Pool plaster discoloration/ white spotting?

[tmelgar]

Hello, I am a new pool owner. We had our pool done and water chemistry balanced the beginning of February 2024.
Over the last two months we noticed the appearance of some white spots on the pool plaster that seems to be decoloration but we are not sure. There has been an increase of size and locations on these spots throughout the pool plaster.
Anyone has an idea what could it be , get it resolved , get it tested? My pool builder and my pool service company keep throwing the ball at each other and no one is assuming responsibility on this issue.

 

[Texas Splash]

Hello and welcome to TFP! I'm going to tag @onBalance for some expert eyes on this one. In the meantime, some questions in advance that might help:
1 - What type of start-up was performed?
2 - Have any additional plaster treatments been performed since fill?
3 - How do you normally chlorinate the water?
4 - Can you share a full set of water test results?

 

[tmelgar]

Hi @Texas Splash thanks for your response. I am not sure what type of start up was performed. There has not been any other plaster treatments as far as I know since fill was completed, with the exception of course of the initial daily brushing of the plaster. The water gets chlorinated by a Jandy sanitization system and I believe the pool service company adds chlorine granulates when needed.
I am sharing a full set of water readings (see attached)

 

[ajw22]

That is normal color variation and quality with plaster today. Dark plaster colors and blues tend to show more mottling.

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Being Blamed for Plaster Discolorations? Don't Get HoodwinkedSome newly plastered pools (including quartz and pebble finishes) may develop either white soft spotting (also called "spot etching" by some plasterers), streaking, calcium nodules, gray mottling discoloration, spalling (flaking), or severe craze (check) cracking within a few months after being plastered, and whoever has been maintaining the water is often incorrectly blamed for those plaster problems and defects.

Diagnosing Pool Plaster Problems

White Spotting of New Plaster PoolsThe problem of plaster spotting has been an ongoing puzzle and controversy in the swimming pool industry for over three decades. The generally round, smooth-yet-unsightly white soft spots in new plaster pools have long been a source of contention among pool plasterers, and pool chemical service firms or pool owners, each blaming the other for the phenomenon.

 

[onBalance]

From the photos, it is difficult to determine what has happened to the plaster in those white areas.
I would like to see a couple of very close-up photos of the whitish areas.
It does not appear to be calcium scaling. Right now my guess is the plaster surface is porous in the whitish areas or that the blue color pigment is becoming bleached out in those white areas, which means that the problem due to a plastering problem and not a water chemistry balance (or out-of-balance) issue.
Please read this article below for some added info.

Why Colored Plaster Turns White

Plaster colors can fade or turn whitish for a handful of preventable reasons. First off, scale can be deposited onto pigmented plaster surfaces by out-of-balance pool water. As is widely known, calcium scale makes the surface rough and turns it white, and acid washing is often the remedy...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[tmelgar]

From the photos, it is difficult to determine what has happened to the plaster in those white areas.
I would like to see a couple of very close-up photos of the whitish areas.
It does not appear to be calcium scaling. Right now my guess is the plaster surface is porous in the whitish areas or that the blue color pigment is becoming bleached out in those white areas, which means that the problem due to a plastering problem and not a water chemistry balance (or out-of-balance) issue.
Please read this article below for some added info.

Why Colored Plaster Turns White

Plaster colors can fade or turn whitish for a handful of preventable reasons. First off, scale can be deposited onto pigmented plaster surfaces by out-of-balance pool water. As is widely known, calcium scale makes the surface rough and turns it white, and acid washing is often the remedy...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for your response. It does look like discoloration to me, I cannot see any build up on the plaster . I am sharing a couple of close up pictures and one where you can see the difference of color between the normal aqua blue plaster color and the white spot

 

[tmelgar]

That is normal color variation and quality with plaster today. Dark plaster colors and blues tend to show more mottling.

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Being Blamed for Plaster Discolorations? Don't Get HoodwinkedSome newly plastered pools (including quartz and pebble finishes) may develop either white soft spotting (also called "spot etching" by some plasterers), streaking, calcium nodules, gray mottling discoloration, spalling (flaking), or severe craze (check) cracking within a few months after being plastered, and whoever has been maintaining the water is often incorrectly blamed for those plaster problems and defects.

Diagnosing Pool Plaster Problems

White Spotting of New Plaster PoolsThe problem of plaster spotting has been an ongoing puzzle and controversy in the swimming pool industry for over three decades. The generally round, smooth-yet-unsightly white soft spots in new plaster pools have long been a source of contention among pool plasterers, and pool chemical service firms or pool owners, each blaming the other for the phenomenon.

Thanks for your reply, I will keep digging more into this case, my pool is only 4 months old and this seems to be very old. None of my neighbors have experienced anything similar and they pools are about one year old.

 

[onBalance]

Inasmuch as the pool service tech and the pool builder are blaming each other would indicate that the discoloration is not normal.
Thanks for the photos. I would say now that the problem is probably the blue pigment that was added to the plaster mix is bleaching out and leaving the blue colored aggregate unaffected which does not bleach.
Therefore, the blue pigment that was used is not compatible for a swimming pool environment.

 

[onBalance]

Here is an article that directly addresses what is probably the problem with your plaster job.

Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools

There are two important issues involved when trying to achieve quality colored pool plaster that will remain durable, attractive, and the proper shade for many years. The first issue is to utilize superior workmanship practices to achieve good color, with minimal mottling, and no blotchiness...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[tmelgar]

Here is an article that directly addresses what is probably the problem with your plaster job.

Not All Color Pigments are Good for Pools

There are two important issues involved when trying to achieve quality colored pool plaster that will remain durable, attractive, and the proper shade for many years. The first issue is to utilize superior workmanship practices to achieve good color, with minimal mottling, and no blotchiness...

www.troublefreepool.com

Wow, I read the article and I am amazed on the fact that needer (in my case) the pool builder or the plaster company mentioned anything regarding the pigment quality. I saw the pics of the article you sent and it look very similar to what I have. My pool is only about 5 months old. Is it normal to have those discoloration show that fast?

 

[onBalance]

Yes, color bleaching can occur within a few months to a year.

 

[tmelgar]

Yes, color bleaching can occur within a few months to a year.

Wow! so pretty much I am screwed. It sounds like the only way to fix it is replastering the entire pool.
I was never informed neither given the option to choose what type of pigment to use other than just picking up the color.
Is there an institution that you know of that is located in the Houston , Texas area that ai could hire so they can come and verify that in fact that is the problem I have?
I am really upset and dissapointed with this whole situation since this is a large money inversion and to get this type of problems so soon is really not something we were really expecting at all

 

[onBalance]

No, I don't know of anyone.
I suggest demanding the builder have the plaster company take care of it under warranty and use the correct (colorfast) color pigment.

 

[tmelgar]

No, I don't know of anyone.
I suggest demanding the builder have the plaster company take care of it under warranty and use the correct (colorfast) color pigment.

I am working on that. Last thing I was informed is that NPT (National Pool Tile) will come out to inspect and test what is going on, hopefully I get results and confirmation of the problem within a few weeks. I personally thought it was discoloration since the beginning, thanks for all your help and information provided, it has helped a lot, plus I learned something new. This pool world is very interesting and complicated at the same time lol