Chunks of plaster/concrete coming off pool?

[Garrett9]

We're thinking of buying a house and noticed an issue with a pool. There are chunks of plaster or concrete detaching from the bottom of the pool. The owner says they had leaks in the pool filled last year, and the whole pool was acid washed and repainted. A year later these chunks of plaster came off the pool. Also the paint is chipping off the pool. The pool company she hired says they need to drain the pool and they can glue the chunks back onto the pool. My concern is this isn't just an isolated problem and the pool is going to continue to develop more cracks and leaks every year?

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

You have valid concerns. Assume the pool needs a new plaster job and maybe other repairs and price the house to reflect that.

Delamination of plaster and gluing pieces back in is not normal.

 

[sktn77a]

That's a disaster waiting to happen. The pool needs all of the plaster jackhammered out, sandblasted and replastered. Looking at around $10,000 to do it properly, depending on the pool and your location.

 

[Garrett9]

Does having salt water instead of chlorine make any difference in plaster coming off?

 

[ajw22]

Does having salt water instead of chlorine make any difference in plaster coming off?

No. Salt water pools have the same chlorine. Chlorine pools have salt water in them.

 

[Rossterman]

Get a full pool inspection before buying and make sure inspector specializes in pools. There is at least a plaster job needed but based on condition and likely cutting costs to properly repair that’s been going on for awhile, more stuff is likely wrong. As said, once inspection is back, adjust offer accordingly.

 

[HermanTX]

I agree with the others. The pool is getting to a point where a replaster is the only answer. You do not need to jack hammer out all of the plaster - just the spots that are cracking. The replaster can cover the entire pool and you have specifically removed the bad spots as well. Don't just patch the bad spots. Find a reputable pool remodeler or an authorized company that does specific plasters. We did a replaster with Wet Edge Technologies which is pebble and found a local authorized company. The minimum is probably about $8k but dependent on pool size, type of plaster you use, etc. A standard white plaster may be less expensive then the pebble plaster we used. You may be able to get a quote prior to final inspections and use that to negotiate the price to compensate to put the pool back in usable condition.

 

[Rossterman]

Don’t know if I’d trust anything but a full plaster demo. it’s clear there was a de lamination problem which likely extends to the whole pool. You could be throwing good money after bad if you just repair what’s obvious.

 

[Garrett9]

Thanks for the info everyone.