They are usually blotchy Gray or black areas on the surface of the pool. Hydration Problem is commonly known as Mottling / Trapped Moisture. It can appear as soon as the first day of the job or can take as long as 4-5 months to appear. Unbalanced water during start-up.
Sometimes, depending on severity, the appearance can be improved by an in-pool acid wash. Extreme cases may require the pool to be drained and acid applied directly on the finish. For quartz pool finishes, an acid wash might be able to reduce the appearance of mottling.
What Is It? Gray (or grey) mottling discoloration is due to high amounts of calcium chloride added to a plaster mix, and or late, hard and dry troweling. This issue has nothing to do with the water chemistry or the way the pool was originally started up with chemicals when initially filled with water.
It varies depending on the type of pool, with plaster or cement pools needing to be resurfaced every 3-7 years while fiberglass pools can sometimes go as long as 15-30 years.
Resurfacing can repair problems like cracks and wearing, while also enhancing and updating your pool's appearance. While not needed as often as other services, resurfacing should still be on your list of pool maintenance tasks. Here are five reasons it's time to resurface your swimming pool this fall.
It generally takes between three and 12 weeks to install a concrete pool. That's longer than other types, but concrete is considered the strongest, most durable type of pool. And unlike other in-ground pools, existing concrete pools can be rebuilt, refinished, enlarged, or updated.
Tile Finishes
Though tile is the most expensive pool finish and takes longer to install than plaster and aggregate, it's the longest lasting pool surface. With proper application and minimal maintenance, tiles should never need to be replaced. Tile pool finishes come in ceramic, porcelain, glass and stone.
Advantages: Tile is the longest-lasting interior finish for a concrete pool. Tile is easier to clean than exposed aggregate.
In a nutshell, a no-drain acid wash is lowering the pH level of your pool so that your pool water becomes acidic and alkalinity close to zero. When this level is hit, some vigorous scrubbing will be required to peel off a bit of the pool surface, essentially giving you an acid wash without draining the pool.
Marcite / traditional pool plaster
Marcite is a mixture composed primarily of white Portland cement, marble dust, and fortifying additives to boost strength and water resistance. Mixed with water, it forms a smooth material that specialty crews use to coat the inside of a pool.
One major thing to remember is that pool plaster can change colors or overall look as it sets and cures. Plaster is hand applied, so it is normal to expect slightly uneven areas, and the color will not be 100% uniform throughout the pool. Also, as the plaster cures, the appearance will change slightly.
Mottling is a natural phenomenon that occurs in all pool plaster to some extent. It is affected by environmental factors such as sunlight, heat, wind, water content, water temperature and humidity which are not within the plasterer's control.
If possible, sand the nodules while full of water using 80 or 100 grit wet& dry sandpaper, or a rubbing stone, only to the flush point. Look closely for a pin hole or small crack that leads into plaster matrix and fill hole or crack opening with “Epoxy” cement to prevent further nodules forming.
Diamond Brite lasts eight to 12 years before it fades and gets spotty. We recommend acid washing this finish after about five years to keep it bright. Each style and color has a different price, but a Diamond Brite finish costs about $5,000 to $10,000.
PLASTER IS LONG LASTING: The secret to long life of any pool surface is properly maintained water balance. Improper water balance will destroy any pool surface and in many cases, void the warranty of that surface. A plaster surface, in a properly maintained pool, can last 15 to 25 years.
Diamond Brite® finishes are blends of selected quartz aggregates and fortified white Portland cement ideal for new or re-finished swimming pools. Diamond Brite® finishes are factory blended to provide the pool owner with an extremely durable and attractive alternative to traditional pool coatings.
A fiberglass pool is not prone to growing algae, which is one of the main reasons why this pool is easier to maintain. Anyone who is looking for a pool that doesn't require a lot of maintenance may want to consider going with a fiberglass pool.
Fiberglass pools need the least maintenance, and they cost the least ($3,750 over 10 years).
A pool can increase not only your social worth but also the value of your home. However, the increase is probably not as much as you think. According to HouseLogic, there's no real guarantee that you'll make your money back. In fact, adding a swimming pool may only increase your home's value by 7%.
On Average, Replastering is Every 10 Years
So how often do you need to replaster a pool? The short answer is about every 10 years. However, it's important to consider the factors mentioned above, as they are typical signs that your pool needs to be replastered.
Also called resurfacing, refinishing is a regular maintenance process that involves removing and replacing the top layer of the pool surface. With a smooth, rejuvenated surface and any cracks or leaks repaired, the pool is ready for a new sealant.
In a nutshell, replastering a pool means putting a new layer of plaster on the walls and bottom. What does plaster do? First, it serves to make your pool waterproof. Kind of important, right? When you had your pool installed, the people who did it likely used either concrete or gunite to form the “shell” of the pool.