Different Pool Plaster Materials

When hiring pool plaster companies, you’ve likely heard mentions of the different materials. Something that companies can forget is that you have no idea what the different materials do or the downsides to using particular ones. You’re left looking for the information about the different options.

The next time you need pool plastering, go in armed with information. These are the different materials you need to know about.

White Cement/Marble Mixture

White plaster is one of the most common options, because it gives a clean and bright finish. Many companies will now use a mixture of white cement and marble to create their classic white finish. It’s economical for all, as it is one of the strongest against the pool or spa water. The plaster is reliable and one of the cheapest to lay in the first place.

However, if the pool isn’t maintained properly, the plaster will start to look worn and old. Scaling can start to appear or there may be some shading in certain areas. In more extreme cases, the plaster can start to crack due to the fluctuating chemicals within the water. It is possible to determine the cause, helping you to limit the problems. However, pool plastering will likely need to take place again.

Pozzalans Added to Strengthen Plaster

Pool plaster companies have started adding pozzalans to their plaster (both white and colored plaster). The pozzalans are chemicals added to create stronger plaster that isn’t affected as much by chemical changes within the water. One of the chemicals is silicone-based, which helps to repel the water to protect from attacks.

Using a pozzalan-added plaster is still cost effective. However, the use of the plaster doesn’t solve all long-term problems. A good pool maintenance schedule is still required to keep the finish looking like new.

Colored Ceramic Quartz

Colored plaster is popular for those wanting to match a decor within a pool or to add a brighter look to the water. For example, a grey-colored plaster can help to add more of a blue tint to the pool water. Color ceramic quartz is one of the most popular pool plastering options. Ceramic-coated sand is added to plaster products.

One of the biggest benefits is the decor. All types of colors are available, whether you want a deep red, bright blue, or sea green to finish your underwater look. The ceramic can also add more durability to the plaster. The downside is the cost. The ceramic is usually more expensive, but that cost may be justified with the extra durability.

Pebble Surface Plaster

A fourth option is a pebble surface plaster, which is exactly as it sounds. The plaster is embedded with smooth river pebbles to create a more nature-based look. The pebbles actually help to add more durability to the plaster, so it’s not as likely to be affected by chemical fluctuations in the water.

The biggest downside is the extra cost. However, it will take extreme chemical conditions to damage the surface of the pebbles, making it one of the most cost-effective options.

Talk to pool plaster companies about your plaster material options. Discuss what you would like to achieve with the look and finish, along with the type of chemicals you use in the water. Not only will you get the best pool plastering options, but you will learn the best ways to look after your pool.

Learn more about Pound Pool Plastering and their numerous pool plastering options including: pool resurfacing, plaster surfacing, commercial pool plaster, residential pool plaster, plastering swimming pools, tiling swimming pools, coping swimming pools, and more at www.pound-pool-plastering.com.  To contact our pool plastering specialists call 248.476.4544 today.

Making The Right Choice On A Company For Pool Plaster

Experience and expertise in pool plaster and pool plastering services is a must when looking for a company to newly plaster, repair, or re-plaster residential or commercial swimming pools.  No matter what services you are in need of it is crucial to hire reliable pool plastering services.

Whether the pool is in need of a simple plaster repair, a simple re-plaster or a comprehensive overhaul to the swimming pools plaster it is crucial to work with a company that offers a guarantee.  A reputable plastering company should offer a guarantee to offer the best and most amazing competitive edge without compromising the quality of service and materials.

Whatever the requirement or choice of the homeowners, ranging from regular plaster to pebble finish quartz, or modified added mixtures no one should ever push you in one directions or another.  Gunite swimming pool plaster professionals are often highly experienced with fine arts having a degree and eye for color and design.  This enables plastering companies to deliver the most recent and modern eye catching designs affordably.

Some homeowners are unsure of the design they want.  A professional plaster team will help you choose the perfect color combination to complement the existing pool, landscape, or new pool.  Most swimming pool plastering companies use high quality materials that are fully backed with the best warranties available

It is important that the plaster company you chose to work with realizes that each and every customer is an individual with individual needs and concerns. It is crucial that plastering companies offer a great deal of attention to details throughout the phases of pool construction or re-plastering.  It is also important that consumers are given the necessary information to make educated decisions that best offer the finished product that is desired.

