Stains on new plaster

[djdonte]

I am nearly two weeks out from a replaster and I have a few spots brushing wouldn't remove today. I am pretty sure they are from a nearby tree dropping things, but the rest of the stuff vacuumed or bushed away. The one that is within arms reach, I lightly scrubbed with a stainless bristle brush and it seemed to fade a bit but not go away. I did not want to get carried away with a harsh brush on new plaster . I was also thinking using a chlorine puck, but again not sure with 11 day old plaster. Should I let the plaster cure more before I mess with it or try to remove it now?

Also have a plain white spot near my main drains. Not sure what it is as I haven't got in yet and brushing doesn't do anything. Not sure if it it raised or not but it didn't seem to catch on the back of my brush. This spot I am truly puzzled about. I really don't remember seeing this last brushing either.


The pics are for reference.. I know it super hard to see a photo thru water, but the stains are brown-ish green. I am on city water and it is hard, but never had an issue with copper or iron. The water is pretty balanced, not sure if you can see my poolmath logs. Had to add some acid to get the PH down from 8.2 just now.

 

[Texas Splash]

With new plaster you are right to be concerned about how aggressive you should be. Have you contacted your contractor yet? That would step #1 just to protect your interests for a warranty. But I will tag @onBalance who might have a thought or two.

 

[djdonte]

No it’s Sunday but I was planning on texting him tomorrow.

 

[onBalance]

It does look like something dropped onto the plaster surface that can be easily removed.
Steel wire brushes are not generally effective removing small spots. Use 100 grit wet&dry sandpaper.
Don't know what the white spot is, but also try the sandpaper on it.

 

[onBalance]

I should add that it is okay to sand and remove the dark spot stains now or later when the water is warmer. It shouldn't make any difference.

 

[djdonte]

I sent him the same pics, and he said the start up guy is going to go look at it. Most likely “leaf stains” and the white spot will go away over time he says. When I pressed him about what is was he just said it could be “a lot of different things.”

 

[djdonte]

He had his start up guy come and look. He told me he cleaned it off with shock and it was an organic leaf stain. When I returned home the pool was indeed clean but the same stains were there. The white spot was gone, and he said it was a chunk of plaster that vacuumed right up.

I texted the PB and he told me its a leaf stain that will go away over time with proper chemistry. When I asked why everything else brushed and vacuumed away but that, he just told me he would have his guy come look again in two days. The stains are faded a tiny bit but brushing does nothing and my tree that drops stuff is actually at the opposite end of the pool. I was on vacation last time he came plus there was awful weather, so I am going to be sure to vacuum the day before he comes so all he sees are the stains.

I did try rubbing a trichlor tab on the only one I could reach without swimming and it didn't do anything.

 

[onBalance]

I think some sandpaper will remove the stain.

 

[djdonte]

Thanks. What exactly can I do to prevent this in the future? I could see the floor but I don't understand how leaves could stain the walls. Everything either floats or sinks, it doesn't hang out midwater. I have a suction robot that does a great job but I cant use it for another two weeks.

 

[onBalance]

You are correct, if they are on a wall, then it isn't likely that the dark stains are from leaves, unless somehow they got stuck there while the pool was filling with water.

 

[djdonte]

No the pool was clean when being filled. The stains appeared after start up.

 

[djdonte]

I finally got this resolved. The pool guy came back twice and told me the stain was gone yet it remained. I took better pictures showing the exact location of the stain and the next week he came back with what I think was a stain master to shoot muriatic acid directly on the stain and it was gone. Of course when he left my pH was 7.2 and I had to dump some baking soda in to get my CSI back where I wanted it. I looked at the area to see if it looked any different as far as the quartz showing since the acid etched the stain away I’m sure, but nothing that I could see. All in all I’m happy with the result and my plaster guy but the start up that he subbed out was a joke and I can’t recommend him.