Iron Staining on a Gunite Pool - What should I do?,Ask the Pool Guy

Iron Staining on a Gunite
Pool – What should I do?
Question: I have a gunite pool that has some iron staining on
the bottom.
What do I need to clean it ?
Iron can usually be removed with an ascorbic acid based
product like Natural Chemistry’s StainFree, and then the water
treated to remove the iron with a sequestering agent like the
FerriTabs we sell (if you have a sand filter), or there are
some alternative methods with different filter types.
Or, muratic acid on the area will often take care of it as
well. You can either try to pour some through the vacuum hose
to get it to the area, or a drain and clean (as long as the
pool is not painted) should work as well.
If you have some photos you’d like to send over of your pool,
the stain and equipment, we’d be happy to take a closer look.
Ask the Pool Guy: Rerod in
the Gunite Swimming Pool
{Legendary Escapes}
When building our hybrid swimming pools, customers often ask
about the use of rerod/rebar in the gunite structure. In this
video Al explains the strengthening power of using rerod in
the base structure.
I wasn’t kidding when I said
not to drain your gunite or
fiberglass (or vinyl for that
matter) pool!
We are lucky to be helping many new homeowners with their
swimming pools in Southeastern Michigan this year.
I’ve fielded a few calls where a homeowner asks some questions
about pool service, and then decides it’s probably worth
hiring an expert.
In some cases, a homeowner may try to a “d-i-y” (do-ityourself) approach to save money. We’re very supportive of
this, and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Just
make sure you know which questions to ask.
Homeowners may drain the water off the cover of the cover of a
fiberglass pool. Refer back to the conversation we had about
gunite pools last week. A fiberglass pool is basically a giant
bathtub. We’ve been getting huge amounts of rain this week,
and last. And, if your pool is next to a lake, you probably
have a high water table.
What do you suppose will happen if the weight of your pool is
less than the force of the water surrounding your pool?
This is what we were talking about when we referred to the
term “Pop Out”.
If this happens, this is going to be a major renovation. Any
way you look at it, whether a crane is brought in, a hydraulic
jack to hold the pool up, or tear out and replace with a
different type of pool, this homeowner is looking at a very
expensive summer repair.
This is also why sometimes our crew will not take more water
out of your pool, even if you’ve asked us to. We need to error
on the side of caution, and unless you are refilling a pool in
a delicate situation as fast as we are taking water out,
you’re best served by leaving the water in.
If you ever call in with a question, and I encourage you to
fill your pool, fast, you might even want to borrow a hose
from your neighbor.
Ask the Pool Guy: Shotcrete
and Gunite Swimming Pool
Construction {How it Works}
The pool guy explains concrete, shotcrete, pumped cement and
gunite.
9 Popular Pool Surfaces for
Gunite, Concrete, Fiberglass
& Vinyl Swimming Pools
Let’s face it, when it comes to pools, appearance matters.
Some people love the look of a bright blue pool; others like
the mystery of a seemingly black watered pool. How do you
achieve all these effects? It’s simple: change the surface
color of your pool.
Al Curtis from Ask the Pool Guy has some tips regarding pool
colors to compliment your specific home. “There are many
products to choose from when it comes to surface colors, it
all depends on the style of your home and your surrounding
landscape. For example, a lighter color like a white tile
works really well with contemporary, modern homes. And a
subtle color might look better with a traditional style homeit all depends on the feel you want to go for.”
“Even though there are tons of options for coloring, it seems
like the majority of home owners still tend to prefer a blue
tone for their pool. This makes sure the pool will always look
blue and inviting, even on cloudy days. The blue tones work
well with both classic and contemporary style homes.”
The color and texture of your pool interior is key. It needs
to match the style of your home and the type of landscaping
you have to get a complete look for your backyard.
We will discuss a few of the key materials for pool interiors
here: tiling, plaster, pebble, quartz, aggregate, fiberglass,
glass, paint, eco-finish and vinyl liners:
Til
e:
The great thing about tile is that it lasts for a long time.
They do take quite a while to install, but they can be worth
the investment because they can easily handle wear and tear.
There are plain tiles, classic Greek-style, diamond patters,
or even mosaics for a unique look.
Pla
ster:
This is the most economical interior for your pool. While it’s
less expensive, it does require more maintenance. White is the
most popular color for plaster interiors because it reflects
the blue of the sky and can create different moods in your
pool water depending on the daily weather. Constant exposure
to the elements and pool chemicals may cause discoloration. It
could potentially need to be repainted or re-plastered
periodically.
Peb
ble:
This look is great if you are looking for something more on
the natural looking side. They work well with the lagoon style
of pool that is surrounded by greenery. Pebble is durable,
stain and chemical resistant, and they do not require grout.