A fresh coat of plaster can breathe new life into spas and swimming pools.  Plastering services can include: remodeling, resurfacing, tiling, and renovation of coping services; all of which can enhance the beauty of an existing or new spa or pool.  This can completely transform the existing outdoor space into something completely new.

No matter what your desire, whether it is to give a fresh new look to your outdated spa or pool or you want a complete and comprehensive reshape or redesign a reputable pool plastering company can offer you exactly what you are looking for.  A company that you want to work with will have positive testimonials that specify the company’s quality, workmanship, as well as cleanliness for the homeowner’s environment where they handle the details of your project from start to finish.

Learn more about Pound Pool Plastering and their numerous pool plastering options including: pool resurfacing, plaster surfacing, commercial pool plaster, residential pool plaster, plastering swimming pools, tiling swimming pools, coping swimming pools, and more at www.pound-pool-plastering.com.  To contact our pool plastering specialists call 248.476.4544 today.

 

 

Tips on Closing Gunite Swimming Pools

Gunite is a preferred material for homeowners to use when having a backyard pool installed.  Gunite, is very versatile and is suited to build a swimming pool in the shape and size desired.  Top pool installers are partial to Gunite and are happy to accommodate to homeowners with their plans for a pool.  Knowing that a homeowner is using plaster to mold their pool it gives pool installers more freedom with the pool design, deck additions, and more.

Gunite pools are also popular amongst American homeowners.  Installing an in-ground pool involves excavation and construction involving setting up of the pools frame, a grid of rebar rods coated by Gunite.  Gunite is a mixture between sand and cement.  It is the substance that is sprayed in around the rods.  This is then allowed to cure for about a week and then the Gunite is smoothed and then the surface is finished with plaster.  A Gunite pool covered by plaster is far more durable than a fiberglass pool.  Just another advantage when it comes to installing a Gunite swimming pool

There are many different kinds of things that can be designed with Gunite swimming pools.  Builders are able to create basically any shape you desire.  They are also able to install colored tiles, small pebbles and colored plaster to enhance the aesthetics of the entire pool areas and to complement landscaping.  Your pool is unique to your home so create a design that doesn’t overwhelm your property but instead enhances all of its best features.

The process of installing a Gunite, concrete, pool begins with a construction crew digging a large hole, putting plumbing in place, and assembling a grid structure that is created from rebar.  Once this is complete the rebar is secured with wire and the crew can being to spray in the heavy coating of Gunite, the mixture of cement and sand that is the main structural element of the pool.

The sprayer unit combines the dry Gunite with water and this produces the mixture that is the structural element for the pool.   The crew then trowels the Gunite smooth and allows it to cure for a week or two before applying the smooth plaster finish.  Plaster is the combination of cements and marble sand.  Gunite pools are highly durable and a number of different plaster finishes, pebbles or tile can be applied to enhance the look of your pool area.

Learn more about Pound Pool Plastering and their numerous pool plastering options including: pool resurfacing, plaster surfacing, commercial pool plaster, residential pool plaster, plastering swimming pools, tiling swimming pools, coping swimming pools, and more at www.pound-pool-plastering.com.  To contact our pool plastering specialists call 248.476.4544 today.

Proper Pool Start-Up with New Plaster Finishes

Through years of trial and error, research, testing, and input from pool plaster manufacturers and specialty pool chemical companies the following recommendations have been adopted by most of the pool industry as standards for opening your swimming pool with a new plaster finish.

To begin, after your pool has been freshly plastered homeowners should begin to fill their pool with a constant output, like a garden hose, until the water reaches the tile line.  A new, clean filter should be ready to go.  Start the pool pump and allow the pool filter to operate continuously without pause.

It is best that for every ten thousand gallons of pool water volume that is added a quart of a good quality sequestering agent is added.  Use the right product for your application; ask your pool supplier for the right application for your pool, salt vs. non-salt pools.

