Available in … For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 2 posts • Page 1 of 1. swim_time. Copper stains are probably the toughest to remove but are completely esthetic and will not harm the surface of the pool if left untreated. Copper stains are probably some of the most common stains we see in our pools. For pool owners that want or need to remodel their plaster, there are new types of pool finishes that offer new looks and extended life. Your input and ongoing support is what makes our pool community great. The … Surface discoloration/inconsitencies - Marcite. Discolored but clear pool water. A pool plaster finish typically lasts between 5 and 10 years. Having drained our in-ground gunite, saltwater spa for a pressure test, I noticed that the white plaster has faded bluish stains on all the surfaces. Is the surface of the stain raised and rough? What might be the cause? Almost all salt stains in swimming pools can be completely removed using our treatments from every pool finish. This solution will prevent and remove stains from plaster, vinyl and fiberglass pools … Pool heaters help moderate the water temperature in your pool, but a heater can also lead to stains. Pool store indicates mineral scaling an should do a acid wash plus blur and purple stuff from Jacks Magic followed by Jack's Magic Copper & Scale treatment. Organic Stains: A greenish-brown colored pool stain is generally something organic, such as tannins leaching from leaves, acorns or mud sitting in the bottom of the pool. BTW, the spa is about 6 months old. Today I put some VitC tabs on some of the staining. As the images show, we can completely remove salt stains from swimming pool surfaces. Answer: Use ascorbic acid tablet … These stains are hard to deal with, that’s why we take extra care on our Simi Valley pool service as the area is known for its local metal industry. At the pool store they mentioned acid wash besides treating with Jacks Magic. The easiest way to create this look is to use a midnight blue shade of plaster. Did you get the water tested for metals? Do you have some test results? It appears it is only forming on the white scaling (blue plaster). We just finished our pool last month with CA Pools and had our final pool orientation a few weeks ago. Sounds like copper staining. Larry, Swimming Pool Water Maintenance & Pool Water Problems, Pool Surface Staining & Discolored Pool Water, http://www.xclusivepools.com/locations.html, Pool Chemical Problems & Swimming Pool Chemicals, Construction, Rebuilds, Fixtures & Physical Pool Problems, Skimmers, Jets, Lighting & Other Pool Fixtures, Salt Water Chlorine Generators, Ozone, UV. The pool stain can be varying colors but most commonly is brown when it develops on white plaster steps and the stain is dark grey, light grey or rust colored when it develops on colored plaster steps. The blue quartz added to the plaster is much more affordable, but I've been told that unless you go above 30% it really doesn't change the pool color. Most plaster pools are lightly colored like blue, white or gray. For Blue or Blue-Green stains (generally copper), try the Suncoast Stop Stains first. Is it a no drain acid wash they are suggesting? Algae, worms or other animals can also leave an ugly stain on your pool surface. Turn off the pool pump, make … First You have to determine what caused the stains and try to prevent duplicating the situation once the cleaning process has been completed. This means two things: grime can seep in and become difficult to remove, and overtime, the plaster begins to chip away and erode. Algae, worms or other animals can also leave an ugly stain on your pool surface. Have patchy blue stains on white plaster in swimming pool. However, this method can leave a mark behind after the stain is clean. To get rid of stains in pool plaster, attach an emery stone to the pool cleaning pole. How do you remove rust from a pool with a sand filter? Stain Causes and Prevention Stains in the plaster of concrete-built swimming pools grow due to minerals in the water, which react due to the chemical reactions of the concrete meeting the pool water for the first time. However, this method can leave a mark behind after the stain is clean. Anyone experience similiar problem and have successful results with these products. Stains on the pool surfaces, pool equipment or on the swimmers, or off-color swimming pool water. This is a great tool to remove stains and discoloration on your white plaster pool. Stains or Etching from Improper Chemical Addition – Pool chemicals need to be added to the water in a manner that prevents aggressive amounts of chemical or imbalanced water from affecting the new plaster surface. This rise in pH causes the suspended (floating) copper ions in the pool to ‘plate out’ or bond to the pool surface. Metals are certainly not the only cause of stains in a plaster-surfaced swimming pool. Questions! The discoloration is on the walls as well as the floor of the pool. I know we were to expect some mottling with our dark grey and grey 3M plaster but during the last few weeks these large dark blue streaks and splotches have appeared on one side of the pool and a little in the spa. To get rid of stains in pool plaster, attach an emery stone to the pool cleaning pole. The plaster is