Weeping cracks in new pool plaster

[Rdavi12285]

First gunite pool.

We're in Kansas City, so a true four season climate. After draining and cleaning the shell, which was shot in December, we noticed several weepers, and asked the plastering crew if they needed to be addressed prior to application. They talked to the boss (not on site), and he told them to proceed with the application of the Sunstone plaster (this was 4/10/14). The weepers persisted, and they basically applied poultices with some weight on them overnight. Next morning, still weeping, but they said to fill the pool. We did, but have concerns.

Is it normal to do this? What's the risk in terms of long term durability? I can provide pics if they'd help. Also, after filling we noticed about a 1.5" difference in water levels in the skimmers (about 35' apart). How level should a new gunite pool be?

[PoolDoc]

Your pics (resized and color enhanced):

[PoolDoc]

The leaks and cracks I see aren't necessarily a problem, but they may be.

I would ask for a 2 year written warranty against leaks from those locations, specifying that more than 1/4" total loss in 24 hours, verified by the bucket test PLUS dye check of those locations indicating an active leak be sufficient to activate the warranty.

I would also try to take some better pictures of those cracks, using a camera capable of accurate focusing. You may need to put a pencil, or even a card with lines and text like "Crack #1" just next to the crack, so the camera has something to focus on.

The 1.5" variation between skimmer levels (how can you tell -- did you use a water level?) is enough to make me uncomfortable, and to suggest some sloppy work. It's not a show stopper -- most skimmers can handle 4" variation -- but it's enough to cause one skimmer to suck air when the other is fine. If you are correct about the difference, it would be more than enough to make me (if I was the owner) move in to what I used to call "toothbrush and flashlight" mode. That 'mode' is what happens when a pool owner's suspicion threshold gets crossed, and they begin to inspect everything with a "toothbrush and flashlight. It's a total PITA for the builder when this happens, because no pool is ever perfect. But if there is a genuine 1.5" variation, that's more than enough to make it a reasonable response on your part.

[Rdavi12285]

Thanks for enlarging the pictures. Too late for better pictures as I don't scuba - the pool is filled. And one skimmer is at the halfway point while the other barely has water. So we're past the toothbrush and flashlight point, and the builder already thinks were a PITA. He's been paid for everything but plaster and is less than thrilled we're questioning his process. Are there any published "Industry Standards" I can refer to when challenging the quality of his work?

And is it possible the pool won't leak but the plaster will be discolored or ther will be a bump because it didn't adhere to the shell?

And if there is an issue, can you effectively do spot repairs (that are cosmetically indistinguishable) or do you need to remove all the plaster and start over?

[PoolDoc]

+ I'm not sure that there are any standards you can hold against him, especially in Kansas. In California, maybe.

+ Those sorts of cracks don't especially indicate structural problems or delamination. They may, or may not, indicate a leak.

+ You can do spot repairs, BUT, weeping like that indicates porosity in the underlying concrete, not merely in the plaster.

For that reason, I'd be reluctant to pay for the plaster, till he guarantees no leaks. AND, I'd do bucket testing for leaks from the get-go. See: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/11252