My pool build has not been the smoothest. There has been too little beforehand planning, too much 'day of' decision making, not much guidance, and overall poor communication at many of the steps along the way. We are are in the decking phase right now and the PB is trying to move on to the plaster phase but here are my present concerns:
The decking is supposed to be two tone stamped concrete. It was poured and stamped (they stamped for the surface texture but then actually hand created the flagstone pattern grout lines because they said it would look more realistic), then two days later someone came out and pressure washed off the powder. We were very excited to see what they two tone grey (light and dark) stone looked like and ran out to look after the guy left. We were very disappointed to find the stone pattern looked just one color and it is nearly as dark as the powder that he washed off. Furthermore there are tons of little cracks near what would be the grout lines in numerous areas and the hand drawn grout lines have lots of blemishes (fins, cracking, some parts don't connect up well). So I got in touch with the PB and told him the concerns and that he should come see it as it appears just one color, way too dark, and overall looks terrible. Time was of the essence, in my opinion, as he had the Crystal Rock aggregate lined up to be installed on the gunite the next day. He said he'd have to check with the sub about my concerns. After getting in touch with the sub, the PB then told me the sub said the 2nd color would be done at the sealing phase (without really understanding the typical process, I had actually offered this idea as maybe why it didn't look right now when questioning whether two colors were used) and to not worrying about the little cracks as they would not show up after sealing. He was also going to have the sub call me. The explanation didn't sound right to me as I had now done quite a bit of internet research on stamped colored concrete and since the sub never called that day and I still had my doubts, the next morning I told the PB that I didn't want the plaster crew to come that day (they were on their way) until we discussed the decking more. He cancelled the plaster crew and then the sub called and so I told the sub all my concerns. The sub told me that all the finishing work (correcting the fins, blemishes, etc.) would take place when they finished up the deck after 28 days of curing when they seal it. I told him it was too dark and I was worried the sealer would make it all even darker and he said that it will make the dark areas darker and the light areas lighter. He said that before sealing, they will acid wash it and it will look fabulous and we'll see the light color that doesn't show up now and he can lighten it as much as we want at that time.
Maybe this works, but it doesn't seem to be how it is typically done based upon my research. Should I be concerned?
Secondly, I am worried to allow the crystal rock aggregate to be installed on the gunite and proceeding with finishing the pool when the decking is not finished satisfactorily yet. I worry about this upcoming acid wash on the decking and getting that in the pool water and whatever else may occur to the decking which may or may not have the potential of hurting another finished area or getting nasty stuff in the pool water and that cycling through pumps and filters. Should I be worried? Should the decking be completely finished first before moving on to the plastering phase and filling the pool or does it matter?
Thank you ahead of time for your knowledge and help. Here are few pictures of the decking as it currently is:
The decking is supposed to be two tone stamped concrete. It was poured and stamped (they stamped for the surface texture but then actually hand created the flagstone pattern grout lines because they said it would look more realistic), then two days later someone came out and pressure washed off the powder. We were very excited to see what they two tone grey (light and dark) stone looked like and ran out to look after the guy left. We were very disappointed to find the stone pattern looked just one color and it is nearly as dark as the powder that he washed off. Furthermore there are tons of little cracks near what would be the grout lines in numerous areas and the hand drawn grout lines have lots of blemishes (fins, cracking, some parts don't connect up well). So I got in touch with the PB and told him the concerns and that he should come see it as it appears just one color, way too dark, and overall looks terrible. Time was of the essence, in my opinion, as he had the Crystal Rock aggregate lined up to be installed on the gunite the next day. He said he'd have to check with the sub about my concerns. After getting in touch with the sub, the PB then told me the sub said the 2nd color would be done at the sealing phase (without really understanding the typical process, I had actually offered this idea as maybe why it didn't look right now when questioning whether two colors were used) and to not worrying about the little cracks as they would not show up after sealing. He was also going to have the sub call me. The explanation didn't sound right to me as I had now done quite a bit of internet research on stamped colored concrete and since the sub never called that day and I still had my doubts, the next morning I told the PB that I didn't want the plaster crew to come that day (they were on their way) until we discussed the decking more. He cancelled the plaster crew and then the sub called and so I told the sub all my concerns. The sub told me that all the finishing work (correcting the fins, blemishes, etc.) would take place when they finished up the deck after 28 days of curing when they seal it. I told him it was too dark and I was worried the sealer would make it all even darker and he said that it will make the dark areas darker and the light areas lighter. He said that before sealing, they will acid wash it and it will look fabulous and we'll see the light color that doesn't show up now and he can lighten it as much as we want at that time.
Maybe this works, but it doesn't seem to be how it is typically done based upon my research. Should I be concerned?
Secondly, I am worried to allow the crystal rock aggregate to be installed on the gunite and proceeding with finishing the pool when the decking is not finished satisfactorily yet. I worry about this upcoming acid wash on the decking and getting that in the pool water and whatever else may occur to the decking which may or may not have the potential of hurting another finished area or getting nasty stuff in the pool water and that cycling through pumps and filters. Should I be worried? Should the decking be completely finished first before moving on to the plastering phase and filling the pool or does it matter?
Thank you ahead of time for your knowledge and help. Here are few pictures of the decking as it currently is:
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