Qua
rtz:
Quartz is definitely on the high-end of pool finishes, but for
good reasons. It has vibrant and long-lasting color. It has a
silky smooth feel and appears to be glittering when seashells
or other additives are added to refract and reflect light.
Swimmers love Quartz finishes in pools because it has a silky
smooth finish and it is kinder to feet and bathing suits. It
also makes the pool very simple to clean.
Fiberglass:
This is a beautifully smooth finish that often comes preinstalled in a typical or standard fiberglass pool. There are
also some options for using fiberglass over concrete and are
popular in certain parts of the country.
Gla
ss Beading:
Glass beads can provide an extraordinary finish for your pool.
they are a recent addition to the interior lining options.
They are seamless and come in a wide variety of colors. They
are extremely durable and give a brilliant light.
Pai
nt:
For paint interiors, a two-pack epoxy paint is used. It is
specifically formulated for use in swimming pools. The main
advantage of paint is a smooth coating and a wide variety of
colors to choose from. A disadvantage is a short life
expectancy, once a pool is painted it will need to be repainted every year or two. Also, the application is subject to
weather conditions that can also affect the longevity of the
surface.
Eco-Finish
aquaBright™ is a revolutionary pool finish that virtually
eliminates all of traditional plaster and paint coating
shortcomings. It is resistant to chipping, peeling and
scratching. It cures in seconds and is extremely durable.
aquaBright is very eco-friendly because it greatly reduces the
use of chemicals to balance pH. Also, the amount of fossil
fuels needed to mine, transport and apply plaster are no
longer used. So, whether you are renovating or building a new
swimming pool, aquaBright is the wave of the future when
seeking a plaster or paint alternative.
Vinyl Liner
Vinyl Liner Swimming Pools are a popular option for pools.
Typically constructed with steel walls and vermiculite or sand
bottoms, the liner pool is constructed where weather changes
seasonally and water tables can be an issue. There are many
different liner patterns available, and newer patterns mimic
natural looks of stone and pebble very well. With the ability
to put real ceramic tile lines into vinyl liner pools, they
are a popular choice for custom swimming pool designs.
Ask the Pool Guy: PoolTec for
Gunite
Swimming
{Featured
Swimming
Products}
Pools
Pool
For all the pool knowledge you’re looking for, check out Ask
the Pool Guy HQ. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know
about swimming pools, all in one place. Ask the Pool Guy is
passionate about sharing the vast knowledge he has acquired
throughout his decades in the pool industry, and he wants to
make sure everyone has an enjoyable pool experience. If you
can’t find the information you’re looking for here, you can
contact him or a capable member of his team!
Q&A: Painting a gunite pool
and the risk of a pool popout
Question:
I have a house in Orlando and the pool needs painting. The
only thing is I have been told that I cannot drain the pool
as it will pop out of the ground.
Can you advise me please on how to paint it.
Answer:
Example of a Gunite Pool Pop Out
If you have to paint a gunite pool, you need to make sure that
the pool does not get left open any longer than absolutely
necessary. Hiring a pool company to do this for you is a great
idea. The concern with emptying a gunite pool is that it is
like a concrete boat, and if the water pressure holding the
pool in the ground becomes less than the water (hydrostatic)
pressure in the ground, the pool can pop out. (the expense to
fix a pool pop out is almost the same if not more than
installing it new)
The main drain in the bottom of the pool should have a
hydrostatic relief valve. If the valve is working properly,
when you drain the pool, if the water pressure is higher in
the ground it will pop the valve and allow the water to enter
the pool. Another measure that pool contractors take if the
water table is a concern, would be to drill holes through the
gunite of the pool in the deep end to allow for the water to
pass through as well. This is more typically done when a
gunite pool is getting new marcite or pebble, as the last step
is to fill the holes back in as the pool starts to fill again
with water. The fastest way to get a pool filled back up is
obviously by truck, and the second would be using multiple
hoses (if you have city water). If you water has minerals/iron
and you freshly paint a pool I’d try to get the cleanest water
back in there as possible.
If you do paint the pool, be sure you have a plan and
understand the timetable, how long the paint needs to dry, and
what your risk factors for ground water are. Even if you hire
a pool contractor to paint the pool they may have you sign a
risk waiver (often required by their insurance company)
stating that you know the risks of draining a pool.
Fun with Concrete – artistic
sculping of swimming pools…
http://www.facebook.com/askthepoolguy
—
http://www.legendaryescapes.com – Welcome to Ask the Pool Guy
TV
a. Artificial rocks from concrete
b. No using pre-made stone panels
c.
d.
e.
of
Structure of metal lathe, cement, and re-bar
Rich concrete on top to create a smooth finish
Process learned from Al Mango (Mango Rocks) who had a lot
experience working in theme parks and Universal Studios.