4 year old plaster pool delaminating/spalling (Nashville)

[bkruz]

I’m assisting my HOA with assessing the pool surface & choosing a contractor in the Nashville area to refinish the roughly 4 year old pool surface. While I understand this premature deterioration could be due to improper initial application &/or bad water chemistry, I’d like to be sure we get this right.

I’ve never seen chunks come out like this especially at the aggressive rate it occurred. Can anyone shed some light on proper repair methods?

I’d like to push for diamond Brite/quartz finish, but no matter what we choose I’d like to be sure we obtain proper adhesion.

Another option I’m considering is tiling the sun shelf as this is the most aggressive deterioration. Any feedback is welcomed.

Lastly, can anyone recommend a great pool contractor in the Nashville Area?

 

[ajw22]

That damage looks like spalling caused by a thin layer of water on the surface freezing and breaking the plaster.

If you get freezing temperatures the water level must be kept sufficiently above or below steps and shelf's so that water never freezes on the surface.

For repair you need a full chipout of the old plaster,.Full chipouts should be done with one of the following methods:

• If chisels are used then it should be flat chisels, not pointed chisels. Pointed chisels remove too much gunite and can weaken the shell
• High pressure sand blasting is superior to chiseling to remove plaster
• Hydro jetting using high pressure water is also effective at removing plaster Read PSN:Water Jetting

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[bkruz]

That damage looks like spalling caused by a think layer of water on the surface freezing and breaking the plaster.

If you get freezing temperatures the water level must be kept sufficiently above or below steps and shelf's so that water never freezes on the surface.

For repair you need a full chipout of the old plaster,.Full chipouts should be done with one of the following methods:

• If chisels are used then it should be flat chisels, not pointed chisels. Pointed chisels remove too much gunite and can weaken the shell
• High pressure sand blasting is superior to chiseling to remove plaster
• Hydro jetting using high pressure water is also effective at removing plaster Read PSN:Water Jetting

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for the reply.

I’m a lifelong Floridian so don’t know much about winterizing. This last winter the pool maintenance company drained the pool down below the skimmer & it seemed to keep dropping for a while. Later in the winter one of the pipes burst & drained 3/4 of the pool water. Later on we had about 6” of snow on the sun shelf & it froze over. Could that be the root of the spalling?

 

[ajw22]

We had about 6” of snow on the sun shelf & it froze over. Could that be the root of the spalling?

Yes. That will do it.

Snow needs to be cleaned off of any exposed plaster and not let freeze on it.

It sounds like no one is taking responsibility for care of the pool during the winter.

Is there a cover on the pool when it is closed for the winter? A cover will prevent snow accumulating on steps or shelf.

 

[bkruz]

Yes. That will do it.

Snow needs to be cleaned off of any exposed plaster and not let freeze on it.

It sounds like no one is taking responsibility for care of the pool during the winter.

Is there a cover on the pool when it is closed for the winter? A cover will prevent snow accumulating on steps or shelf.

No cover & absolutely neglected by the maintenance company. I thought it was strange this was the first year they drained it so low. I’m going to look at Sun shelf winterization protocols so we can hold them accountable this year.

I’ve dealt with some spalling in the FL Keys where the salt air rusts the rebar & causes spalling. Sometimes it can go pretty deep! Hope that’s not the case here.

I’m going to check the rest of the pool surface, but I seem to remember the 1/4 filled pool frozen as well after the pipe broke. Hopefully we can just repair the sun shelf area with quartz or even tile but I think the rest may be compromised.