Can you replaster a pool without also redoing the coping and tiles?

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anthonypool89

anthonypool89

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Aug 26, 2016
1,235
Berks County, PA
I had everything redone back in '14, and I'm most disappointed that the plaster is already getting various sized 'divots', which, of course, are prone to encouraging algae. I don't see that any are through to the gunite yet, but probably won't be very long till some of them are. I've never been real happy with how the plaster is wearing, since it's most uneven and blotchy in places. Overall, it's in quite decent shape yet. The company had said that some pools "take" to replastering better than others. Nothing like the original which lasted close to 25 years, although by then parts of it looked like a coral reef. I used to dive underwater and plop handfuls of readymix pool plaster on the bare spots! More than one pool tech told me that it's basically an "aesthetic decision" as to when it's time to replaster, although once the gunite's exposed, that's not so good, is it? I always read that gunite is not inherently waterproof (which is why waterproof plaster goes over the top). Plaster was supposed to be 3/4" thick, so I shouldn't be seeing any gunite poking through yet.

So getting back to the thread title. My coping (which I love) and tiles are in perfect shape - as is the tiles on the steps and seat. Seems a real shame to rip all that out. Is it possible (though maybe not desirable?) to drain and replaster, leaving everything else alone? Obviously, the tiles on the steps would probably have to go (and I like those more than the tiles around the edge of the pool). No way do I want to disturb the coping though. Either way, it'll have to get aLOT worse before I do anything. I'll just have to live with lots of wire brushing I suppose to try and control the algae that accumulates in those depressions.

Thanks for any suggestions. I guess I was hoping against hope when I did the reno back in 2014 hoping that just maybe I wouldn't need to do it again!
 
With 2 layers of plaster you need a full chipout down to the gunite to put on new plaster. A third layer of plaster will not adhere well and likely have less life then you are finding your second layer is having.

The company had said that some pools "take" to replastering better than others.
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That is a poor excuse. If the pool is properly prepared, new plaster should last as good as old plaster. That company is too cheap or lazy to properly prepare the pool shell.

There is no reason to replace good coping when replastering.

With a full chipout it will be difficult to not damage the tile so new tile is usually necessary. Often the second layer of plaster reuses the tile and then the tile is replaced with the full chipout for the third layer.

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
A full chipout is definitely the way to go, in your case. Unfortunately, the full chipout is the least skilled but most labor intensive part of the replaster job and tend to jack up the price significantly. Add to that the likely damage to tile work and possibly coping and that's why many folks have 3-4 layers of plaster in their pools!
 
ajw22 said:
With a full chipout it will be difficult to not damage the tile so new tile is usually necessary.
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Makes sense. Well, like I said, not going to be in any hurry to do it again - even more extensively than was done before.

sktn77a said:
and that's why many folks have 3-4 layers of plaster in their pools!
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lol...that makes sense also!

ajw22 said:
That is a poor excuse. If the pool is properly prepared, new plaster should last as good as old plaster. That company is too cheap or lazy to properly prepare the pool shell.
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Well, it's done now. Having had zero experience with any sort of renovation work, I simply went with what I was told. I seem to recall having two companies give me estimates and not even sure anymore how I wound up making the decision.

Thanks for all the info!
 
Newdude said:
you lived long enough to be thinking about it again. So there is that
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😉 This is true. Fun thinking about it all again actually. I had one family-owned company I was ready to commit to that does fantastic work, but then we reached a snag because he refused to drain the pool. That had me really worried because there are pressure relief valves at the bottom that allegedly have to be removed as the water level gets too low. He wouldn't budge on it, I think because he didn't want to be responsible for the pool floating (?) Not sure anymore. Anyway, I didn't want to be responsible either! And so we went with another (family-owned) outfit that I thought did a nice job but the finish isn't holding up as long as I would have liked. Here's the best part, though. The company I went with didn't bother to remove the valves anyway! Pool never floated. So I contacted the first outfit again just to see what they say about draining.
 

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Sorry, lost track if you already did the replaster or are referring to a previous one. FYI:

I had my plaster replaced with pebble a few years ago. They did a full chip out. I really liked my edge tile and coping, too, so they save it. I have an uncommon tile, it's slices of river rock staggered together. That's the only thing they couldn't save, the lower staggered edge. They sawed off the lower 1/2" or so, all the way around the pool, and then did a full chip out below that. It all went fine, so the answer to your question is "Yes, it can be done," if you use the right guys.

This is what a full chip-out looks like. And you can see my edge tile intact, and sawed off to make a clean edge.

blowed up.jpg

New finish below old tile and coping:

edge tile.jpg

And I even found the same tile locally for them to use on the new steps. Matchie, matchie:

steps 2.jpg
 
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anthonypool89 said:
The company I went with didn't bother to remove the valves anyway! Pool never floated.
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The ground water table can be drastically different now than it was then, or even month to month.

I'd personally dig a test pit nearby. It's easy enough to dig a hole a couple of feet deep then use a post hole digger the rest of the way.
 
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Well I'm getting ready to do a re-plaster - they claim they can get the old plaster out without damaging the water line tiles. I don't have a single bad tile anywhere, so we'll see. They are over 20 years old so if they break one, I doubt they would be able to find a matching replacement.
 
anthonypool89 said:
Err on the side of caution I'd say and remove the plugs.
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That too. No question. (y) My worry with hydrostatic valves and such is that it still only allows so much water through, and you can theoretically drain the pool much faster than the valve relives the ground water pressure.

Say, it's a 1.5 inch valve/pipe but you rented a trash pump with a 4 inch hose.
 
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