As time passes by, certain things go into the brink of degradation. It is normal for things to loose their original looks. Colors may turn dull from being bright. Parts tend to be loose or sometimes missing. The worst it could get is they become irreparable. The best thing you could do is to replace them. Nothing last forever in this world and the only thing you can do is to try to prolong its existence.
That is just the normal process of wear and tear. However, there are certain things that could possibly accelerate their weariness. Like exposure to chemicals. They are what we can consider the catalyst of destruction. Too much of it can drastically change the appearance of many things, even with metals. However, they are also useful. One of the best uses of these chemicals is for sanitation of swimming pools. Your pools cannot be safe for swimming without them around. If you do not treat them with chemicals, they will become the perfect environment for the growth of microorganisms.
However, as much as it does more for pool maintenance, it can also cause chemical reaction with regard to the materials used for it. One of which will be highly affected are the pool finishes, especially plasters. You might think that they are low in quality. Actually, they are not. These problems are expected. Some of the expected problems from your pool plasters are:
Etching- This is the kind of irregularity on your plaster that happens when there is too much or less calcium on the water. Calcium is a normal component in your pool water and your plaster. Influx or even drawing of calcium occurs when there is a chemical imbalance. This chemical imbalance results to changes in alkalinity of the water. If there is an imbalance on the water, calcium may be drawn causing irregularities or beige hues on your finish.
Crazing- This is the term coined for the tiny cracks in your pool. For some they create a web pattern or an eggshell look. This is not something to worry about because it does not pose any danger. The cracks do not penetrate to the core; it is only on the surface. Thus, there will be no occurrence of leak at this rate. This also happens when there is extreme temperature. For some, they say it is a normal occurrence in cement products.
Delamination- This is one of the signs that the pool is aging. What happens in here is that there is chipping of the plaster pool finishes from the Gunite. It leaves a small crater causing irregularities to the pool. It is sometimes a result of the progression of cracks or improper application of the plaster right from the start.
Staining- This can be a result of the rusting rebar that has been exposed to the water or even after the pool has been shocked. In the event of shocking, a large amount of chemicals will be added to your pool. It cannot be avoided because traces of metals can be on the water. Thus, when it is shocked, it causes chemical reaction that can lead to this condition.
About the Author:
Chris Turley is a consultant for Wet Edge Technologies, supplying a wide variety of pool finishes with industry leading technology to support them.