Pebble Finish and Muratic Acid

[BWGator169]

Good morning, Folks.

We are in the home stretch of having our pool finished (a 9-month process due to having paver deck installed 3 times). For our finish, we chose NPT StonesScapes Aqua White 3/Touch of Glass for the main areas and Sand 3/Touch of Glass for the sundeck. The finish was done last Friday and the installers immediately started filling the pool with water when they were done. After the water was done filling the next day, everything looked great, even with the non-treated semi-cloudy water. We put the finish color samples down in the water on their finished colors and everything matched great, except some of the pebble and glass was still concealed by some of the plaster. Overall, looked perfect.

Then, Monday, came the muratic acid. Pool builder added the acid and the surfaces got very noticeably darker. I know this process is to reveal the pebble more, but it seems to have made the colors darker than what we picked. Pool builder says that this darkness will go away and the original color will eventually return once everything is done and the water is balanced. He's come by every day to brush and vacuum the surface and put the cartridge filter in.

Is the pool builder just giving us lip service and this will not go back to what it was? Photos of before and after acid are attached. First three are Saturday, last three are today.

 

[kimkats]

What a pretty pool! I LOVE the color it is now but what I like does not count.

Lets back up a step or two-
Do you have any idea what kind of start up they are doing? This is very important to now before we can answer you concerns. Startup New Plaster Here is a link to give you some ideas so you will have a clue what the PB says.

Kim

 

[YippeeSkippy]

The "now" colors are so rich, very classy looking sable and blue. Your pool design is also very nice!

BWGator- Whether the pool color will lighten up again, well, honestly I don't know? But I do want to welcome you to TFP and hope you'll stick around to learn all about how to care for your new pool.

Are you following NPT start up guide? Have you taken on any of the water testing yet?

Maddie

 

[BWGator169]

Good morning, Ladies ( @YippeeSkippy and @kimkats ). Sorry for the delay in responding to your replies...work is getting in the way of my personal life.

Thank you for the compliments on the look of our design. We chose a combo of colors that would blend with the pavers we already had installed when the house was built and completed in Feb 2019. Hence the troubles we had with pool deck pavers...needed them to be the same make and model. Come to find out, the ones ordered for the pool were manufactured at a different plant as those already in for the house, and they had damaged equipment....so, if you ever get Belgard pavers, be wary of the final product and check them over before you sign. My wife is fine with the current darkening of the surface colors, but I am a little apprehensive, as they are a couple of shades darker than we agreed upon. I do believe, however, that use of a stainless steel brush will likely slough away the darker color. At least, I hope that will do the trick.

Anyway, we haven't been given any instruction by our pool installer yet as to how to care for it. He's been coming by almost daily brushing and vacuuming. The salt filter isn't activated yet, and the only thing actually being used is the filter and lights. So, whether or not the NPT start-up guide is being followed, I cannot answer.

 

[kimkats]

Startup New Plaster Here is a link to help you learn how best start up your plaster. I hope this helps.

Kim