Swimming Pool Plastering is an essential part of owning a pool. It separates the concrete lying underneath your pool water from the actual infrastructure and mitigates the potential of leaks that could undermine the structure and compromise your investment in the pool itself. It also protects the underlying concrete from the harsh environmental conditions of the pool water and mitigates the potential for etching or scaling that is caused by unbalanced water chemistry. The pool plaster is not a permanent surface and will require regular resurfacing and maintenance.
Replastering is expensive and can be very disruptive to your everyday life while the pool is closed for the process. However, it is the best way to resurface a concrete pool that is showing signs of deterioration. A resurfaced pool will last up to ten years with proper care and maintenance. In addition, a resurfaced pool will be less prone to staining and discoloration caused by the constant exposure to chlorine and sunlight.
There are three basic surfaces available for pools: traditional plaster, aggregate and tile. While plaster is the traditional choice, it is the least durable of the three and will need to be resurfaced more frequently than either aggregate or tile. However, if the pool is not regularly maintained and the water chemistry is unbalanced, the stains can be difficult to remove or even impossible.
The first step in any replastering job is to clean the old surface of the pool. Then the old plaster must be mapped, which is done by walking around inside the empty pool and bouncing a golf ball on all the surfaces. This allows the mapping of any areas that are loose and in need of repair. Loose plaster is easily chipped out with a hammer and chisel.
Once the old surface has been cleaned and any loose Swimming Pool Plastering has been removed, it is ready for a new coating of the desired finish. There are a variety of finishes, but most pool owners go with the classic white plaster. This is nothing more than white Portland cement and marble sand mixed together. It is also possible to add color dyes and pigments to the plaster mix for a more dramatic finish.
A plaster resurface will typically last between five and seven years before it shows any signs of deterioration. When a pool is replastered it will typically be repaired or patched at any cracked areas or areas where a chunk of plaster has fallen off. However, if the pool is in need of extensive repair it will probably be necessary to replaster the entire pool rather than just the area that is damaged.
A plastering contractor will use a special mixer to make the pool plaster. The plaster mix is a proprietary blend of portland cement, stone gravel and fine quartz sand (also known as silica sand). It is very similar to the kind of concrete that is used for slabs and sidewalks, although it does not contain any diamonds or other magic ingredients. The plaster is then applied with a trowel to a smooth finish.