Stress high - advice needed - concrete issues

[yoster]

I'll cut to the chase. Pool was completed a few months ago, however the concrete company made two severe errors: 1) They placed a 5 gallon bucket on the wet concrete in two places leaving rings and 2) They added some filler to hide a mistake above the sheer descent, which instantly cracked.

Our contractor forced them to replace both pieces and assured me that since a) it was done so close to the original pour and b) it is stamped concrete with a colored release powder, that they would blend in and I wouldn't notice any difference at all.

Well, that was true for the part above the sheer descent. But as far as the other portion.. well.. you tell me whether or not this matches..

I think you can see which pieces were replaced...

The brownish/yellow hue aside, you can also see, along the left edge, these dots.

The concrete company just came over (of course while I was on a work call so my wife had to deal with them..) and insisted that 1) it matches, 2) it just needs to cure more (it has been a month) and 3) if it's wrong "it must have been something you did". I just finished a heated discussion with our PB, and he wants me to give it a bit more time, then if needed we'll re-do it. Which I'm also now concerned about because the concrete company kept saying "It'll just look like this again" when they were talking to my wife.

Needless to say, I'm a bit furious. Spending this much money and just 'settling' for a mistake they made isn't acceptable. The curing comment is a joke - if that were the case, the other piece they poured (not in this picture obviously) would look the same. Our previous concrete didn't have this color even after 3 days, and that was in cooler weather!!!

What would you all recommend? DO you think that the release powder will eventually 'wear off' and look like the rest of the concrete? The ACTUAL concrete itself is the right color (I can tell that by looking at the color in the control joints.) It's just the surface color that's off. Also worth noting, we are leaving it unsealed.

I was also considering testing out a light brushing with some muriatic acid... not brave enough to try that option yet.. but thinking it might perhaps pull off some of the incorrect color.

I have my own thoughts as to what happened.. but interested in what any of you think (especially if you're in the pool building or concrete business.)

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Their is nothing that can be done to exactly match the two separate pours or to even come close enough to not notice. Time will help fade the concrete especially since you are not having it sealed and over time it will be less noticeable but to you the homeowner it’s still going to be noticeable. I have seen this situation first hand and have yet to see a solution that completely fixes the color variations.

 

[yoster]

I could see that if the color itself was darker/lighter, but would you not agree that this is a different color tone? It's not even gray - it's brown (or perhaps half brown, half gray lol). Lets say I was getting my entire deck poured today.. and that's how it came out.. I would argue to the PB that they just poured brown concrete.. not gray stamped concrete that we agreed on. It also doesn't explain the dotting. Or why the part they did above the sheer decent DOES match well - it looks great!! They were replaced on the same day, same concrete truck, 10 minutes of each other!

Any advice on course of action with my PB? We NEVER would have replaced it had he not assured us it would match. We would have just lived with the bucket marks (and I said as much to him before we moved forward with the replacement.)

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Get a time line on their opinion of “more cure time”
Since they feel you could have possibly done the damage ask how it was done.
Find out in detail what re-do it entails.
Bottom line is you want to be satisfied with the finished work and will not accept anything less

 

[jedigrover]

IMO, it's not a very close match. The mottling makes it worse. They may not be able to match 100%, but I would expect decorative concrete guys to be able to match their own work better than this.

Don't go after it yourself w/ MA or pressure washer or anything. Anything that gets done to it needs to be done by THEM lest they point blame at something you did (which they are already trying to plant the seeds for). Have you finished paying? If so, you may be out of luck. People that have been paid tend to disappear quickly.

 

[yoster]

Thank you and I agree. I get the color match issue.. I'm not asking for perfection.. but to me, this is just plain bad.

I'm paid up to the final check which is $4,700. So, in the grand scheme of the entire cost of the project, I've basically paid most of it already.

Fortunately the PB is supportive so far.. times like this I'm glad I went with a contractor.. I don't like dealing with these things.

Can't wait for the this whole pool thing to turn into fun and enjoyment and not constant stress LOL!!!

 

[Toxophilite]

It's near impossible to perfectly match, many time even close match, two separate batch pours from different days or suppliers. I've had the same issues on occasion. Case in point, my driveway was poured one morning and it was the next day before they could come and pour the remaining forms. Different day, different sand mix, different temp curing, different moisture content, etc.... different colors. They will tell you it will all fade to match. It won't. Most bare finish will look even hue when completely dry and in full sun, but once a little moisture hits them from dew or rain, you will really see the hue difference. Sealed or color stained I'm sure compounds the differences.

 

[yoster]

I totally get it, but again, I had two different sections replaced on the same day. Same pour, same mix, two completely different results. That's the part that confuses me. The one that 'matches' isn't perfect but within ballpark. And that's all I'm really asking for - get it ballpark. Ballpark as in.. the right dang color.. darker or lighter I don't care.. just make it gray, not splotchy brown lol.

I already suspect I know what happened. The part in my pictures is what was stamped first (before the one over the waterfall, which looks correct.) I suspect they didn't clean the pad from the job they had that morning prior to stamping mine. That prior job was likely a brown release color. When they stamped mine, it got contaminated, but the pad then had grey release powder all over it by the time they stamped the one above the waterfall.

 

[blackout]

I had a similar snafu with our deck when poured. I had the builder come out and they said they’d make it right. They tried a patch, then they tried to stain it. It behooved both of us to try because I didn’t want to have more construction. But it didn’t work, and they agreed that they needed to replace the entire deck.

You tell them what you want and make them do it, no compromises. You’re a number to them, but this is your home for years to come. You don’t deserve the resentment you’ll have from looking at it every single time you’re out there — and you will look at it every single time you’re out there.

I also came to appreciate the character of the builder. They didn’t point the finger at me at all. They held to their word. Mistakes happen and that’s when you learn the character of someone. Furthermore, everyone that came to my house saw it come to resolution and that’s a thing to remember for any of them considering a pool, which works in the builder’s favor.

 

[yoster]

Thank you for the feedback blackout - this is really helpful. I was thinking about an entire deck repour the other day, almost thinking that that might be the solution.. but.. I poured quite a large deck - over 1400sq ft. Plus I've already built a retaining wall on part of it. So, sadly, that solution is likely out the window at this point. Plus like you mentioned, we're just not in the mood for that kind of major construction.

It's just my luck. Anytime I spend money for something nice (which is not often at all) - something like this happens. My mother's maiden name is Murphy.. and Murhpy's law is definitely kicking in on this one.

 

[yoster]

Circling back on this for an update and to provide closure to the thread.

PB replaced the concrete another time... Still doesn't match (to which they agree.) WAY better than it was before in the pics here, but still off.

PB has offered to do it AGAIN (a 4th time) or offered to give me a free SWG system. It's the Pentair ichlor 30. Not the one (or the size) I'd choose myself, but I can still put it to use, and can upgrade the cell when the 30k size wears out.

Chose to go with the ichlor offer over doing the concrete a 4th time..

I'll circle back with a final post once the Ichlor30 is installed.. and include pictures of the concrete as well (just for others in similar situations looking for resolution options!)

 

[Newdude]

So the 'budget model' ichlor30 isn't exactly cheap, so the PB is handing you some coin for your troubles. But being free, I'd ask to pay the upcharge to an IC40 or even an IC60 for sunny CA. You'd still be getting the cost of the Ichlor30 and the install given to you.

 

[yoster]

Funny you say that. I asked that exact question and he was pretty clear it's a no-go. My guess is he has some Ichlor30's on hand already and getting an intellichor would be money out of pocket for him... More than just an "upgrade" amount.

I called pentair tho and, outside of some plumbing adjustments, looks like I can replace the Ichlor30 with an ic40 or 60 once it wears out, as it uses the same power supply unit. So, I'm ok with that. I'll use the IC30 until it dies and go from there. If I need to supplement with some liquid chlorine every now and again, not a huge deal.

 

[Newdude]

looks like I can replace the Ichlor30 with an ic40 or 60 once it wears out, as it uses the same power supply unit.

I just learned that myself today. So there's that. My controller was $500 and they last for several cells, barring a power surge, etc.