smooth. The reason: C olored marcite is notorious for fading, streaking, leaching, uneven coloration, and magnifying slight blemishes. Gunite pools are overlaid with waterproof plaster. There are no level areas in my pool as every thing slants down toward bottom drain in deep end. Stains caused by leaves in the pool, metals in the source water, and exposed rebar will impact any type of pool. The two most likely causes are calcium scaling or copper stains. Do not use this method of stain removal for dyed plaster or vinyl pools as it could bleach dyed materials or remove liner patterns. This figure is all based on proper water chemistry and maintenance. Building your own, homemade stain removal device is easy and takes less than an hour to construct. Discoloration or a “bleached out” look is common due to sun exposure or areas of heavy use like the stairs. There is just a spotty, bluish tinge in the plaster. So it’s best to use the emery stone if the stain isn’t too large. It is only on the white plaster surface. A demonstration video on how to remove the stains in your swimming pool! Do you add any copper containing algaecides or have a mineral system for sanitation? First time doing acid treatment to remove stains. Blue stain on white plaster. However, if I scrape it hard with a screwdriver, it does come off, leaving white plaster behind it. For Gray or Black stains (generally oxidized copper), try the O2 Safe Shock first. You must log in or register to reply here. The Swimming Pool Forums These items … Does this diagnosis of my pool's discoloration sound reasonable or should I get a new pool maintenance company? Blue Colored Plaster Image by NPT Pool. BTW, I used a nylon brush with a 3:1 ratio of water/acid to see if I could remove the blue. Does this make sense? Most metals, when subjected to swimming pool water chemicals, will react and leave a stain where they were in contact with the pool's plaster. Can it be easily removed now that the spa is empty? I'm going to learn how to plaster a pool. This will make it easier to reach the stain, and the emery stone helps to remove stains. If I'm going to be in this business and work with the pool plaster professionals, I need to spend time in their spike shoes and physically plaster a pool with them. After about 30 minutes there were black stains running down from the tablet making a streak about 12-14 inches long. Swimming pool ColorQuartz® finish provides greater beauty, durability, and ownership ease by resisting chips, stains, etching, fading, and erosion from chemicals and ultraviolet light. Fortunately, I have had no shortage of … BTW - I love this forum, and I wish I had have known about it earlier - you guys are all so helpful and knowledgeable. There are liquids and dry granular stain treatments that work well on removing these types of stains on all types of pool surfaces. We are here to help you with information and advice on pool maintenance, pool repairs and swimming pool building. A small swimming pool stain is usually caused by a metal object being left on the plaster bottom long enough to rust and leave a stain. Deep, stubborn stains in coping, need help. 3. So it’s best to use the emery stone if the stain isn’t too large. You can also use granular chlorine to get rid of a stain on pool plaster. Did you use any algaecides lately? Stains of copper metal will appear as streaks and splotches of blue-green hues on the plaster of your pool while stains from iron will generally be in black or brown. JavaScript is disabled. Prime causes. Incorrect sanitizer, pH and alkalinity levels can set the stage for stain-causing debris and metals to wreak havoc on your pool surface. 258 likes. Common Sources of Pool Stains. It is not sticky like algae, the pool water is crystal clear. This darker plaster works better to hide water stains, but as with standard plaster, you’ll most likely have to re-finish it every 10 years or so. And best of all, the treatment is a fraction of the cost of an acid wash and you don’t have to drain the pool water! It is being practiced by thousands of pool owners just like you. Berries will create a red or blue stain in pools. Have patchy blue stains on white plaster in swimming pool. Everything from leaves and dirt, to minerals and bodily oils, can cause pool staining. While the discoloration doesn’t necessarily indicate an issue, it may be time to repair if you want even color. Several pool companies have been out to inspect but are also at a loss to explain the blue streaking/staining. While the finish appears smooth, it is not. Some foliage is particularly notorious for staining, like leaves with high tannin levels, such as some nut trees and oak trees. While a plaster pool surface is superior in finish and performance as compared to all other pool surfaces, it has its own set of rules which need to be known and followed to ensure an enduring and serviceable lifespan which should exceed 10 years and, in many cases, last as many as 15 years or more. There are two directions you can take toward getting the … Although white marcite plaster can be tinted in shades of blues, greys, tans, and blacks, many pool builders and plastering companies avoid this precarious tactic. The good news is that we can prevent most cases of blue/green staining by following