Spring is in the air! Now is the time that Michigan pool owners start to consider the shape of their Gunite swimming pools. Depending on the age of your pool it is possible that after a long winter the concrete surface of your families in-ground swimming pool may need to be re-plastered. It might be time to call in the professional pool plaster contractors at Pound Pool Plastering if you find any of these common problems for older concrete swimming pools:
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Extreme Surface Roughness
Concrete pool surfaces can become rough after time. It’s time to re-plaster your Gunite pool when you feel like you need to start wearing pool shoes when you swim. Rough plaster can come about because of age, increased pH, delamination, small cracks, or even climate conditions. Any of these can begin to create pits and calcium nodules. If a homeowner is experiencing any of these symptoms it is important not to put off re-surfacing the pools surface.
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Cracks from The Structure
There are two types of cracks that can occur on Gunite; one signals normal wear and tear while the other can mean it is time to have a pool plaster repair consultation. A basic surface crack is not anything to worry about however a structural crack, a crack in the concrete shell itself, need to be repaired immediately. Sometimes a structural crack requires the pool to be engineered properly before repair. The swimming pool needs to be modified to withstand unstable or expansive soil conditions. Once the structural issues are contained then the pools plaster can be re-surfaced, and cracks repaired.
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Discoloration
Pool plaster is very porous and is stained without much difficulty. This occurs due to a variety of reasons including: a water-tile line not being installed, pauses in the water as the pool is being filled, improperly troweled plaster, or imbalanced water chemistry. To avoid some of these issues remember to test the chemical consistency weekly and adjust as needed, make sure a water-tile line is installed and that when the water is filling the pool that there is never a pause in filling. There are some stains and discoloration that can be removed through acid washing but sooner or later it will return, and the pool will need to be re-plastered.
The most common type of pool material found in the backyards of Michigan homeowners is Gunite that is plastered over to create a smooth, highly durable surface. Plaster pools easily can go fifteen to twenty years before needing to be re-plastered, especially when cared for carefully. For more information on new Gunite pool installation, pool plaster repair, or re-plastering contact the professionals at Pound Pool Plastering today at 248.476.4544.