How many times can I acid wash a new pool?

[mtpb09876]

I could use some help with our new pool installation. We don't know anything about pools and contracted our pool builder to take care of everything involved in start up of the pool including brushing the mini pebble stonescapes surface after installation.

Due to settling of the plaster dust after initial acid wash and filling, they said we had to drain the pool for another acid wash.

We refilled the pool a 2nd time after the 2nd acid wash and a similar problem developed (blotchy, cloudy white coating over our dark pebble finish) apparently due to the filter being broken and not recognized for several days. Thus far it isn't improving much with more frequent brushing and a new filter.

We are now told we may have to drain the pool again for a 3rd acid wash to fix the issue. Aside from the crazy water bill, how bad is it to do 3 acid washes before we even use the pool for the 1st time? The mini pebble wasn't the cheapest option and I'm concerned about the longevity of the finish (it already feels noticeably less smooth after the 2nd wash).

Are my concerns valid, or is pebble durable enough to handle multiple washes without any significant impact on long term durability?

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[kimkats]

Welcome to TFP. I am sorry to be meeting this way.

Each acid wash is shortening your plaster life by years. As you have felt/seen it also makes it rougher. I would not allow them to acid wash it again. They might be able to sand it by hand or machine to smooth it out a bit BUT that may be a no go for them as it is very labor intensive.

I am going to call in a couple of people who might have another idea to help your plaster look better. @ajw22 & @AQUA~HOLICS any ideas?

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

The settling of plaster dust is something I rarely see after having the plaster acid washed.

To answer your questions, the severity of plaster removal is in direct proportion to the amount of acid used in each wash, regardless of how many times it occurs.
The make up of the exposed aggregate finish is one that the pebbles are held in by the “butter” in the mix. This butter is what’s being removed by the acid wash, so the pebbles are now more exposed than originally intended and thus feels rougher to the touch.
The durability of the product in my personal opinion has now been reduced if the acid washes have been mixed too strong and left on the product too long during the process.
Keep into consideration that the overall product should be at a minimum of 3/4” in thickness during installation so it’s purpose of keeping the pool shell water tight is still intact, but the smoothness of the surface has been lost.