dosing charts on algaecides and maintaining proper pH levels in our pools, but we all know that doesn't always happen. Pool stains are common and appear for a number of reasons. Since salt water pools are unique, this article will address ways to help prevent stains in these systems. Keep in mind that shades do vary a little bit between manufacturers. No luck. Vinyl pools should … These blemishes are caused by using the wrong type of chlorine tablet floater. This then causes discolouration in the form of a stubborn coloured stain. This will make it easier to reach the stain, and the emery stone helps to remove stains. Post by swim_time » Tue 11 May, 2010 13:59 . ... automatic pool cleaners, pool heating systems, above-ground swimming pools and other swimming pool accessories. Leaves, berries, bugs, sun tan oil, or even your water-loving dog can all contribute to staining. Depending on the shade of blue you use, it can look like you have a pool full of sapphire gems. Swimming pool information, pool care, pool water discussion forums & swimming pool problem help, Postby swim_time » Tue 11 May, 2010 13:59, Return to “Pool Surface Staining & Discolored Pool Water”, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests, Stains on the pool surfaces, pool equipment. Both can be removed with dry acid in a sock or spraying muriatic acid on it and brushing. Low pH and high chlorine levels can also erode the copper heat exchanger in a pool heater. These types of stains can be cleaned with good old fashion elbow grease using a … The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. I have some PB horror stories because I was so uninformed!! I assume that it is not copper staining since none of the sources you listed would apply to my spa. So they aren’t necessarily a sign of bad maintenance. This light blue plaster provides a gradient tint as you move from the entry, to the shallow end, and into the deep end. Stains or Etching from Improper Chemical Addition – Pool chemicals need to be added to the water in a manner that prevents aggressive amounts of chemical or imbalanced water from affecting the new plaster surface. However, other causes of staining, such as galvanic corrosion and metals in the salt itself, are much more of an issue with salt water pools. The most common objects to stain swimming pools are soda or beer cans, pop tops, and coins. I am thinking that this blueish tinge might simply be a reaction to the various pool chemicals. Organic matter can also generate stains. As metals accumulate in a pool the risk of metals coming out of solution becomes greater. Most pool stains occur when excess organic and/or metallic compounds and improperly balanced pool water meet. And when stains appear, they range in color, from bright green, red, and blue smears, to dark brown and red blobs. With over 200,000 members, TFP is the largest and most influential pool & spa website on the Internet. Finishing your pool with a light colored blue or gray plaster gives it a bit more color depth when compared to a white plaster finish. We are a company specialized in pool plastering, We offer: •frPlaster •Replaster •Coping •Tile •Espray deck •Cool deck •Skimmer change … Most visitors online was 3404 , on Jan 24 2020. He says I will need a new heater and acid wash. My plaster is only 2 years old. The finish is a mixture of cement and water. This is my ultimate take away. A common cause of blue-green copper pool stains is improper chemical maintenance. The introduction of copper to the pool water can come from algaecides, heat exchangers, older copper plumbing, etc. Essentially, a plaster pool is what many refer to as a concrete pool. Maintaining proper water balance makes it easier to keep metal stains from developing. The Blue Stuff is effective at removing copper, iron, and manganese from your pool water, and will work in even high chlorine environments without breaking down. Organic pool stains on concrete pools can be bleached out with chlorine granules sprinkled over the area. It is not along the waterline on the tile. Remember, if residual copper is not properly removed or managed, staining can occur – particularly if the water pH exceeds 8.3. Plaster finishes are more likely to stain because the surface of the finish is porous. If the pool has a plaster finish, brushing the stains with a wire pool brush will speed up the process. Berries will create a red or blue stain in pools. Also any other alternative solutions to this problem would be greatly appreciated. Long-lasting color and easier to maintain than regular marcite plaster. Certain flowers, berries, and tree leaves that blow into the pool and sink to the bottom are frequently to blame for a variety of stains—some which form within a few hours. Top step plaster stains detract from your pool’s beauty. The pool maintenance company says my heater is disintegrating and putting metal in my water. Providing the same functionality as standard plaster, colored plaster is usually tinted a bit dark (usually grey or blue), and gives the pool water more of a natural lagoon or lake aesthetic. A blue or green color typically indicates that the copper is still in sulfate form and will need to be oxidized before it can be treated. Blue stone pools. 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