Is this an emergency or can renovation be postponed another season or two?

[Bam Bam]

This weekend I was convinced to forge ahead with the renovation. On a long drive this morning I’m doubting the sense/cents of doing this instead of a demolition or just letting the pool die then demolish it.

The pool looks awful but it’s not leaking. Is replastering an aesthetic and/or functional integrity issue? How about coping that has uplifted from the side of the pool?

At what point does it become absolutely necessary to replaster, replace coping and why? Is there anything wrong or dangerous with exposed gunnite? Roads are made of concrete and are driveable in the rain!

I’m cheap but can afford to renovate. Just feeling some money pit woes as ownership of 15 years and recently replaced 2 huge HVACs, shed, and who know’s what critical thing will need repair or replacement next. The pool is important but not critical.

 

[ajw22]

As long as the pool is holding water and you can maintain balanced chemicals go swim in it.

What you describe is all cosmetic.

 

[Bam Bam]

What a relief. I might just go ahead with swgc and perhaps heater too.

 

[borjis]

yep. looks similar to my first home with a pool. I was going to eventually re plaster but unded up not living there for more than a year.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

My admittedly non-expert understanding is that plaster is waterproof and gunite is not. So if you have missing plaster & exposed gunite, water may soak into the gunite slowly enough that you don’t notice. That water will eventually find rebar and cause rust.

I’d be embarrassed to have guests in that pool. My pool looked half as bad as yours when I re-plastered. Once the old plaster was removed, there were a couple small spots of rebar rust visible.

 

[sktn77a]

If the plaster has worn through to the gunite, then you need to replaster. Gunite isn't waterproof - water will get into it, through it, and could cause damage to the substrate and/or pool shell. It's a beautiful pool, I would definitely get it replastered and the coping repaired.

 

[joecomputr]

This weekend I was convinced to forge ahead with the renovation. On a long drive this morning I’m doubting the sense/cents of doing this instead of a demolition or just letting the pool die then demolish it.

The pool looks awful but it’s not leaking. Is replastering an aesthetic and/or functional integrity issue? How about coping that has uplifted from the side of the pool?

At what point does it become absolutely necessary to replaster, replace coping and why? Is there anything wrong or dangerous with exposed gunnite? Roads are made of concrete and are driveable in the rain!

I’m cheap but can afford to renovate. Just feeling some money pit woes as ownership of 15 years and recently replaced 2 huge HVACs, shed, and who know’s what critical thing will need repair or replacement next. The pool is important but not critical.

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Has pool been re-plastered before? I ask because I am in process of having my 34 yr old pool re-plastered. Unfortunately, I found out when it was re-plastered previously about 19 years ago, the company apparently did not use a suitable bonding agent for the plaster if at all. The result is we have about 450-500 sq ft of "hollow" spots in the plaster. They all need to be removed before plastering. Added a bit more to an already expensive project. If you have hollow spots, the only remedy is to remove them.

 

[Bam Bam]

I'm not sure if it was replastered but the previous owner did a lot of wacko fixing. He or someone painted the pool. From the first day it was used blue goopy stuff would stain anything and anyone that touched the surface. The Polaris collects blue chips which could be the paint covered plaster. It looks like he applied some black stuff to some exposed surfaces as well. He also went caulk crazy. Even in the house.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm waiting for the 3rd contractor to discuss options with. I will mention hollow spots. Then go back to contractors 1 and 2 and find out their up charges.

If you don't mind answering I'm curious to know how much your pool reno is costing. Are you replastering or pebbling?