Diagnosing Swimming Pool Plaster Problems

Sometimes it can be fairly easy to get rid of stains but other times those hard to remove spots can take a bit more than a simple scrub.

Diagnosing swimming pool plaster problems.

Problems with pool plaster discoloration of pool plaster making a distinction from surface staining discoloration is within or beneath the plaster. When attempts to acid wash the stain fail this confirms that the discoloration is not caused by mineral or organic deposits on the surface. Delamination in concrete pools. Sand down any edges that are sharp or rough.

Manganese can result in stains on the pool surfaces especially on plaster pebble tec marcite and tile grouting. In some cases chemical balances may be off when a new pool is filled with water for the first time. It also has roots which can penetrate a pool s plaster fiberglass or vinyl surfaces. As a real world comparison a decent pool plaster should feel like 800 to 1000 grit sandpaper at minimum.

Use the sump pump to get out any remaining water. Delamination bond failure excessive craze cracking or other similar defect which allows water to get either behind or into the interior of the plaster mass and dissolve calcium hydroxide which carbonates into a solid mass when it exits to the pool surface. In addition to a discoloration of the water green algae also can produce rapidly spreading stains throughout a vessel. The stains are usually purple or black making the affected areas extremely unsightly.

At 200 grit in feeling this would be the roughest you should let your plaster get. Start the pre plastering process. Use the cleaning solution and a sponge to clear away any dirt that remains. Gray or grey mottled discoloration also known as water entrapment or hydration is difficult to remove may be remedied by acid washing sanding or torching the surface but these processes are generally detrimental to a plaster finish and the discoloration often returns later.

Get the pool prepped. In others chemistry is disrupted when a large amount of water gets added to an existing pool usually to address loss due to evaporation. Your first clue to diagnosing a pool stain is to check out it s color. Green algae can first appear as a tinting of the water which can rapidly transform a pool into a veritable swamp if not treated.

Turn off any pool equipment. As a concrete pool plaster fails it will become more and more rough. When plaster ages the cement part of the mortar will wear away and leave only the sand behind. Pool stains on the wall or floor of a swimming pool can be caused by metals in the pool water or by an organic material left in the pool.

One common cause of plaster deterioration is improper pool water chemistry.