Plaster is a common choice for pool surfaces because of its affordability and versatility. It lets you have your pool surfaced in different colors and finishes since it’s easy to mix plaster with paints, pebbles, and other decorative products.
Plaster, however, isn’t the most durable material out there. As a pool surface, it’s designed to last only for around 10 years. So it’s bound to develop some signs of wear and damage throughout its lifetime. The good news is that plaster is easy to repair, so you can touch up your pool surface or replaster it if it’s looking a little worse for wear.
City Wide Pool Service, a residential pool repair service in Las Vegas, shares this guide on how to fix common pool plaster problems with you.
1. Spalling
Pool plaster spalling is often a result of incorrect application. When the plaster is applied, it’s troweled to make sure it’s flat and smooth against the surface. If it wasn’t troweled properly, the plaster will flake and peel over time, which leaves ugly patches on your pool’s surface.
Spalling plaster can also be caused by low pH water levels. The water becomes acidic when its pH level drops below the recommended 7.2 to 7.8. This can cause the plaster to dissolve and flake off.
To fix plaster spalling, you can sand the affected area down to reveal the smooth layer underneath. If the flaking has taken over a large area of the pool, however, it’s better to have the entire surface replastered instead.
2. Staining
Plaster stains are common for pools surrounded by trees and bushes. Dirt, leaves, and other plant matter fall into the pool and leave stains on the surface when left to settle. You can easily remove light stains by brushing and vacuuming your pool weekly. If the stains are a bit stubborn, you can do light chlorine treatments to clean them off.
For stains that won’t budge at all, you can consider acid washing. This means combining a gallon of muriatic acid with a gallon of water then pouring the mixture onto the stained areas. Let the acid sit for no more than 30 seconds, during which you should be scrubbing the affected sections.
Note that acid washing strips away a thin layer of plaster every time. So make sure to thoroughly rinse the area you acid-washed. Otherwise, the acid will keep eating away at the plaster. This also means you can only do it so many times before the plaster needs redoing.
3. Delamination
Pool plaster that’s chipping off is a sign of delamination. Delamination mostly happens when the bond between the plaster and the concrete is too weak, either because of improper plaster mixture or poor surface preparation. This causes the plaster to separate from the concrete base underneath and leave ugly patches on the surface.
Call a pool plaster repair specialist so they can smooth out or patch the affected area. If the damage is too big, however, they might have to replaster the entire pool instead.
Be sure to fix any pool plaster issues you see immediately. Prompt action prevents these problems from worsening, which helps prolong the lifespan of the material.
Residential Pool Repairs in Las Vegas
City Wide Pool Service is a certified pool operator based in Las Vegas, providing homeowners with reliable pool cleaning and repair services. We follow a 7-step cleaning process that ensures the sanitation and chemical balance of your pool.
Contact us at 702-873-2989 or fill out our online form to request a quote on pool plaster repair.
