Owning a pool is a big investment not only for your money but your time and energy in order to properly maintain its beauty for many years to come. Over time, even with excellent care you will notice the bottom of the pool will become rough, bumpy and even sharp in certain areas. It will become time to replace the pool plaster finish not only for the appearance but to keep it safe to use for yourself and your pool guests.
What and When to Plaster
Simply, plastering a pool means adding a new layer of plaster on the walls and bottom of the pool. The reason for doing this is to make the pool waterproof since when it is first originally installed by your professional pool contractors, the pool is created from either concrete or gunite to form the outside “shell”. These two materials’ biggest problem is they are porous and will not hold water over time and the pool would continuously need to be filled up over time. A solution to this is for an installer to add a half-inch thick layer of plaster. It will not only become a barrier for the water but also give the water appearance and beautiful blue hue with a smooth surface, so the look and feel are preferable. No plaster is designed to last forever, depending on the correct maintenance and use the pool plaster will remain intact anywhere between seven and twenty years.
Risks That Increase with Neglect
So, what happens if the pool is not cleaned/ taken care of on a regular basis? If a pool is not properly maintained during its life, there are many factors that the plaster will affect that can be very costly down the road. First, you may notice new stains appearing to the surface due to certain minerals that may be contained in the pool water such as iron or copper that can often give a green/ brown tint. Although this issue is only aesthetic, it can be quite frustrating to deal with after spending so much time and money to keep it looking clean and fresh. The next issue that will occur will be the surface will form lumps, bumps, and scratching spots on the surface which will cause concern for swimmers to not get scraped when jumping and swimming around. The bumps may not be too uncomfortable but in the long term, they will make the pool harder to clean and a place that algae will find and grow on. Lastly, the largest danger is it can affect the integrity of the pool structure. As discussed earlier, the plaster is a protective layer that keeps the pool waterproof, if the plaster wears away, water will seep into the concrete or gunite causing even larger problems.
Alternatives for Re-plaster
If re-plastering your pool is not something that you have the time or budget currently for there are serval of options to help resolves some of your plaster issues but keep in mind, most are only temporary fixes and can be even more expensive than doing the actual re-plastering. One option is to do a patching job. If areas of the plaster are beginning to feel rough this option would eliminate that but not only is this a temporary solution, but the patch materials will never completely match the plaster which will make it unsightly as well. Another solution for removing pool stains is to perform an acid wash. It’s a quick fix for the stain but it does not help in any way with preserving the plaster. In fact, the acid wash will damage the plaster further so its best to only use this method if the aesthetics are a necessity to you. If money is no object when repairing the pool, installing tile can be a great decision since the material is incredibly strong and beautiful to look at. The pricing may surprise you, however, ranging anywhere between $75-$100 per square foot.
Pound Pool Plastering offers several options when it comes to servicing your pool including plaster, caulk, tiling, cement decks, plumbing, and coping in both commercial and residential settings. More information can be found at https://www.pound-pool-plastering.com/.