choosing pool contractor

[dsatexas]

Happy wknd! quick question..getting resurface quotes (existing plain plaster, quoting for mini pebble)...have a contractor who came out this morning and I asked about filling the pool process...he says they fill the pool quickly, that it helps the plaster in the cure process. Thats the exact opposite of what ive read here at TFP, isnt it? Red flag?
comments?

 

[Aquaholic1]

Happy wknd! quick question..getting resurface quotes (existing plain plaster, quoting for mini pebble)...have a contractor who came out this morning and I asked about filling the pool process...he says they fill the pool quickly, that it helps the plaster in the cure process. Thats the exact opposite of what ive read here at TFP, isnt it? Red flag?
comments?

I'm learning as I go as well. I was told by a interior specialist to take off the waterhose from your outdoor faucet and let it run for about 2 - 3 minutes. Then fill a bottle up with water from that faucet (that you're going to fill the pool with). Then test the water for metal content. I'm not sure where you're located. Here in the Houston area, I was told that we have more metal in our water than most. Their main concern was to test for Mangnese in the water.

 

[kimkats]

Here is a set of links I put together to help pool owners get the best plaster job out there:

Ten Guidelines for Quality Pool Plaster Best one of all
All Plaster Finishes Should Last 20 Years
Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools How to pick a good color for plaster.
A Plastering 'Watch List' | Professional Watershaping | Watershapes
Trouble Free Pool
Trouble Free Pool

 

[ajw22]

Happy wknd! quick question..getting resurface quotes (existing plain plaster, quoting for mini pebble)...have a contractor who came out this morning and I asked about filling the pool process...he says they fill the pool quickly, that it helps the plaster in the cure process.

Filling the pool quickly after plastering is good. You need to bring in water trucks. I used four 7,000 gallon water truck deliveries for my pool.

Quickly filling the pool prevents possible staining problems that come from the water being shut off during filling or weeping from return lines during the fill.

Thats the exact opposite of what ive read here at TFP, isnt it?

Where did you read that?

Red flag?

Nope, good builder.

 

[kimkats]

@onBalance suggests waiting at least 6 hours after plaster to start filling the pool. It is on of the links I sent.

 

[ajw22]

@onBalance suggests waiting at least 6 hours after plaster to start filling the pool. It is on of the links I sent.

OK, I read it as filling the pool SLOWLY with hoses versus rapidly with water trucks.

Usually the water trucks can't be scheduled exactly when the plastering is done and they begin arriving a few hours after they are called for.

If you get a pebble or quartz polished finish that is worked on a second day then it has more then 6 hours before water is added anyway.

 

[onBalance]

The key is to wait at least 6 hours before starting to fill the pool, and then fill as rapidly as possible AFTER waiting 6 or more hours (but wait no longer than 24 hours). Submerging plaster in water before it has a chance to sufficiently harden is a mistake. Builders should know that, but some don't. It is a fact that some of the plaster surface dissolves into the fill water when it hasn't hardened sufficiently making a more porous surface.
That results in a poor start for the plaster product to last more than 20 years.

The fill water itself should be balanced (actually having a slightly positive CSI or the similar LSI) rather than being soft or aggressive.

 

[dsatexas]

Thanks all. The main article i refer to besides other comments here is the one from Water shapes website by Kim Skinner. The contractor i refer to made comment that they fill the pool as soon as theyre done plastering. Now, maybe he just didnt explain himself well? dunno but found that alarming that he didnt mention waiting for 6 hours for the deep end to cure. Not going with them anyways as they have a lot of bad reviews on their service side of biz. Thanks again.

 

[kimkats]

psssssst Kim Skinner IS Onbalance

 

[ajw22]

The contractor i refer to made comment that they fill the pool as soon as theyre done plastering. Now, maybe he just didnt explain himself well?

You said you are having mini pebble done. My understaning with pebble finishes they put the plaster and pebble on day 1 then come back day 2 and do and acid wash to get the cream off and expose the pebble. In that case they are done with plastering over 24 hours after the plaster was applied.

What Kim said about who OnBalance is.

 

[dsatexas]

You said you are having mini pebble done. My understaning with pebble finishes they put the palster and pebble on day 1 then come back day 2 and do and acid wash to get the cream off and expose the pebble. In that case they are done with plastering over 24 hours after the plaster was applied.

What Kim said about who OnBalance is.

Got it. thank you