Pool Replaster... Less than 1 year old and white spotting

[Ailnow]

We had our pool replastered almost 1 year ago in November, full chip out and new plaster. The entire pool now looks like the photos below. We have maintained perfect chemistry mostly except for 3 weeks in January. We have had it checked weekly to verify and proper chemicals purchased and applied weekly if needed. My pool plasterer is saying this could be due to "aggressive water" that occurred for 3 weeks in January. Other than those 3 weeks, chemistry has been perfect and within range...he has agreed. As you can imagine, we are sick over this as we spent a small fortune!

What is the proper fix to this? Will it continue to get worse? He has agreed to polish and apply MicroGlass for $4000 as he's stated normally it would cost $6000-$7000. I realize we are in a he said/she said as I have read all of the research and back and forth on cement/workmanship defects vs aggressive water causations. Unfortunately like so many others, we are just stuck to live with it or pay. Is there any recourse or solution?

Thanks is advance!

 

[TinFoilHat]

You should not be relying on others to maintain your large investment. Weekly service is not enough to maintain a pool in swimming season and I'm sorry that you had trouble along the way. I can't speak to the spotting but others with experience will. You do need to take on the maintenance of your pool yourself so you aren't at the mercy of poor service or poor intelligence at a pool store. Get yourself one of the test kits we recommend and then follow the links I will give to learn about how to maintain your own pool for sanitary and clear water.
Pool Care Basics
Test Kits Compared
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath

 

[PoolStored]

We have had it checked weekly to verify and proper chemicals purchased and applied weekly if needed.

How did you check it?
What were the results when "perfect"?
What were the results when "off" in January?
What chemicals were purchased and added?
Finally, I'm assuming the pool was grey, and that the white is not the color as installed...correct?

 

[Ailnow]

You should not be relying on others to maintain your large investment. Weekly service is not enough to maintain a pool in swimming season and I'm sorry that you had trouble along the way. I can't speak to the spotting but others with experience will. You do need to take on the maintenance of your pool yourself so you aren't at the mercy of poor service or poor intelligence at a pool store. Get yourself one of the test kits we recommend and then follow the links I will give to learn about how to maintain your own pool for sanitary and clear water.
Pool Care Basics
Test Kits Compared
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath

I am the one who takes care of the pool and has the water tested weekly, we don't have a pool service.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Then you need a proper test kit so you can test water daily or as often as needed or you want. Don't rely on the pool store to give you adequate or accurate test results. Keep in mind that they exist to sell you stuff.

 

[Ailnow]

How did you check it?
What were the results when "perfect"?
What were the results when "off" in January?
What chemicals were purchased and added?
Finally, I'm assuming the pool was grey, and that the white is not the color as installed...correct?

I took it to a reliable pool supplier to have tested weekly. I have home tested against their measurements before and know they are accurate. It is a reputable place. Yes, pool is light french gray.

 

[Ailnow]

Then you need a proper test kit so you can test water daily or as often as needed or you want. Don't rely on the pool store to give you adequate or accurate test results. Keep in mind that they exist to sell you stuff.

I am aware of this and have one. Most people do not see this type of white spotting even without precise chemical balance.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Trust them as you will but again, once per week is not sufficient, except maybe when the water is ice cold.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Is your kit a FAS/DPD kit? If not then you can't reliably measure FC over 5ppm. Anyway, the spotting is probably from a poor installation of the plaster and finish.

 

[Ailnow]

Yes this kit is FAS/DPD kit and it was the middle of January so very cold when the readings were off. The problem has already happened and happy to post 50 weeks of chemical readings, however, wondering really if the solution proposed of polishing and applying Microglass will fix it?

 

[Parac]

Yes this kit is FAS/DPD kit and it was the middle of January so very cold when the readings were off. The problem has already happened and happy to post 50 weeks of chemical readings, however, wondering really if the solution proposed of polishing and applying Microglass will fix it?

I don't know if anyone will be able to answer your question on the polishing yet. Even if it does work, you need to figure out why it is happening and correct that first or you will end up in the same spot a year from now.

You still need to answer Poolstored's questions so the group can understand where things are at right now. Please do post at least some of the 50 weeks of chemical readings, preferably ones you've tested yourself. Specifically what you consider "perfect chemistry" and "off" during January. The forum helps people with all kinds of different situations every day and the only way to do that is to understand exactly where you are at right now and what you have done so far.

Filling out your signature is another way to prevent being asked questions multiple times: Create Your Signature
Mine and TinFoil's have some of the detail that is needed. Be as specific as you can. Is your FAS/DPD test kit a K2006? Tf-100? or something else?

 

[ajw22]

Is the pool surface rough to the touch or smooth?

What Plaster Start-up Guide was followed for the first 28 days of the pool?

I would just have the surface polished with diamond pads which will remove a thin layer of plaster and expose the colors below. See how that looks.

Microglass is a very new product and we have not had any reports on it. Their claims seem exaggerated.

