimes we get bad batches"). But shortly after, a supervisor returned to say 1) it was "normal" 2) sealing at the build would not have been a good idea, because the stone needed some wear to rub off the top layers before sealing and 3) with a good pressure wash to pull up any flakes in progress + sealant (and annual sealant thereafter) we should be fine.
My questions:
- does this sound like a reasonable course of action: a good pressure wash / brushing / sweeping to pull up any flakes in progress + sealant?
- sealant suggestions (don't mind spending a little if it works and doesn't need multiple times a year)
- does this sound a little sloppy (or even wrong) as far as builders go?
Thanks In Advance...