Hey everyone,
My pool is plastered SWG that's 12 yo. We have well water and have staining from iron and manganese (the property has an old gold mine on it), and it appears that there's some scaling that occurred that trapped minerals to cause the bulk of the staining (Jack's stain test shows scale). I tried Jacks scale removal but it didn't work. But I've drained the pool down 24" and muriatic acid takes off the stain (full strength though). After cleaning the test area, the surface was a little bit rougher but still seems fine. To my hand and look, the plaster appears in good shape - hard and smooth. It has several cracks that go across the bottom, but these seem the typical cracks. There is one 6" square area exception, just underneath the tile near the steps, though where the plaster has an indentation -it's eroded into the plaster, like a tennis ball smacked it. It fits spaling description, but no other place on the pool looks like this - it's an anomaly area and I think it was a problem shortly after the pool was built.
I've read on the forum that plaster is good for 10-15 years, but my last pool was 20 yo plaster and still in good shape. As I say, my current pool's surface is still hard and smooth, except for that small area. Since there is scale, I obviously was not controlling my CSI at some point, but though I've had many algae blooms (a faulty SWG) that shouldn't have happened, I generally think I've kept the pool in good chemistry. But the scale indicates otherwise.
My Question. Is it reasonable to repair the small area, acid wash the stains and expect another 5+ years from the pool? It's never been acid washed before, and now I'm retired, so money is tight, but also I have the time to make sure the pool is well maintained. Except this one spot of problem and the staining, the plaster seems sound. I do have some small places of black algae that I haven't been able to get rid of, but I'm assuming it can be dealt with when it's acid washed. The alternative is a $15K (low end pebble) renovation - wow or acid washed for ~ $2K (including the water).
If I'm only kicking the can down the road a couple years, it would be stupid not to replaster now. I know the roughness caused by the acid wash will allow stains more readily (and black algae), but bad enough for $13k expense.
Sorry for the length. I hope someone can provide some insights. It seems to hinge on this - if I'm correct about the good condition of the plaster except for the stain and the spot, is expecting at least 5 more years reasonable likely - if the pool is carefully maintained?
Lewis
My pool is plastered SWG that's 12 yo. We have well water and have staining from iron and manganese (the property has an old gold mine on it), and it appears that there's some scaling that occurred that trapped minerals to cause the bulk of the staining (Jack's stain test shows scale). I tried Jacks scale removal but it didn't work. But I've drained the pool down 24" and muriatic acid takes off the stain (full strength though). After cleaning the test area, the surface was a little bit rougher but still seems fine. To my hand and look, the plaster appears in good shape - hard and smooth. It has several cracks that go across the bottom, but these seem the typical cracks. There is one 6" square area exception, just underneath the tile near the steps, though where the plaster has an indentation -it's eroded into the plaster, like a tennis ball smacked it. It fits spaling description, but no other place on the pool looks like this - it's an anomaly area and I think it was a problem shortly after the pool was built.
I've read on the forum that plaster is good for 10-15 years, but my last pool was 20 yo plaster and still in good shape. As I say, my current pool's surface is still hard and smooth, except for that small area. Since there is scale, I obviously was not controlling my CSI at some point, but though I've had many algae blooms (a faulty SWG) that shouldn't have happened, I generally think I've kept the pool in good chemistry. But the scale indicates otherwise.
My Question. Is it reasonable to repair the small area, acid wash the stains and expect another 5+ years from the pool? It's never been acid washed before, and now I'm retired, so money is tight, but also I have the time to make sure the pool is well maintained. Except this one spot of problem and the staining, the plaster seems sound. I do have some small places of black algae that I haven't been able to get rid of, but I'm assuming it can be dealt with when it's acid washed. The alternative is a $15K (low end pebble) renovation - wow or acid washed for ~ $2K (including the water).
If I'm only kicking the can down the road a couple years, it would be stupid not to replaster now. I know the roughness caused by the acid wash will allow stains more readily (and black algae), but bad enough for $13k expense.
Sorry for the length. I hope someone can provide some insights. It seems to hinge on this - if I'm correct about the good condition of the plaster except for the stain and the spot, is expecting at least 5 more years reasonable likely - if the pool is carefully maintained?
Lewis
