In central FL. Pool refinisher says they will acid wash the old surface then install new quartz over the old stuff

[tampapools]

I've heard of people having the old plaster removed first, is it acceptable to just install new stuff over the old?

Here's a photo of my pool. It's 19 years old.

 

[tampapools]

The company who gave me the estimate for quartz refinish is charging $7500. Pool is 36x9.5. 6' deep, 3' on the shallow side.

They said they'd acid wash, then they'd install over the existing quartz surface.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

That’s called a skim-coat. It’s the cheapest way to replaster a pool. It’s not the best as it only applies a very thin coat of new plaster. The risks are delamination if the new plaster doesn’t adhere well. A lot of people that don’t plan to own a home long will do that as it is a cheap way to refresh a pool surface for a home sale. Kind of like around here where the house painters will ask you if you want the forever-home coating (3 coats will a brush roll back) or the home-sale coating (watered-down paint sprayed on in two coats). The difference is a few thousand dollars.

It’s better to do a full chip out and replaster. If the company you contacted is unwilling to do that, then keep looking.

 

[tampapools]

Any idea what the chip out costs? This is starting to really get costly because in addition to redoing the pool surface, I bought a new vs pool pump, and was looking to get a pool heater. And it costs $2000 to run 60a 80 foot to the rear of the house... $5000 for the sq150. Then it sounds like I should have the pool repaired before getting the new pump/heater installed. I'm starting to feel burned out.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The chip out is all labor and hauling. So it varies from city to city. I’d expect at least a 50% increase in cost.

 

[tampapools]

Wouldn't removing the old plaster mean they need to add even more to replace it (over the quantity used for skim coat)? Is your 50% based on just the removal of the old plaster or does that account for additional materials? Or would the skimcoat use the same amount of materials either way?

Here's a pic of the pool's current condition. The pool guy said he thought I had another year or two life left on it. The reason for the rush is that there is a black spot forming which appears to be rebar starting to rust.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

The 50% I’m guessing at but I would think that would cover the extra plaster thickness too. Most simple white plaster renovations with chip out are over $10k.