How To Fix (Resurface) Rough Pool Plaster

Pool Plaster Discs are crafted with premium diamonds and a specialized non-corrosive matrix, eliminating the problems caused by traditional electroplated metal-bonded pads. Unlike metal-bonded abrasives that can raise sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide levels—leading to corrosion, scaling, calcium nodules, and damage to salt cells, our discs are safe for saltwater systems. The matrix bonding ensures accurate salt cell readings and stable chlorine output. Suitable for both empty pools and those filled with pH-balanced water, our discs won’t disrupt your pool chemistry or salt system performance. Rough pool finishes, also known as overexposed aggregate or tool marks, can be honed and polished (resurfaced). Pool Plaster Disc removes topical iron stains, organic stains, topical buildup, pool scale (plaster surface build up), also known as Calcium Scale, Waterline scale, and Calcium Nodes, leaving a pleasant smooth finish. Roughness, scaling, and discoloration are topical problems in pool plaster finishes caused by 3 common practices used to maintain swimming pools with plaster pool finishes.

1. Pool Chemistry: Lack of knowledge or neglect of pool chemistry is shown on the pool plaster finish. The pool plaster surface is the report card of the water chemistry maintainer. Bad pool chemistry, such as a high pH and/or calcium hardness, among others, is seen on the pool plaster surface within days or weeks. While other poor practices are more subdued at first, before becoming noticeable. Calcium Scale, Waterline Scale.
2. Acid Washing: This seems to be a common practice for a quick fix. However, muriatic acid eats away at the cement surrounding the pool aggregate (quartz, pebble, marble chip, etc.), overexposing it, causing a rough finish, weaker plaster, and most of the time worse results than prior. Remember, cement is the base of ALL POOL PLASTERS.
3. Salt: Salt itself from a saltwater pool has issues of attacking cement in plaster over time, causing a rough finish. Are Salt Water Systems Bad for Concrete Pools?

The picture above shows an overexposed aggregate pool plaster surface caused by excessive use of muriatic acid. Pool Plaster surfaces with coarse sandpaper feel will cause skin abrasions, irritation, and bathing suit damage. This can make the swimming pool unusable over time. Leaving the pool finish rough and discolored will lead to spot etching, topical stains, permanent scale, and algae adhesion. You will have to re-plaster your pool if not corrected.

 

Polishing (resurfacing) your rough pool plaster with a pleasant, smooth finish using our two-step process is easy to perform and, most of all, cost-effective. Whether you have a color quartz finish (Multi-colored plaster) or standard plaster (white in color), having a smooth, pleasant plaster finish is easy and will add years to your existing pool plaster's life.

 

Manufacturers recommend a pool plaster thickness to be a minimum of 5/8 inch when applied. So you have some plaster to work with.

 

The two-step resurfacing eliminates calcium nodules, spot etching, skin abrasions, and bathing suit damage, and will give you a consistent color surface that makes entertaining in and around your pool area a pleasure.

 

Drain your pool. Now is the time to replace and repair anything below the waterline. Items that you need to maintain below the waterline are lights, stair steps, fittings, tile, anchors, railings, etc. We all know that things below the water line need work at one time or another. So now is the time to do the work.

 

The two-step process is easy. Using our 7” non-corrosive diamond flexible discs attached to AG7529 7” Velcro pad on a polisher or sander. (Maximum 3500 RPM). Our 7" diameter hook and loop backer pad AG7529, used with our 7" pool plaster disc, ensures 100% contact with the pool plaster finish you are resurfacing. (Using a smaller diameter backing pad will cause the pool plaster disc to wear unevenly and reduce the life of the pool plaster disc.) The process will be sanding (resurfacing) your rough pool plaster with our NON-CORROSIVE Pool Plaster Disc.

 

Start with the walls under the waterline tile moving downward, next floor. After ALL, the flat surfaces of the pool are done. Start on the inside corners and corners. The pool plaster disc can be used with or without water. Begin by applying the whole face of the pool plaster disc evenly and lightly against the wet plaster. Too much pressure will cause premature wear of the disc and deep swirl marks in the plaster. The weight of the tool is all that is needed. As you progress, you will see the pad take the roughness away, leaving a honed, resurfaced-to-the-touch finish. When using a pool plaster disc without water, it is important not to overheat the disc by doing a 5 Ft. x 5 Ft. area, then use a hose to wash off plaster residual material remaining. This will keep the pool plaster disc and pool plaster from overheating. Excessive heat will cause a breakdown in the integrity of both the pool plaster disc and the pool plaster.

1.) WD7050: 50 Grit NON-CORROSIVE Pool Plaster Disc is used on coarse pool plaster or trowel marks to be removed and leaving a slight texture.

2.) WD7070: 70 Grit NON-CORROSIVE Pool Plaster Disc is used on semi-coarse pool plaster or when new polished quartz plaster is to be honed or lightly buffed.

3.) WD7120: 120 Grit NON-CORROSIVE Pool Plaster Disc to remove the slight texture, giving a pleasant smooth polish finish.

Use the selected 50 Grit or 70 Grit you selected to clean and hone down your pool plaster to a flat surface. During this step, you're going to remove all surface scaling, rough aggregate, and trowel marks. (View before the polish plaster finish picture). Start by processing 5 square feet before you stop. Then wet the surface and feel the surface with your hand. Remember, not much or no pressure needed. Let the pool plaster disc do the work. You want the pool plaster to have an even, slightly textured surface. If you feel areas that are smoother than others. Continue till the pool plaster surface is consistent. The pool plaster surface needs to have a uniform texture throughout. By removing the top 1/16" or 1/8" of plaster, you have now removed all surface imperfections, stains, and trowel marks. This is the base and start of your new polished (resurfaced) pool finish. Disc coverage approximately 1,500 to 2,000 so. ft. per disc, depending on roughness and plaster material being removed. When using a pool plaster disc without water, it is important not to overheat the disc by doing a 5 Ft x 5 Ft area, then use a hose to wash off plaster residual material remaining. This will keep the pool plaster disc and pool plaster from overheating. Excessive heat will cause a breakdown in the integrity of both the pool plaster disc and the pool plaster.

Use WD7120 non-corrosive honed diamond disc for final honing and polishing. During this step, you’re going to remove the slight texture feel of the plaster. (View the after-polish plaster finish picture shown to see what you will achieve.) Polish about 4 square feet before you stop, wet the surface again, and feel the surface you just process. It will have a pleasant, smooth-to-the-touch finish. Now you will start to feel and see your polished pool finish. If you can feel areas that have texture, continue with the WD7120 pad to get the smoothness you desire. You will make the final decision on how smooth the surface will be. Coverage approximately 2,000 to 3,000 so. ft. per pad, depending on plaster material.

 

 

 

                

Compare Before and After

Now we recommend that you start the process of refilling your pool.

Remember, proper pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels are key to preventing the etching of pool plaster.