In addition to the sequestering agent homeowners should add one gallon of muriatic acid for every ten thousand gallons of pool water.  The chemicals should be added to the pool water directly pouring the chemicals directly into the pool while walking the perimeter of the pool.

With nylon brushes, starting at the tile, start brushing the pools surface downward toward the pool floor.  Each stroke should overlap the previous one as you work your way around the pool until all of the pool walls have been brushed.  Brush the steps, swim outs, and ledges as well.

Start with the shallow end of the pool when brushing the floor.  A cloud of dust should follow after each brush stroke.  Continue brushing the pool floor until you care confident that every square foot of the pool surface has been brushed.  It is highly recommended that this process is done at least twice a day, morning and night.  The filter will need to be cleaned frequently.  Keep an eye on the pressure gauge as an indicator.  No matter what the filter should be cleaned each and every morning.

Note that you don’t need to add any more chemicals yet.  Keep cleaning the filter and brushing the pool day after day without adding chemicals.  The sequestering agent and acid that was added right after the plaster was finished help to burn the plaster dust off the pool finish by keeping the pool alkalinity on the low end.  The dust itself raises the ph and alkalinity of the pool water over the course of the next few days.  With stone and quartz finishes this is extremely important as the acid that was added will lower the ph and alkalinity creating an environment that is difficult for the plaster dust to adhere to.  By constantly brushing the pool plaster you are getting the dust out of the water where it has less change to stick on the surface and more of a chance on being filtered out.

Every day as you brush the pools plaster, less and less dust should be present.  At about day three or four it is time to test the pools water for ph, alkalinity, calcium, and stabilizer.  The levels should be as follows:

  • Stabalizer: 30 – 50ppm (the closer to 30ppm the better)
  • Calcium: no higher than 200ppm for stone and quartz, 250 – 350ppm for marcite (plaster) finishes

The following day the water should appear clearer, bluer and looking almost ready to swim in.  Your filter should receive a thorough cleaning.  If the cartridge is looking questionable go ahead and change it.  At this point the pool water should be balanced with a total pool alkalinity of 80-90, and the ph to 7.2-7.4.  The plaster will not be fully cured for 28 days.  During this time you will want to be diligent in monitoring the ph and alkalinity.  It will climb as the pool plaster finish cures.  Adding acid allows them to be kept in check.  Chlorine should be between 1.0 and 1.5 and at this point you can slow the pool plaster brushing to a weekly basis.

Learn more about Pound Pool Plastering and their numerous pool plastering options including: pool resurfacing, plaster surfacing, commercial pool plaster, residential pool plaster, plastering swimming pools, tiling swimming pools, coping swimming pools, and more at www.pound-pool-plastering.com.  To contact our pool plastering specialists call 248.476.4544 today.

Materials Involved In Pool Plastering

There are many materials that go into building an in-ground pool.  Few materials get as much attention as the pools plaster surface.  Plaster is the exterior shell of the pool.  It is the part that everyone sees and feels.  It is also the first place that people usually notice when it starts to deteriorate, cracks become noticeable and discoloration is visible.  Over the years we have learned some important tips regarding the maintenance and care for the pool’s plaster to keep it in top condition.

Fresh Plaster Maintenance

Your swimming pool installer will add chemicals that are required to initially balance the pools water.  They will then brush the plaster with a nylon-bristle brush which improves the quality of the plaster as well.  This will also prevent the buildup of calcium and other minerals within the pools water.

If you notice that you have fine sand grains deposited on the bottom of the pool this is more likely “precipitation” which is common with a newly installed pool or fresh plaster.  Our recommendation is to continue brushing the pool twice a day for the first seven days.

Your pool water and pH levels affect plaster.  It is crucial to the longevity and health of your pools plaster.  Pool water below 7.0 tends to erode & remove the smooth plaster surface.  Water that is above 8.0 contributes to the formation of scale and stains.

Calcium is another one of the key elements found in both your pool water and in your plaster.  A proper calcium balance is 250 ppm.  Too much calcium will cause deposits on the plaster of your pool.  Not enough calcium in the water may weaken the plaster.