White Spotting of New Plaster Pools

The 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...

www.troublefreepool.com

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

MicroGlass

Anyone have any experience with MicroGlass? Pool Plaster Hardener | Pool Plaster preservation | MicroGlass LLC I'm redoing the plaster, tile & coping of my pool in a few months and my pool company just sent a message that they are now offering MicroGlass to help extend the life of plaster...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Ailnow]

Here are the chemical readings starting 11/10/23 which is just after the replaster.

Additional insight...January 23rd, 2023 an extended period of extreme freezing temperatures. Our pump was out for a week or so while we were waiting on service. We ended up replacing it in April.
July 11th-20th we were out of town and too many chlorine tablets were added to the feeder.
The spotting was first noticeable in June and became progressively worse after July.

The pool surface is smooth to the touch currently. If it was white plaster, we would not know there was an issue.

DATE	Free CL	Total CL	pH	CYA	ALK	Calcium Hardness
11/10/23	2.8	2.8	7.8	30	120	390
11/17/23	4.6	4.6	8	40	130	400
11/27/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	120	390
12/11/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	110	330
1/11/24	3.4	3.4	7.6	80	80	260
2/5/24	1.8	1.8	7.8	50	90	210
2/23/24	0	0	7.8	30	100	340
3/8/24	1	1	7.8	30	100	340
3/25/24	5	5	8	30	80	250
4/12/24	7.2	7.2	7.6	30	90	370
4/22/24	3.8	3.8	7.6	40	90	380
5/6/24	2.4	2.4	7.6	40	80	300
5/17/24	3.4	3.4	7.8	50	70	320
6/7/24	4.8	4.8	7.8	60	130	290
6/14/24	6.2	6.2	7.8	60	80	370
6/26/24	6	6	7.8	70	100	310
7/3/24	5	5	7.8	60	70	240
7/11/24	5.2	5.2	8	100	80	330
7/22/24	14	14	7.6	90	70	330
7/26/24	11.8	11.8	7.8	100	80	320
7/29/24	8.4	8.4	7.8	80	80	300
8/5/24	7	7	7.8	60	90	290
8/14/24	1.8	2.8	8	80	90	310
8/21/24	2.2	2.2	8	100	90	330
8/29/24	3.6	3.6	8	100	80	290
9/9/24	4.6	4.6	7.8	100	80	270
9/16/24	5.4	5.4	8	60	80	310
9/30/24	3.8	3.8	7.8	80	70	340
10/14/24	4.6	4.6	8	100	110	340
10/21/24	3	3	8	90	80	340

 

[Ailnow]

Is the pool surface rough to the touch or smooth?

What Plaster Start-up Guide was followed for the first 28 days of the pool?

I would just have the surface polished with diamond pads which will remove a thin layer of plaster and expose the colors below. See how that looks.

Microglass is a very new product and we have not had any reports on it. Their claims seem exaggerated.

White Spotting of New Plaster Pools

The 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...

www.troublefreepool.com

Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

MicroGlass

Anyone have any experience with MicroGlass? Pool Plaster Hardener | Pool Plaster preservation | MicroGlass LLC I'm redoing the plaster, tile & coping of my pool in a few months and my pool company just sent a message that they are now offering MicroGlass to help extend the life of plaster...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for the info. It is smooth. I can't remember what start up process was used.

 

[Ailnow]

I don't know if anyone will be able to answer your question on the polishing yet. Even if it does work, you need to figure out why it is happening and correct that first or you will end up in the same spot a year from now.

You still need to answer Poolstored's questions so the group can understand where things are at right now. Please do post at least some of the 50 weeks of chemical readings, preferably ones you've tested yourself. Specifically what you consider "perfect chemistry" and "off" during January. The forum helps people with all kinds of different situations every day and the only way to do that is to understand exactly where you are at right now and what you have done so far.

Filling out your signature is another way to prevent being asked questions multiple times: Create Your Signature
Mine and TinFoil's have some of the detail that is needed. Be as specific as you can. Is your FAS/DPD test kit a K2006? Tf-100? or something else?

I don't know if anyone will be able to answer your question on the polishing yet. Even if it does work, you need to figure out why it is happening and correct that first or you will end up in the same spot a year from now.

You still need to answer Poolstored's questions so the group can understand where things are at right now. Please do post at least some of the 50 weeks of chemical readings, preferably ones you've tested yourself. Specifically what you consider "perfect chemistry" and "off" during January. The forum helps people with all kinds of different situations every day and the only way to do that is to understand exactly where you are at right now and what you have done so far.

Filling out your signature is another way to prevent being asked questions multiple times: Create Your Signature
Mine and TinFoil's have some of the detail that is needed. Be as specific as you can. Is your FAS/DPD test kit a K2006? Tf-100? or something else?

Here are the chemical readings starting 11/10/23 which is just after the replaster.

Additional insight...January 23rd, 2023 an extended period of extreme freezing temperatures. Our pump was out for a week or so while we were waiting on service. We ended up replacing it in April.
July 11th-20th we were out of town and too many chlorine tablets were added to the feeder.
The spotting was first noticeable in June and became progressively worse after July.

