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Chlorine tablets create high CYA

 

 Chlorine tables increase CYA 

The use of chlorine tablets are a problem for swimming pools. They work well as a sanitizing system if your pool water is perfectly balanced. However the use of those tablets ensures your pool will soon be out of balance. This is due to the CYA and other chemicals that are built into the tablets along with the chlorine. 

If your pool water is out of balance, the chlorine tablet is not as effective. You think using more and more chlorine will solve the constant algae issue your pool has, but is doesn’t get any better. You will eventually figure out that the CYA is too high which limits the chlorine effectiveness.  You are forced to drain your pool and dilute the CYA that accumulates by adding fresh water. It is necessary to do this to protect your plaster, but it is not an environmentally friendly action.

Commercial swimming pools are required by the health department to keep the CYA in the pool below 100 ppm. If it gets over that level the health department will force the closure of the swimming pool until that is corrected and re-inspected. The only solution for high CYA levels is to drain the pool and replace the water with fresh water. This has been the norm for several years, but environmentally it is not a good idea to continue this practice.

 Every time a chlorine tablet dissolves CYA is added to your pool water.  Several other chemicals that allow the chlorine to have a longer shell life are built into that tablet and are also added to your pool water. The lack of those chemicals in your pool water when you use a salt system are actually the reason the pool water in those pools feel much better than pools on chlorine tablets. It is not because of the salt in the water

CYA, commonly sold as a stabilizer or conditioner will damage your pool plaster investment if left unchecked. Pools with colored finishes cannot maintain their intended color in high CYA level pool waters. Every time a chlorine tablet dissolves and every time the pool is shocked with granular chlorine the CYA value will increase.  Your plaster investment must be protected against high CYA values.

Chlorine tablets cause cya damage to groutChlorine tablet cause cya damage

Stay tuned for a solution to wasting water and high CYA values in your pool.  G&B will be releasing this must have information on Wednesday the 12th. 

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Pebble finishes perform the best!

 pebble acid test

 Pebble finishes are armed to stand up to water chemistry imbalances as well as or better than any finish in the pool industry. It is especially better than standard plaster or 50% quartz finishes.  If that pebble is combined with a high performance patented cement it will be the best. In an acid test where the pebble is submerged in acid, the pebble is completely unaffected. There is no reaction. The acid test is meant to simulate aggressive water in your pool. From that test you can see that a pebble finish is going to perform very well in a pool environment.

Pools with pebble derive their great looks from the differently colored combinations of rounded rock colors and pigments. Abalone and quartz accents can be added to give the finish and even more dramatic look. These finishes are generally the best looking finishes.

Tigers Eye Sandstone Pebble

Pebble finishes do not have surface deterioration issues that standard plaster pools do. They are very durable finishes. When we pass over a pebble finish with our 40,000 psi hydro demo process we do not see the same amount of material wilting under the test we put on it compared to all other finishes.

G&B offers several different types of pebble finishes. We feature what we believe is the best pebble finish on the market. The Micro Fusion combines micro pebbles with a high performance cement for a finish that is among the most durable available. It is the smoothest pebble finish on the market. It has the durability of a pebble without the texture concern some have with pebble finishes.

G&B offers finishes that deserve to be put in our customer’s pools that haven chose us because of our hydro demo prep process. We will only install good quality finishes so that they have nothing but enjoyment with their pool.

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Pool plaster finish type differences

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Over the last 20 years a great deal has been determined about pool plaster finishes and how to make it last longer. In July of 2004, the National Plasterers Council Research Foundation INC. began construction of the research center at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. Over the next few weeks I will go into detail on what has been learned over the years and what types of finishes that resulted from that research center.

Pool plaster finishes are made up of an aggregate and white portland cement. Examples of the types of aggregate used are marble dust, quartz, pebbles, and glass beads.  I will explain the type of plaster finishes available with the different aggregates.  There are also different types of cements and additives that are designed to improve cement performance within these plaster finishes.

Standard Pool Plaster

Standard white pool plaster is a time tested surface for the interior finish of a swimming pool.  It has been around for as long as pools have been being built.  Color plaster is achieved by adding pigment to standard white plaster.

Pre-blended Plaster

Manufactures have developed some plaster finishes with pozzalons, polymers, or other additions to make the cement stronger in its ability to withstand water chemistry imbalances. Pigments are commonly added to these finishes.

50% Color Quartz Plaster

This finish replaces 50% of the marble weight in the mix with quartz. Effectively making the aggregate portion of the mix ½ quartz and ½ marble dust. The quartz can be colored for a speckled finish appearance or white. Pigment can also be added to this finish.

Aggregate Finishes                                                                           

Aggregate surfaces are pre blended products composed of quartz aggregates and fortified cement.  There are many different colors available.  These are an upgrade alternative to traditional plaster and more durable than traditional plaster.

Pebble Surfaces 

Pebble surfaces are the commonly thought to be the most durable plaster type.  They derive the unique look from the differently colored natural pebbles.  The pebbles are not affected by water in color or strength.

 Polished Aggregate Finishes

Aggregate surfaces are pre blended products composed of quartz aggregates and fortified cement.  There are many different colors available.  These are an upgrade alternative to most other plaster finishes. They are generally the most consistent looking finish due to the polishing.

 Glass Bead Finshes

Glass beads are combined with cement. The beads are not affected by water. The glass beads are an eye catching finish. The bead are generally smooth.