Other Water Related Concerns

Dissolved Metal: Stains that cannot be removed with bleach are generally stains caused by metal.  When the water becomes saturated with any metal, like copper or iron, it will generally “precipitate” or fall out of solution in the form of a metal stain.  Copper stains usually reveal themselves as blue or blue-green splotches or streaks.  Iron will usually appear brown to black.  Check with your local pool specialist to purchase chemicals to help prevent these types of stains.

Mottling: Mottling can occur naturally in pools.  It is more evident in pools with colored plaster but not more prevalent.  There are strategies that can be put into place to lessen mottling including sequestering, chelating, or pH and calcium reduction.

Organic Stains: Plants that are near the pool area can often cause your plaster to become stained with tannic acid, which are brown, and chlorophyll stains, which are green.  Organic stains will not remain long due to the Chlorine bleaching them out.

Pound Pool Plastering repairs commercial and residential Gunite swimming pools including coping, tile and plaster repairs. For more information or to request a quote, visit us at http://www.pound-pool-plastering.com/.

Maintain Your Swimming Pool with a Coat of Fresh Plaster

One aspect of owning a pool that is crucial to consider is the level of maintenance it takes to keep up on the swimming pool.  If you neglect to maintain your pool it will start to deteriorate over time.  Keeping the pools water balanced helps to protect the plaster which in turn keeps the pool looking as good as the day it was installed.  Improper water balance will slowly begin to eat away at the plaster.  The plaster will begin to break down, discolor, and become rough.

Plastering your pool is one of the more expensive aspects in maintenance.  In order to keep  your pools plaster in top shape for as long as possible it is important to balance the chemicals in the water, perform regular cleaning, and ensure that pool equipment is performing its intended job.    It is important to keep a constant eye on the pools plaster for clues that it needs a fresh coat of plaster.  Below we will discuss a few things homeowners should watch for.

  • The Pools Visual Appearance

The visual aspect of the pool is one of the first clues that homeowners will notice to indicate that it is time to think about calling a pool plaster company for a quote.  The visual appeal of a swimming pool is crucial when it comes to both residential pool plaster and commercial pool plaster.  No one will be interested in swimming in a pool that doesn’t look like it should.  Once you notice visual changes in your pool it is time to call in the professionals.

Not only will the visual appearance of the pool be affected the pools plaster surface will no longer feel smooth.  The texture will be rough and pitted.  Swimsuits will often start to snag on the bumpy edges.  Even walking across the pool can start to become uncomfortable.  If homeowners notice any of this occurring it is crucial to have your pool inspected by a professional plastering company because it has officially started to deteriorate.

  • Structural Defects In the Pool

Another sure sign that a pools surface is in need of a fresh coat of plaster is cracking, peeling, chipping, or chunks of plaster coming off.  These are all immediate signs that your pools plaster has seen better days and is ready to be redone.  Structural defects in the pools plaster can impact the pools usage thus the importance to get them taken care of when noticed.  If left untreated the defect will grow.  This could possibly lead to thousands of dollars in reconstruction repairs to the pool.  These are signs the pool plaster repair is imminent.

Performing regular maintenance on your pools plaster will increase longevity.  With proper maintenance a pools plaster surface can last upwards of twenty years.

Learn more about Pound Pool Plastering and their numerous pool plastering options including: pool resurfacing, plaster surfacing, commercial pool plaster, residential pool plaster, plastering swimming pools, tiling swimming pools, coping swimming pools, and more at www.pound-pool-plastering.com.  To contact our pool plastering specialists call 248.476.4544 today.

 

 

The Various Pool Plastering Options to Choose From

Much like nearly everything that’s used every day, swimming pool interiors age and wear out over time. They lose their grandeur and slowly, they begin to appear unattractive. And, while an ordinary individual will most probably resort to the standard pool plastering options, a smart, savvy fellow will not settle for less.

There are many varieties of pool and spa plaster options to choose from, thanks to the plastering companies’ pursuit to offer more attractive alternatives. From those with colored aggregates to those featuring polished aggregate surfaces; nearly all of them add visual interest while providing the durability it’s needed. So, if you are looking to plaster or re-plaster your swimming pool, carefully consider the following options.

