Tag: plaster surfacing - page 2

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.

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.