Swimming Pool Plaster Start-Up Issues: Things Not to do
A new plaster pool can pose several issues if the start-up
is done incorrectly. You can also ruin the plaster job by going into the pool
too soon or not running the pool after it is filled. Here are also several
problems that can happen during the filling of the pool also. I will touch on
some of the more common ones here.
I have seen several problems caused by the improper filling
of a plaster pool. Unlike Pebble Tec, Fiberglass and Vinyl pools, plaster pools
pose some significant issues even when you are just filling a newly plastered
pool. It is basically like wet cement in the first few days. One thing you should
never do is turn off the water before it is above the tile line. If you do,
there is a big chance that you will have a ring around the entire pool, right
where the water was turned off at. This ring of discolored plaster will be permanent.
You also do not want to use the autofill to fill the pool. That line will leave
a streak all the way down the side of the plaster at the autofill outlet into
the pool. Last, you want to make sure the hose you fill the pool with is
wrapped in a towel and left in the deep end of the pool. Any failure of these
points will leave some type of discoloration in the plaster.
Brushing the pool is also a critical step in a correct
plaster start-up. But you only want to use a soft bristle brush, nylon or poly
bristles. These are the brush type of choice. Do not use any pool brush with
Stainless Steel or wire bristles or this will leave permanent marks on the pool
surface. You also do not want to put any type of vacuum in the pool for the
first 3-4 weeks. If you vacuum the pool with your manual vacuum with wheels,
chances are you will leave wheel marks in the plaster that may not come off until
the pool is drained, and acid washed. Even using a leaf rake on the bottom can
cause some marks if you are not careful. The only thing I suggest for the first
week is brushing the pool with a nylon brush and doing nothing else.
I have seen some new plaster pools with dog footprints,
kid’s hands and feet marks and object marks on the surface and walls. While the
plaster is curing you should not enter the pool and you should try your best to
keep pets and kids out of the water. I wouldn’t get in the pool for the first
2-3 weeks and if you use the pool the first week prepare to leave some marks on
the pool plaster. The best thing you can do is to keep the pool off-limits for
the first 2-3 weeks. No pool toys in the pool and no swimming.
With a proper start-up and plenty of brushing, the
plaster can feel very smooth but still be rough in many areas. I suggest if you
have young children, maybe purchase some swim shoes for the first 6 months. The
kids will likely be using the pool for hours on end and over time their feet
and hands will get small abrasions to form the new plaster, causing bleeding. This
is perfectly normal and almost all new plaster will do this to your feet and
hands. After the plaster fully cures this won’t be an issue, but that could
take up to 6 months.
Once the start-up is complete and the pool is full of the water you should turn on the pump right away and start circulating the water.
The only exception to this is if you are doing and Acid Start-Up, in that case, you need to raise the pH above 7.0 before turning on the pool pump. I suggest
running the pool as much as possible the first week, 24/7 if possible. The more
you run the pool the better the outcome. If you have a variable speed pump, I
suggest running it at the full 3450 RPM for the first week. I have seen pools
that were running 24/7 the first week and others set to run 8-10 hours and the
results were like night and day. Less mottling and less plaster dust sticking
to the surface.
Just keep in mind that it takes a while for a new
plaster pool to fully cure. Anything you do to it the first two weeks can cause
permanent marks and damage to the surface.
Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A
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