Major Plaster Issue

[5280demon]

Hello all, new here. New pool owners as well. We had a pool built and plastered spring 2018. Colorado, 6800 ft altitude. SWG. Automatic cover, closed during winter for the past 2 winters. Our chosen plaster is Hydrazzo, Mediterranean Blue. We have a large shelf that pool contractor has drained water below for these two winters. Last spring we opened and had scale on the plaster covered by water. The dry shelf area had some chunks missing. We chose to deal with it after summer so we could enjoy the pool for the short season we have here. The pool contractor handled weekly maintenance until pool closed in Oct. Weather hit hard in Oct so we delayed any fix until spring 2020. This leads to us asking permission to open the cover last week to inspect. To our horror, the shelf is almost completely chipped. There is plaster everywhere. Please see pictures.
So this plaster is 2 years old. Hydrazzo has a five year warranty. I have contacted CL Industries and they believe this is a result of spalling or delaminaton. We have requested remedy from contractor. No response yet. I am asking for any opinions on our situation. It seems a replaster is the only way to handle this situation. The contractor has asked us to pick out tile, at our expense, to cover the entire shelf. Is this appropriate? Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[Pprior]

Wow that's a nightmare. I hate it when people try to provide a "fix" that isn't what you wanted in the first place. Heck no I wouldn't accept tile over that shelf, unless that's what you wanted in the first place (which it isn't since it's not there!). My goodness the nerve of some people.

 

[C.Johnson]

Yikes! Hoping one of the resident plaster experts has some ideas as to what caused this

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I'm wondering if leaving plaster dry over the winter encouraged this problem? We usually discourage folks leaving plaster exposed so.

Lets see what our plaster pro thinks? @onBalance

It looks like a gorgeous pool otherwise....can we see the whole thing?

Maddie

 

[C.Johnson]

I second the request for pictures!

 

[ajw22]

We have seen that type of problem in the past on ledges caused by the drained water level leaving a shallow layer of water on the ledge where the water freezes and thaws over the winter and breaks up the plaster. Basically the same type of process that creates potholes on roads during winter freeze/thaw cycles.

If you winterize a pool with a ledge you need to keep the water level below the ledge so ice does not freeze in it, or keep the water deep enough above the ledge so surface ice at the top of the water does not sit on the plaster.

 

[5280demon]

Hi thanks for your thoughts. Yes the water has been drained below the level of the ledge. This is why we are so appalled.?

Here are a few different views of the pool and surrounding landscape. Definitely a paradise. We are so hoping to get this fixed so we can enjoy the pool starting next month....

 

[onBalance]

Yes, very bad freeze damage.
But the remedy is a tough issue. Yes, the shelf can be tiled instead of being re-plastered. But I am concerned about the tile being too slippery. So the contractor needs to address that and ensure that there is enough tile texture for walking on it without slipping.
The tile itself will not be freeze damaged, but the issue is whether the tile will stay intact (and not lose its' bond) during the winter freeze and pop off. Therefore, insist that the contractor provides a warranty for a few years on the tile work.

 

[sktn77a]

No tile! The shelf needs to be chipped out and replastered.

 

[jimmythegreek]

That's some serious freeze damage and a big shelf. How deep is the shelf in relation to the normal waterline

 

[Casey]

Wow the that ledge is impressive when it was completed! I would never settle for tile when that is not what was there previously. I'd probably slip n fall n end up drowning in my dream pool.

 

[C.Johnson]

Wow! What a beautiful landscape!

 

[5280demon]

Thank you all! The ledge has about 7” of water during summer when full. Our contractor has agreed to repair under warranty. His visit is tomorrow to discuss options.