Rebar stains - new pebble tec

[Obecalp86]

Hi all,

My 15 year old plaster pool had 5-10 rebar stains in the shallow end. We replastered the pool with Pebble Tec March 2025. 1-2 months ago I noticed some brown discoloring in the deep end - I initially discarded it as leaves or dirt, but today I dove into the pool with goggles and determined they are rust-colored, linear, flush-with-the-surface stains. As best I know, these are rebar stains.

If relevant: I am suspecting I have a leak based on autofill going all the time, salt dropping, positive bucket test. I did underwater dye test which was negative (including in the area over the stains).

Questions:
-Is the pool company at fault for not fixing “something” (rebar?) when they replastered?
-is the only fix to drain, cut into the plaster, cut out the rebar and seal?
-Is this likely to spread?
-Risk of ignoring it?

Thank you all. This forum has been invaluable for me as a pool owner.

Cheers

 

[ajw22]

The rebar staining the old plaster should have been cut out before you put new plaster on.

The rusting rebar will continue to come through the new plaster until you cut it out.

The rust spots will likely get larger over time as rust leaches to the plaster surface.

 

[Obecalp86]

The rebar staining the old plaster should have been cut out before you put new plaster on.

The rusting rebar will continue to come through the new plaster until you cut it out.

The rust spots will likely get larger over time as rust leaches to the plaster surface.

I wish the pool “pro” would have shared that basic fact with me.

Other than cosmetic, what is the consequence of ignoring this?

 

[ajw22]

Other than cosmetic, what is the consequence of ignoring this?

Hard to say.

Structurally the rusting rebar is no worse then cutting it out.

Long term the rust may spread up the rebar that is rusting and eventually a larger area will need to be cut out to stop it.