- Jun 2, 2019
- 337
- Pool Size
- 16200
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hello!
We've been noticing some plaster Issues and over time, they've gotten worse.
Our pool was built and plastered just over a year ago by a reputable builder that's been around a long time. We had issues during the build also, and they admitted back in February that they messed up because they were busy and understaffed.
The plaster is DiamondBrite "Marina".. but is the PB version "SmartBrite".
Things we've experienced/noticed:
1. Our pH will not stabilize. So far at 90 alkalinity it's not required muriatic acid for the last couple of days so that's a plus. I've been having to add acid nearly daily, more often if I have to bump the SWG to keep up the chlorine level.
2. In July, our calcium started to climb for some unknown reason. Our water was in-balance. I drained 2/3 of the pool and since then it's been stable.
3. There are many divots, dents, etc throughout the pool that have become more noticeable, or my honest opinion is many are new so I think somehow our plaster is soft. Originally there were just heel prints and some poor smoothing in the corners, but now there are new footprints, dents, even an area that looks "rippled" probably from brushing. I've generally felt like when we used the pool this season, that us stepping in it and using it created new dents somehow. Which I don't understand how that's possible, and makes me not want to step anywhere when I'm using it.
4. There is now A LOT of white spotting and small lines throughout the sun ledge, benches, steps and entire floor. But, the sun ledge, benches have a noticeable "texture" of spotting throughout, really. It's hard to explain what I am seeing. If zooming in pics you can kinda see it better.
5. On the deep end bench, the corners and areas where tile is laid are rough. On one corner there is even a small missing piece of plaster (been like that since the beginning). Also, some areas where tile is, is indented and therefore not level or smooth with the rest.
6. There is one spot I noticed this season, on the shallow end floor, that became a white spot and feels raised... Almost seems like it's gotten more raised over time.
7. There is a spot on the walls of the deep end. Circle shaped, feel to be similar texture as the plaster.
8. When I drained 2/3 for calcium issues, I noticed on the sun ledge that there is little cracks or "crazing" on the sun ledge.
9. Also when drained I noticed what looked like could be swirl marks in the plaster on at least one area. I don't notice them when water is in it though.
10. Along the sun ledge mini-step and where the regular steps meet the floors, there is a noticeable line along the radius.
11. Pool was plastered late October 2019. In February 2020, the PB came to look at it because I complained of the spotting and discolorations. When they were there, I heard the warranty manager and construction supervisor say "this is soft" when feeling the small step on the sun ledge. I didn't know what they meant at the time. The result of this meeting was to acid wash the pool. It looked better for a little while but is way worse now.
Also, after the acid wash it was a torrential downpour for hours before and after, so we had orange staining running down our freshly acid washed pool walls. The PB sent someone here to scrub the walls down with muriatic acid to clean up the orange stains. Since then, there's a "river effect" running down the walls and running just after where the floor "bowl" starts all along the perimeter. Not to mention this cause our pH to tank into the 4s or 5s because they used so much acid on the walls.
There are even other issues such as discolorations running down the wall under the return jets, which were there from the getgo as well. Some dark spots on the floor. Etc.
It's a mess. I know plaster is a hand applied product and imperfections are inevitable. I'm just not sure what's acceptable imperfections or flaws from possible installation errors.
The PB called to meet with us, and a representative from the plaster company. That will happen this Friday, November 6th, 2020.
I'm looking for advice and tips on how to properly explain these issues and essentially, I truly believe this was a bad plaster job. I told the PB this, but he wants to have the plaster rep there so there's no ambiguity. I'm sure they think it's my water chemistry.. I told them I figure that'll be the go-to but I have plenty of records to show this isn't the case... At least to what my understanding of what "aggressive water" means.
It's hard to show the things I mean in pics and I don't have any of the cracking/crazing as that's hard to photograph and you don't really see it when it's full.
Any advice for my meeting is appreciated.
P.S. after reading this, and some other posts I wonder if I have more of an issue than I realize. The floor of the pool looks "dirty" throughout.. could be this issue described here....?
www.troublefreepool.com
We've been noticing some plaster Issues and over time, they've gotten worse.