Which swimming pool plaster?

A classic pool plaster regularly incorporates white cement, a marble aggregate or the same color and water. And, that’s why you will love the emanating brilliantly clean surface. This option is often revered as the most economical option for pool surfacing.

When various color pigments and dyes are added, the homeowner automatically gives the pool a brand-new, cool look. It could be from a classic light blue look to any other shade, including a midnight blue hue. Tahoe Blue is a term that describes the most economical choice for many and perhaps a preferred pool color, although it takes an effort to attain it.

Modern pool plaster additives

Silicone shield

Added to the mix, a Silicone shield not only gives the pool a million-dollar look, but also extends its service life. In fact, a great feature with this product is the ability to enhance the pool’s durability while ensuring that the crisp look is never lost.

Coloring

Pool plastering can take into consideration a host of dying options. The dye is added to the mix, of course, in varying quantities and then used in plastering. While there’s no problem using as many different colors as possible, attaining the uniformity needed isn’t a mere feat. And, it takes lots of skill and expertise to get dramatic results.

Colored Quartz

For a better flair and ultimate results, colored ceramic coated sand often comes into place. The colored quartz chips create visual interest while offering more color choices, and makes the pool last longer. The petite substances can withstand chemical deterioration too.

Pozzolans

As much as they dramatically improve the working of the plaster, Pozzolans don’t alter the way your pool’s plastering looks. However, it preserves the plaster, protecting it from etching and mottling. In the end, the pool’s surface will be smooth and durable.

Further options to check out

  • Pebbled type surfaces – round polished colored aggregates, they are manufactured in diverse industries.
  • Polished aggregate surfaces – crème of pool covers, this option blends longevity, color, uniformity, and variations to offer what every pool owner probably yearns for.

Painting and fiberglass aren’t the finest options and need lots of research and studying before they’re used. However, everything depends with how you loving the look of your pool.

Pound Pool Plastering repairs commercial and residential gunite swimming pools including coping, tile and plaster repairs. For more information or to request a quote, visit us at http://www.pound-pool-plastering.com/.

Surfacing In-Ground Pools With Plaster

There are a number of options when it comes to surfacing the interior of an inground swimming pool however plaster remain at the top of the popularity poll.  Pools range in color from classic white to a multitude of colors that suit that compliment the landscape.  Plaster remains an affordable option in pool finishing.  It is typically applied over a concrete base, known as gunite.

Pricing for plaster pools varies a great deal depending on where you are located.  When you look into hiring a company to plaster your new pool or to re-plaster an older pool there are a number of things to consider.  It is important, like in any home improvement project, to check contractor’s references before hiring them.  Ask to talk with individuals that have recently worked with the company to get their opinion on the work that was done, the customer service, work ethic, and professionalism.

Be wary of taking the lowest bid.  Be sure that the bids are all on an equal playing field.  Make sure all bids include the cost of materials, services and extras.  You need to be comparing bids based on an equal basis.  Lower bids may be the result of a contractor using lower quality materials that in the long run will affect the quality and longevity of your pool.

The most basic option in pool plaster, as stated above is, white plaster which is a combination of white cement, white marble aggregate and water.  This choice is the standard option that is included in most inground pool installations.  The classic swimming pool look including white pool plaster is the most affordable option for homeowners.  Before the numerous options available now-a-days white plaster was the only choice.  White plaster is seen in most commercial swimming pools.

The advantages of white pool plaster include that it is abundant, affordable and easy to install.  This is why it is such an attractive option.  The one drawback is that it tends to be a soft finish that is easily compromised by the effects of improper water chemistry in comparison to newer options such as aggregates and glass tiles.  Usually white plaster has a life span of five to seven years before homeowners will begin to notice pits and divots caused by erosion.   To expand the lifespan of your white plaster pool it is important to maintain the waters chemistry.

In our next installment on pool surface finishes we will look into options including colored plaster, quartz additives and glass tiles.

Pound Pool Plastering repairs commercial and residential gunite swimming pools including coping, tile and plaster repairs. For more information or to request a quote, visit us at http://www.pound-pool-plastering.com/.