New Pool - Startup... PB says swim as soon as a few days??

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Jcvader99

Jcvader99

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Feb 8, 2018
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Charleston SC
After having read the pool school here and the startup process for new pool (Wet-Edge Pebble/plaster) my PB is saying we can swim within a couple of days.

I'm also afraid they're going to start the salt and SWE immediately as well. We're not there yet (plaster/pebble a week or 2 away) but I don't want to do it wrong simply because they have a different opinion.

They build around 150 pools a year in our area, so they SHOULD know what they are doing. :confused:

This sounds way off from the 28 day delay referenced in Pool school. Any thoughts or ideas on why they differ so much? :confused: And whats the worst case for salting/swimming too early?
 
Here is an earlier thread on waiting for 30 days to add salt, On salt, plaster and waiting 30 days.....

As far as not swimming in the pool there are a couple of reasons such as the water not being in balance to swim in and an excess of plaster dust in the water could be a reason for the warning not to swim in the water. It would be nice to see why that article has 2 warnings to not swim in the water in all caps. I have no reason other than these to avoid swimming.
 
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It does seem, from all the different readings (thanks to all) that the delay on adding salt is of more importance than the delayed swimming/usage. In either case, I'd rather be safe than sorry. At least I know enough now to speak up when they are doing the initial startup.

I will keep reading but thanks to the quick replies!
 
We have do wait 30 days to swim... which will see the end of our last bit of nice weather. Also have to brush 4 times a day for the 30 days, which I think is maybe a little over the top, but will do as instructed. If your pb says it’s ok to swim, then I would go for it if you feel comfortable.
 
riley00dog said:
We have do wait 30 days to swim... which will see the end of our last bit of nice weather. Also have to brush 4 times a day for the 30 days, which I think is maybe a little over the top, but will do as instructed. If your pb says it’s ok to swim, then I would go for it if you feel comfortable.
Click to expand...

I don't know anyone that waits 30 days. Get in the pool and swim!
 
-When water reaching the middle of the skimmer face plate JUMP IN AND HAVE FUN!
Click to expand...

Says someone that has never gotten plaster dust in there eyes!

Seriously though, the caution against swimming right away depends on the startup process used and the nature of the plaster surface. Fresh plaster can be easily marred by dirty feet. As well, plaster dust and high pH water can be extremely irritating to eyes and skin. If one uses a hot-start (acid startup) method, plaster dust is not really an issue as the pH is being held down with acid. In bicarbonate and traditional startup methods, pH can easily get up into the 8’s and that’s not too comfortable to swim in.

So, with a lot of things in life, it depends....
 

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I’ve usually seen the waiting of x days due to a hot acid start (the pH is dramatically lowered for a few days to remove the top layer of plaster and expose the fine aggregate some) and also the plaster dust due to the acid in the water and brushing with a plain plaster finish. Pebble finishes get an acid wash, not a hot acid start, and also have less plaster dust than plain plaster, so neither of those concerns is as prominent.

The waiting period in that case would be until dust is mostly gone and pH is proper.

Someone is quicker that I am! See above.
 
JoyfulNoise said:
Says someone that has never gotten plaster dust in there eyes!

Seriously though, the caution against swimming right away depends on the startup process used and the nature of the plaster surface. Fresh plaster can be easily marred by dirty feet. As well, plaster dust and high pH water can be extremely irritating to eyes and skin. If one uses a hot-start (acid startup) method, plaster dust is not really an issue as the pH is being held down with acid. In bicarbonate and traditional startup methods, pH can easily get up into the 8’s and that’s not too comfortable to swim in.

So, with a lot of things in life, it depends....
Click to expand...

In this case his builder told him he could swim "within a couple of days". He was confused by the pool school on this site that says otherwise. So I assume they did not do an acid start.
 
I was on the calendar to get my pool at the end of April. The company I hired as an excellent reputation around town he does one pool at a time I have a viking fiberglass pool but he hired two guys so they got ahead of schedule my pool was done the last week of February 5 days from start to finish. I went swimming yesterday for the first time. it was wonderful
 
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