Evil pool plaster in Missouri City, Texas

[rkwan]

We had our pool re-plastered just a little over 1 year ago and it's already cracking. It started with several small white lines, but now there are 3 cracked areas where something is growing out of it.

1. The pool repair man said the white lines are due to a leak in the pool? Does anyone think this is true? We have not had to add water to the pool for a long time, so we don't think that was the problem. (We do not have automatic pool filler.)

2. BUT, we are in the process of fixing a leak somewhere else in the house. (The plumber has not been able to locate the leak.) Can a leak in the foundation in the house cause the plaster in the pool to crack?

3. The repair man also said he can fix the cracks without draining the pool? Can this be done?

We are clueless, any advice would be appreciated.

 

[duraleigh]

I cannot help with the cracks but if something is growing out of them, you really need to get chlorine in your pool.

 

[Keven]

The pool could should get small spider cracks as the plaster is drying while the pool is fill.. Once the pool is full the spider cracks most of the time will close themselves up. It could be some didnt full close themelves up and now dirty in the cracks are making the show. Did the apply a bonding coat before the re-plastered or did they go straight over the old plaster. If no bonding coat was put down you have a strong chance the plaster could be pulling off the old plaster.

Depending how bad the cracks are they can do a patch underwater..

 

[onBalance]

I agree with Keven. It is most likely that the new plaster job is delaminating (bond failure) and cracking. When tapping those areas, it will sound hollow. If that is the case, then what is growing out of the hollow areas and cracks is calcium carbonate material. They are called calcium nodules. It is the result of bond failure and cracking. It is crusty and can be scraped off. But they will continue to return and grow over and over again. Any time the pool is drained, it will worsen the delaminating problem. If only a few nodules have formed, then perhaps an underwater repair will be sufficient. But I caution, there may be other areas that are delaminating and will eventually show up as more cracking and nodules. You might want to consider this a warranty issue.

 

[mac4lyfe]

Since you live in Houston suburb I have to ask if you had any foundation damage with last years drought? That could be a part of your plumbing leak. Not sure about the cracks in your pool. We had tree roots cracking stamped concrete in our back yard. We had to remove the roots.