Anything to be done with this plaster?

[BenB]

Hey all. Long time no post!

I've drained down the pool to repair some rusting rebar at the bottom of the pool. While down, I'm noticing (even more so than when the pool was filled with water) that the coloration of the plaster pretty much all around the pool is really really uneven. To the touch it is very, very smooth, but visually it just looks really aged and uneven. The flat surfaces (steps, sun shelf) are actually pretty good, but the vertical surfaces are really bad. Water has been managed "The TFP Way" since I took over the pool in summer of 2020.

I'm not looking to do a full chip-out-and-replaster at this time. Around here that's a $15-20,000 price tag.

Is there anything that can be done to help with this? I've read some skeptical threads on epoxy pool paint in the past, but not sure if this would be a reasonable stop-gap? Or, even though it's smooth, could some form of sandblasting, or sanding help?

I'm hesitant to do an acid washing. I sort of suspect that that's how the original home owners / builders may have got it into this position in the first place...

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

Put water back in the pool, enjoy swimming in it, and start saving for the replaster project.

 

[kimkats]

While you could sand it I really don't think it would be worth it in the end. It would be a HUGE amount of labor/ time that would have to be done in a short amount of time as it is not good to leave a pool empty for any period of time.

Do NOT acid wash it as that could cause it to be much rougher.

Fill her back up and enjoy it like it is. I assure you that anyone that comes to enjoy it with you will even notice the plaster!

 

[BenB]

Probably great advice. Indeed, all our friends love our pool and nobody even commented on the brown rusty rebarb patch (which I always worry looks like a poop) let alone blotchy plaster.

I will sand down the calcium nodules, and rust rings that the kids watering can left on the shelf, but the rest I'll just let be.

 

[ajw22]

For the rust rings rub a paste of vitamin C on it in a sock and it should lift. No sanding required.

 

[sktn77a]

Your plaster is nearing the end of it's life so I'd just get it acid washed. It's a cosmetic fix and it may make the surface a little less smooth but it'll give you a few more years without looking as gross as it does now!