Fibreglass pool - Gel coat failed

Jump to latest Follow Reply
M

mbwatson

0
May 16, 2018
3
McKinney TX
I spent considerable money to fix a 30 year old gunite pool with fiberglass. The work was done late in 2016. At the end of the 2017 swimming season, I noticed the white blume when brushing. I called the pool contractor this spring and was told that the gel coat was failing because I had not kept the water chemistry right. When I closed out on the pool in 2016, they had me sign a document that states that I understand that I need to keep the pool chemistry as follows:
Chlorine: 1-5 ppm
pH: 7.6-8.0 (recommend 7.8)
Total Alkalinity: 80 - 120 ppm(recommend 100)
Ca Hardness: 300-350 ppm
CA: 30 - 80 ppm (recommend 45 )

"EXCESS CALCIUM AND/OR CHLORINE DEFICIENCY WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR FIBERGLASS SURFACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLITY OF VOIDING YOUR WARRANTY".

i had been using a pool store to check my water. I had kept the water reports which showed that in general, my Total Alkalinity was around 100 ppm and my CA Hardness around 300 ppm. The CA was around 75 ppm. But still, they want me to accept that the failing gel coat is the result of my poor maintenance. The proposed solution is to drain the pool; acid wash it and gel coat again. $2800. My issue is, I have no reason to believe that it would do better next time as I'm not convinced that the water chemistry was the issue. Exaperating.
 
HI and sorry we had to meet over such sad news. Here is one thing I will tell you.............we do NOT trust Pool $tore testing and you are seeing why :( I have taken my water to 4 different stores. 4 with the same name but different areas of town. All 4 stores had widely different findings and the money to "fix" my water ranged from $75 to $125!!! BUT I had just tested my water at home and was perfect! It looked like a jewel as well!

What I am saying is, here at TFP we test our own water. Our levels that recommend are all science based after MANY years of experiments and daily use in thousands of pools.

There are two test kits we recommend-TF-100 (as seen in my siggy below) and Taylor 2006. They BOTH use the Taylor regents. The TF-100 has more of the regents we use on a daily bases.

We also have videos to show how to do the tests. Once you have done them a few times your test times will be fast.

If you get your own test kit you will know for SURE your levels are right! You can show your PB how you test and see what he says about YOU testing the water and go from there.
 
I'm on board. I bought a Taylor K-2006 right after the pool renovation was complete but between job and long commute it was easier to use the pool store. I've mastered the testing so can do it quickly and have been doing my own testing for several weeks.

I had an awful pool year in 2017 and am hoping with help from this site that this year will be better. I was constantly adding something to kill algae or clear the water. I was never so glad to see the season end. It started all over again this year. I ended up with high CH from adding so much Ca Hypo and CYA from running my inline Chlorine feeder wide open. I now understand that the high CYA had me in an infinite loop with the chlorine. I recently drained 1/2 the water and refilled to start "clean". The CYA is back down to reasonable. My source water is high in TA and low in CH. So I'm off to add acid and to figure out my best aeration option. I'll be back. The season has just begun!
 
I have some bad news for you :( It is said to replace regents after a year. Right now I am working with someone who has some older regents left from last year. On a whim he tested his CH with the older regents followed by the brand now one and got two very different numbers! The new stuff tested the CH higher than the older stuff :shock: I am doing some pocking around to see if any other regents are as "sensitive" to age as the CH is showing to be.

Kim:kim:
 
No worries. I am testing so often that I've started buying new reagents. I'm using a fresh bottle of R-0013 for CYA. Also new bottle of R-0010 and R0012 for CH. There are expiration dates on the bottles. I also noted that they are to be stored within a temperature range. Mine site on a work table in my garage. I'm certain they are frequently hotter than they should be.
 
Chlorine: 1-5 ppm
pH: 7.6-8.0 (recommend 7.8)
Total Alkalinity: 80 - 120 ppm(recommend 100)
Ca Hardness: 300-350 ppm
CA: 30 - 80 ppm (recommend 45 )

"EXCESS CALCIUM AND/OR CHLORINE DEFICIENCY WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR FIBERGLASS SURFACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLITY OF VOIDING YOUR WARRANTY".
Click to expand...

That blanket statement is simply their way of protecting themselves from having thousands of non-caring pool owners come back to them later for dispute. Unfortunately those of us who DO care for our pools get sucked in that statement, "Must be tested by a pool store" demand, which is ironic as they tests and advice are often wrong. I made the mistake before TFP of letting my CH and pH get elevated to the point it developed some calcium silicate which now has to be removed manually. But when I contacted them and showed the warranty department my images and scenario, they basically had the same generic response and even blamed it on excessive chlorine without any regard to the CYA level. Very frustrating.

I hope your new gelcoat work isn't actually failing, and that what you are seeing is something else. Maybe post a full set of numbers later and we can take a look. But in the end, once those companies get paid, it's all about "their" generic chemistry standards and nothing else. Have a nice weekend, and welcome to the forum! :swim:
 
Sorry for your problems. Fiberglassing isn't a easy thing to do. Lots of things have to be done correctly. I have owned sailboats for years and have done my share of fiberglass and gelcoat. The fiberglass is pretty straight forward to apply and sanding it smooth. Gelcoat is where you have to take care. If you don't trust the contractor, I would go to a "big" boat repair facility where there are lots of big sail and power boats. With all the lakes you have over there, I'm sure you can find one. Go in and tell them your issue...I'm sure you will get lots of info. They know fiberglass and usually it is done perfectly.
Good luck and I hope your fix turns out to be something easy. ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply