I need help on identifying fixes for my recently renovated pool. I have a 30,000 gal pool built in the mid-80’s. It has 3 foot fiberglass wall panels with a gunite floor. The gunite finish was starting to show its age so we decided to get it refinished and looked for a pool contractor. Based on favorable reviews nationally, we decided on a contractor that recommended the ecoFinish / aquaBright finish. We also switched to a salt system for our pool. Since the install earlier this summer we are experiencing the following and would like to know if anyone else has experienced any of these problems and could tell me how they addressed them. Our local pool contractor is at a loss on what to do with these issues. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
1) We had solid bumps on our fiberglass wall panels that were sanded down and then epoxied over before the ecoFinish was applied. Some of the bumps have reappeared in the same spots and in some of the other bump areas that were epoxied over stains are appearing through the ecoFinish. What are these bumps and why do they reappear? Also, why is there a stain coming through the ecoFinish in these spots?
2) The first time the contractor sprayed the finish on they tried to cover the seams on the fiberglass panels. The result was cracks at the seams and in a few days rust started to appear through the cracks. The pool was drained again and the fiberglass seams were cleaned out and an approved caulk was applied. A second spray of ecoFinish was applied over the new seam. Within days a dark stain appeared on most of the seams about 3 inches below the water line and on down to the bottom of the fiberglass panel. To the touch it feels like the caulk material through the ecoFinish. Has anyone had a fiberglass panel wall finished with ecoFinish and had the seams covered completely? Or has anyone had the fiberglass seams still showing but with this staining? How did you fix it?
3) Another problem on the fiberglass walls are a few soft bubble bumps. When I push on them they push in and sometimes they push out a little air. They are about 1-2 inches round and I have about 6-8 of them on the fiberglass wall. It seems like the ecoFinish is not sticking to the actual wall. Any ideas on what is causing that and how to address it? I am afraid they will pop at some point and the pool finish will come off.
4) Between the coping and the top of the fiberglass wall there is about 2 inches where the mortar is. Before the renovation we had a 2-3 inch plastic band going horizontally around the pool with tile glued on it for a transition into the pool. That was removed and some caulking was applied before the ecoFinish was applied. Now I have some cracks and an uneven lip at the top of the fiberglass panel on some parts of the pool. The finish was sprayed and we are trying to figure out how to get that smoothed out better or cover that mortar transition. Any suggestions?
I have other smaller problems but these are the biggest that I really need some help with? Thank you for this website and I hope the pool owners here can offer some suggestions.
1) We had solid bumps on our fiberglass wall panels that were sanded down and then epoxied over before the ecoFinish was applied. Some of the bumps have reappeared in the same spots and in some of the other bump areas that were epoxied over stains are appearing through the ecoFinish. What are these bumps and why do they reappear? Also, why is there a stain coming through the ecoFinish in these spots?
2) The first time the contractor sprayed the finish on they tried to cover the seams on the fiberglass panels. The result was cracks at the seams and in a few days rust started to appear through the cracks. The pool was drained again and the fiberglass seams were cleaned out and an approved caulk was applied. A second spray of ecoFinish was applied over the new seam. Within days a dark stain appeared on most of the seams about 3 inches below the water line and on down to the bottom of the fiberglass panel. To the touch it feels like the caulk material through the ecoFinish. Has anyone had a fiberglass panel wall finished with ecoFinish and had the seams covered completely? Or has anyone had the fiberglass seams still showing but with this staining? How did you fix it?
3) Another problem on the fiberglass walls are a few soft bubble bumps. When I push on them they push in and sometimes they push out a little air. They are about 1-2 inches round and I have about 6-8 of them on the fiberglass wall. It seems like the ecoFinish is not sticking to the actual wall. Any ideas on what is causing that and how to address it? I am afraid they will pop at some point and the pool finish will come off.
4) Between the coping and the top of the fiberglass wall there is about 2 inches where the mortar is. Before the renovation we had a 2-3 inch plastic band going horizontally around the pool with tile glued on it for a transition into the pool. That was removed and some caulking was applied before the ecoFinish was applied. Now I have some cracks and an uneven lip at the top of the fiberglass panel on some parts of the pool. The finish was sprayed and we are trying to figure out how to get that smoothed out better or cover that mortar transition. Any suggestions?
I have other smaller problems but these are the biggest that I really need some help with? Thank you for this website and I hope the pool owners here can offer some suggestions.