I may have to give up my beloved SWG :(

[Chasarms]

Thanks! Was wondering about that. Do you have chlorine degradation due to sunlight or time?

I only supply the tank with about three weeks of chlorine at a time. I haven’t had any issues. But, I do buy a product locally that is always very fresh.

So, every few weeks I am driving to the pool supply and then lugging three cases of LC from the garage to the pool pad. That’s why I said it’s more work than a SWCG.

If my pool manufacturer didn’t explicitly state that the use of a SWCG voids the warranty, I’d go that route.

If I were you, I would investigate every option before I abandoned the salt. It is by far the most efficient way to chlorine a pool, and since you’ve already dropped the money for it, it’s certainly the most cost effective.

 

[slickrock22]

I only supply the tank with about three weeks of chlorine at a time. I haven’t had any issues. But, I do buy a product locally that is always very fresh.

So, every few weeks I am driving to the pool supply and then lugging three cases of LC from the garage to the pool pad. That’s why I said it’s more work than a SWCG.

If my pool manufacturer didn’t explicitly state that the use of a SWCG voids the warranty, I’d go that route.

If I were you, I would investigate every option before I abandoned the salt. It is by far the most efficient way to chlorine a pool, and since you’ve already dropped the money for it, it’s certainly the most cost effective.

Great points and agree with all of them. Thank you!

 

[Dirk]

All pools sanitized with chlorine (tabs, liquid, swg, whatever) are saltwater pools. And it's not just chlorine that adds salt. Acid too, and humans even more (sweat, lotions, etc). Getting rid of the SWG will not solve this problem. Getting rid of the salt won't either. It's not the salt, it's the water. The discussion about the balance of the water is interesting. Seems reasonable that pH could be a factor I suppose. But flagstone (the sandstone family) is just compressed sand. That's the problem. Ever seen thousands and thousands of sand castles still standing at a beach somewhere? It's just a matter of time. Sandstone is not particularly appropriate for coping. Some will hold up, others will disintegrate. And everywhere in between.

Sealing is good. The right type of sealer is even better. But not to stop or prevent the flaking and "sandying" of flagstone. You need a consolidator for that. A sealer alone won't do much if anything for the delaminating and pitting and that sandy feeling.

 

[Stoopalini]

Before you give up the SWCG, or spend $$ to replace the coping ... definitely try what Dirk is recommending 1st. It's not cheap, but much cheaper than either of the other two options.

Here is a link to the Prosoco OH100 product page. The trick will be finding a contractor who can acquire it, and knows how to apply it. I may do this over the winter, and if I do, I plan to call around to some conservation/preservation societies (those guys who preserve older buildings and such) and ask for recommendations for local subcontractors who work on their stone. I've already asked two masons about this product, and they had no idea what I was talking about, which is why I think going the preservation/conservation route may yield better results.

OH100 Consolidation Treatment - Prosoco

prosoco.com

 

[joepaiii]

Great points and agree with all of them. Thank you!

What did you end up doing? I know it’s an old thread but in a similar position with my pool. Hard to find people that have the prosoco OH100 consolidator. Will keep looking.

Have some stain proof 40sk that I am going to try after the consolidator or maybe just by itself.

Have used stone tech saltwater sealer and it didn’t do anything for my rocks. Well it might have slowed things for a year or so but 4 years after pool we built seeing lots of degradation to the soft stone around my pool.