Starting a new thread to chronicle the replaster job.
The back story is that I had a new pool built this year (2014) but with a bad plaster job. Stains were appearing all over the plaster two months in. I did everything I could to identify the stains: the vitamin C tablet test ruled out metal stains, and running negative CSI also ruled out scaling. I had the plaster tested at a professional cement lab, and test results came back with 2.7% calcium chloride content by volume, significantly exceeding the national plaster standards.
Here are some threads if you want to go deeper into the back story (pics included):
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/75741-Passed-SLAM-tests-still-seeing-plaster-stains
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/76654-Gray-mottling-problem
The pool guys come tomorrow to start the job:
Step 1 is to drain the pool.
Step 2 is to remove the original plaster.
Step 3 is to apply a bonding agent on the bare gunite and leave for at least 24 hours.
Step 4 is to apply the new plaster, this time without calcium chloride. Weather forecast is sunny to partly cloudy, temps in the 80s/60s with moderate humidity.
Step 5 is to start filling with water from the hose/tap about 4 hours after the plaster is installed, will take 24-36 hours to complete the fill.
The last step is to maintain the chemicals post plaster install & post-fill (most important thing to do is not allow the pH to exceed 7.8 for at least 3 weeks, requiring a lot of acid). I told the pool builder that I will take responsibility for the chemicals part.
Tomorrow, I will make another post in this thread after I discuss everything with the PB in detail. I will report back on what the PB plans to do, and if you see a flaw in our plans, PLEASE BY ALL MEANS TELL ME ASAP so I can relay it back to the PB so we modify our plans. I will be relying on your help and feedback.
Thank you all!
The back story is that I had a new pool built this year (2014) but with a bad plaster job. Stains were appearing all over the plaster two months in. I did everything I could to identify the stains: the vitamin C tablet test ruled out metal stains, and running negative CSI also ruled out scaling. I had the plaster tested at a professional cement lab, and test results came back with 2.7% calcium chloride content by volume, significantly exceeding the national plaster standards.
Here are some threads if you want to go deeper into the back story (pics included):
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/75741-Passed-SLAM-tests-still-seeing-plaster-stains
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/76654-Gray-mottling-problem
The pool guys come tomorrow to start the job:
Step 1 is to drain the pool.
Step 2 is to remove the original plaster.
Step 3 is to apply a bonding agent on the bare gunite and leave for at least 24 hours.
Step 4 is to apply the new plaster, this time without calcium chloride. Weather forecast is sunny to partly cloudy, temps in the 80s/60s with moderate humidity.
Step 5 is to start filling with water from the hose/tap about 4 hours after the plaster is installed, will take 24-36 hours to complete the fill.
The last step is to maintain the chemicals post plaster install & post-fill (most important thing to do is not allow the pH to exceed 7.8 for at least 3 weeks, requiring a lot of acid). I told the pool builder that I will take responsibility for the chemicals part.
Tomorrow, I will make another post in this thread after I discuss everything with the PB in detail. I will report back on what the PB plans to do, and if you see a flaw in our plans, PLEASE BY ALL MEANS TELL ME ASAP so I can relay it back to the PB so we modify our plans. I will be relying on your help and feedback.
Thank you all!