Our pool was built and plastered just over a year ago by a reputable builder that's been around a long time. We had issues during the build also, and they admitted back in February that they messed up because they were busy and understaffed.
The plaster is DiamondBrite "Marina".. but is the PB version "SmartBrite".
Things we've experienced/noticed:
1. Our pH will not stabilize. So far at 90 alkalinity it's not required muriatic acid for the last couple of days so that's a plus. I've been having to add acid nearly daily, more often if I have to bump the SWG to keep up the chlorine level.
2. In July, our calcium started to climb for some unknown reason. Our water was in-balance. I drained 2/3 of the pool and since then it's been stable.
3. There are many divots, dents, etc throughout the pool that have become more noticeable, or my honest opinion is many are new so I think somehow our plaster is soft. Originally there were just heel prints and some poor smoothing in the corners, but now there are new footprints, dents, even an area that looks "rippled" probably from brushing. I've generally felt like when we used the pool this season, that us stepping in it and using it created new dents somehow. Which I don't understand how that's possible, and makes me not want to step anywhere when I'm using it.
4. There is now A LOT of white spotting and small lines throughout the sun ledge, benches, steps and entire floor. But, the sun ledge, benches have a noticeable "texture" of spotting throughout, really. It's hard to explain what I am seeing. If zooming in pics you can kinda see it better.
5. On the deep end bench, the corners and areas where tile is laid are rough. On one corner there is even a small missing piece of plaster (been like that since the beginning). Also, some areas where tile is, is indented and therefore not level or smooth with the rest.
6. There is one spot I noticed this season, on the shallow end floor, that became a white spot and feels raised... Almost seems like it's gotten more raised over time.
7. There is a spot on the walls of the deep end. Circle shaped, feel to be similar texture as the plaster.
8. When I drained 2/3 for calcium issues, I noticed on the sun ledge that there is little cracks or "crazing" on the sun ledge.
9. Also when drained I noticed what looked like could be swirl marks in the plaster on at least one area. I don't notice them when water is in it though.
10. Along the sun ledge mini-step and where the regular steps meet the floors, there is a noticeable line along the radius.
11. Pool was plastered late October 2019. In February 2020, the PB came to look at it because I complained of the spotting and discolorations. When they were there, I heard the warranty manager and construction supervisor say "this is soft" when feeling the small step on the sun ledge. I didn't know what they meant at the time. The result of this meeting was to acid wash the pool. It looked better for a little while but is way worse now.
Also, after the acid wash it was a torrential downpour for hours before and after, so we had orange staining running down our freshly acid washed pool walls. The PB sent someone here to scrub the walls down with muriatic acid to clean up the orange stains. Since then, there's a "river effect" running down the walls and running just after where the floor "bowl" starts all along the perimeter. Not to mention this cause our pH to tank into the 4s or 5s because they used so much acid on the walls.
There are even other issues such as discolorations running down the wall under the return jets, which were there from the getgo as well. Some dark spots on the floor. Etc.
It's a mess. I know plaster is a hand applied product and imperfections are inevitable. I'm just not sure what's acceptable imperfections or flaws from possible installation errors.
The PB called to meet with us, and a representative from the plaster company. That will happen this Friday, November 6th, 2020.
I'm looking for advice and tips on how to properly explain these issues and essentially, I truly believe this was a bad plaster job. I told the PB this, but he wants to have the plaster rep there so there's no ambiguity. I'm sure they think it's my water chemistry.. I told them I figure that'll be the go-to but I have plenty of records to show this isn't the case... At least to what my understanding of what "aggressive water" means.
It's hard to show the things I mean in pics and I don't have any of the cracking/crazing as that's hard to photograph and you don't really see it when it's full.
Any advice for my meeting is appreciated.
P.S. after reading this, and some other posts I wonder if I have more of an issue than I realize. The floor of the pool looks "dirty" throughout.. could be this issue described here....?
How White Pool Plaster Turns Blotchy
This experiment below explains how white pool plaster can become blotchy gray, and also have white areas mixed into the gray areas. Both white pool plaster coupons below have been in water for one year. Sometimes the water was slightly aggressive (negative CSI), and sometimes the water was...
www.troublefreepool.com
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