Wednesday, 19 Oct 2022
Decorative tile added to the steps of the pool and hot tub. That’s something new for this pool. After the tile was grouted BOND KOTE was spread over all surfaces that will see plaster. The freshly added below-the-water-line tile trim was masked before BOND KOTE application.
Hot tub decorative tile
More decorative tile
On the steps, too
Bond-Kote on all surfaces that will see plaster
Friday, 21 Oct 2022
People arrived about 7:30 and prepped the area for plaster. Plasting sheeting was placed around the pool deck wrapping over and into the pool. It was taped down covering most of the tile. About 8 AM the truck with the plaster showed. Plaster was mixed on site and pumped into the pool and hot tub. The protective plastic was removed and the crew got to work using hand trowels to spread it around.
Plaster truck
Hand trowelled plaster
Hot tub
Ready for water
Hot tub filled
Pool filling
The plaster cures under water. When the crew was done hoses were placed in the pool with the ends wrapped in towels so the water flow doesn’t disturb the new plaster. Empty plastic bottles taped to the end of the hose let the end float as the water level rises.
I’ll turn off the water and close the cover once the pool is full. It will sit for about a week. I’m told the water will be quite acidic during that time. The added water has a green tint. Don’t know why.
In a week chemicals will be added to bring the water chemistry into balance. At that time we’ll turn the pool pump back on. It takes about 90 days for the plaster to fully cure. During that time the pH will have to be monitored closely as it will rise more than usual. We’ll be able to use the pool, though. Weather permitting.
Monday, 31 Oct 2022
Turning blue
The pool people were here last week to add some acid to the pool. They were back today to add needed chemicals to balance the pH. I suspect they also added some Chlorine. The water still has a greenish tint, but I can alreadty see that it is starting to turn blue.
Pool light electrical
At the same time they were going to replace the light in the hot tub. The breaker that powers the lights also powers the pool cover. The bright part of the picture shows power for the pool cover. More on that later.
The breaker was switched off and everything disconnected. The hot tub was drained into the pool for easier access to the old light. The goal was to pull the old light/cable then install the new light/cable. Didn’t happen today. The sheath of the old cable has turned into something that bunches up, blocking movement in its conduit. The cable can not be pulled in either direction. The pool people will be back to try again, this time with a special lubricant.
Before leaving the pool cover needed to be closed. It’s Halloween and the pool is in our front yard. No leaving the cover open tonight. Cover power needs to be hooked back up and the breaker switched on. Uhh, where did the wires go? The wires highlighted in the image somehow slipped down into the conduit. Nobody was anywhere near the pool cover motor. Don’t know how the wires got pulled down.
A section of the the conduit was cut to access the wires. Luckily they were not below ground level. There was enough to grab. New wires were attached to the old at the pool cover moter and pulled to the junction box. Once hooked up and the breaker energized the cover was closed. The conduit will be fixed later when they come back to tackle the lights, again.
Pump is back on its normal programming and the pool sweep is back in the pool, too.