Acid damage on travertine coping

[aaronfarrow]

we built a pool over the winter and finished in April. Despite our best efforts at being careful, there’s already a few spots where some acid has splashed up on the side of coping. Looking for advice/insight on how we can try to “clean up” these few unsightly areas on our new decking.
Thanks!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Need to see pictures.

But, in general, travertine is too delicate to “clean” and anything you do to it would likely only make the situation worse.

How exactly are you adding the acid? In all my years of adding acid to my pool, it has never “splashed back” on my deck. Perhaps you can describe how you are adding the chemical.

 

[aaronfarrow]

so I am using a Home Depot bucket and adding the acid to water over in the grass. I WAS the broadcasting from side of pool with a towel on the travertine coping on the side of the pool. Trying to prevent acid splash back. I have since started walking into the pool on the swim deck
With said bucket mixture and gently broadcasting from there into the shallow end around the swim deck. Started doing the latter a few weeks ago.

I’ll get a pic added.

 

[mknauss]

Muriatic acid should be added to the pool by pouring slowly in front of a return jet with the pump running. You should pour slowly enough that pouring an entire jug takes more than two minutes. Leave the pump running for at least 30 minutes after adding muriatic acid.

Never use a bucket to 'dilute' the acid. This just creates more potential for spillage.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

What Marty %

The way you are adding acid is dangerous and, as you are seeing, can cause significant damage if it spills. There is absolutely no need to broadcast acid around a pool. Simply take the jug of MA and pour roughly the amount you think you need by floating the jug in the water near a fast moving return. Pour the acid slowly with a stream roughly the diameter of a pencil into the flow of water from the return. The water flow will quickly disperse the acid over a wide area and dilute it enough that it is no longer concentrated. Then cap the bottle, dry it off and store it.

You really don’t need to be super precise with acid. You can practice with an empty bottle on how much the level changes for a given amount of acid dispensed. In fact, I almost always round up acid addition addition to the nearest 8oz. So if poolmath says 13oz, I add a pint (16oz). It’s really not necessary to be that exact.