Rebuild Steps after demo

[beegee226]

Is it pretty typical to have to rebuild the tops of the steps after a demo before replastering an inground pool? This is the 2nd time I've used this builder at 2 different homes, and both times after the demo, the builder comes back and says he needs to charge me extra to rebuild the tops of the steps since they are mostly just sand and not concrete on top. I feel like I'm getting swindled. This seems like something that should be included in the price already.

 

[jtburf]

Pictures would help, sounds more like he got you 1 time and knows he can get you again!

John

 

[sktn77a]

Ask him to show you exactly what he means. Never heard this but that's an "n-of-one"!

 

[beegee226]

He says he needs to demo 2-3" off the tops and pour new concrete and reshape the steps, otherwise he can't guarantee the plastering. Here's a link to the pics.

https://imgur.com/a/TnknoZb

 

[YippeeSkippy]

WOW....those steps take a beating when they go chipping out the old plaster. I can't say I recall seeing many look quite like that while in the process of re-habbing the plaster.

I'm gonna call in some pros- @jimmythegreek @Bama Rambler @ajw22

 

[ajw22]

Well you got your monies worth on a full chipout. I think his crew went too hard with a jackhammer instead of chipping out around the steps with hand tools.

@bdavis466 think a plaster crew can smooth this out as is?

 

[bdavis466]

Those do need to get fixed. Its all rebound and the new plaster will just delaminate in a few years. This is very typical of gunite

 

[ajw22]

Original gunite crew built up the steps with rebound instead of freshly blown gunite. Now I understand.

@beegee226 your current builder is doing the right repair. Blame this on the original construction crew who hid this lazy use of rebound.

 

[beegee226]

Ok, thanks for all of your responses. He's quoting me $800. Seemed kinda steep to me.

 

[bdavis466]

Its probably 2 days work so in that case its actually reasonable

 

[jimmythegreek]

That's fair it's a pain to do steps and those are beat to heck. I agree with Brian looks like rebound thrown on at the end

 

[beegee226]

Ok. Thanks for giving me some peace of mind guys!

 

[sktn77a]

Just out of morbid curiosity, how can you tell from the picture that the original steps were built with rebound?

 

[bdavis466]

Just out of morbid curiosity, how can you tell from the picture that the original steps were built with rebound?

Rebound looks like sand when its exposed. Had those stairs been constructed properly they would have kept their shape and you'd see the actual chisel marks from the jackhammers, not just blown up craters.

 

[jimmythegreek]

^^^^^^ what he said ^^^^^

??

 

[sktn77a]

Ah, OK. I just looked at the rest of the images on Imgur and see what you mean.

 

[beegee226]

So I gave the BP the okay to move forward, and yesterday they rebuilt the steps. I watched them "demo" the top 2-3 inches of sand from the steps by hosing them off with a standard garden nozzle. Then they just slapped some quikcrete on top and shaped. All done within an hour. Can't believe I paid $800 for that.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Hopefully they threw some bonding agent on it or in the mix. Repairs aren't cheap anything pools will get ya