The pool surface is smooth to the touch currently. If it was white plaster, we would not know there was an issue.

DATE	Free CL	Total CL	pH	CYA	ALK	Calcium Hardness
11/10/23	2.8	2.8	7.8	30	120	390
11/17/23	4.6	4.6	8	40	130	400
11/27/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	120	390
12/11/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	110	330
1/11/24	3.4	3.4	7.6	80	80	260
2/5/24	1.8	1.8	7.8	50	90	210
2/23/24	0	0	7.8	30	100	340
3/8/24	1	1	7.8	30	100	340
3/25/24	5	5	8	30	80	250
4/12/24	7.2	7.2	7.6	30	90	370
4/22/24	3.8	3.8	7.6	40	90	380
5/6/24	2.4	2.4	7.6	40	80	300
5/17/24	3.4	3.4	7.8	50	70	320
6/7/24	4.8	4.8	7.8	60	130	290
6/14/24	6.2	6.2	7.8	60	80	370
6/26/24	6	6	7.8	70	100	310
7/3/24	5	5	7.8	60	70	240
7/11/24	5.2	5.2	8	100	80	330
7/22/24	14	14	7.6	90	70	330
7/26/24	11.8	11.8	7.8	100	80	320
7/29/24	8.4	8.4	7.8	80	80	300
8/5/24	7	7	7.8	60	90	290
8/14/24	1.8	2.8	8	80	90	310
8/21/24	2.2	2.2	8	100	90	330
8/29/24	3.6	3.6	8	100	80	290
9/9/24	4.6	4.6	7.8	100	80	270
9/16/24	5.4	5.4	8	60	80	310
9/30/24	3.8	3.8	7.8	80	70	340
10/14/24	4.6	4.6	8	100	110	340
10/21/24	3	3	8	90	80	340

 

[Ailnow]

How did you check it?
What were the results when "perfect"?
What were the results when "off" in January?
What chemicals were purchased and added?
Finally, I'm assuming the pool was grey, and that the white is not the color as installed...correct?

Here are the chemical readings starting 11/10/23 which is just after the replaster.

Additional insight...January 23rd, 2023 an extended period of extreme freezing temperatures. Our pump was out for a week or so while we were waiting on service. We ended up replacing it in April.
July 11th-20th we were out of town and too many chlorine tablets were added to the feeder.
The spotting was first noticeable in June and became progressively worse after July.

The pool surface is smooth to the touch currently. If it was white plaster, we would not know there was an issue.

DATE	Free CL	Total CL	pH	CYA	ALK	Calcium Hardness
11/10/23	2.8	2.8	7.8	30	120	390
11/17/23	4.6	4.6	8	40	130	400
11/27/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	120	390
12/11/23	1.8	1.8	8	30	110	330
1/11/24	3.4	3.4	7.6	80	80	260
2/5/24	1.8	1.8	7.8	50	90	210
2/23/24	0	0	7.8	30	100	340
3/8/24	1	1	7.8	30	100	340
3/25/24	5	5	8	30	80	250
4/12/24	7.2	7.2	7.6	30	90	370
4/22/24	3.8	3.8	7.6	40	90	380
5/6/24	2.4	2.4	7.6	40	80	300
5/17/24	3.4	3.4	7.8	50	70	320
6/7/24	4.8	4.8	7.8	60	130	290
6/14/24	6.2	6.2	7.8	60	80	370
6/26/24	6	6	7.8	70	100	310
7/3/24	5	5	7.8	60	70	240
7/11/24	5.2	5.2	8	100	80	330
7/22/24	14	14	7.6	90	70	330
7/26/24	11.8	11.8	7.8	100	80	320
7/29/24	8.4	8.4	7.8	80	80	300
8/5/24	7	7	7.8	60	90	290
8/14/24	1.8	2.8	8	80	90	310
8/21/24	2.2	2.2	8	100	90	330
8/29/24	3.6	3.6	8	100	80	290
9/9/24	4.6	4.6	7.8	100	80	270
9/16/24	5.4	5.4	8	60	80	310
9/30/24	3.8	3.8	7.8	80	70	340
10/14/24	4.6	4.6	8	100	110	340
10/21/24	3	3	8	90	80	340

 

[ajw22]

Sand an area with 80/100 grit wet dry sandpaper and see if the white spots come out.

 

[SacPoolPros]

Acid bath lower pH below 7.0 use a sump pump to move water around and brush for 3-4 days will comes off or do a drain and acid wash

 

[ajw22]

Acid bath lower pH below 7.0 use a sump pump to move water around and brush for 3-4 days will comes off or do a drain and acid wash

We recommend trying all other remedies before an acid wash.

 

[MAPR-Austin]

I have seen something similar from the water being out of LSI balance during cold periods. I think they lowered the pH of the water and were able to dissolve the whitish deposits.

You might try a little acid on the top step underwater and see if it does anything at all.