Frustration and Anxiety are getting to me

[webfeet]

My deck has reddish streaks from red sand put in concrete mixture. I called the concrete company the PB used and they said that red sand is all they have. Then I called another local concrete company in town, and they use a light beige sand- what you think of as being a sand color. Shouldn't the builder be responsible for providing me with a solid colored plain concrete deck that is at least all the same color??? I started a thread asking for help with the red streaks, but I don't know if any one has any ideas or not. I am afraid muratic acid may make it worse. I don't know anything about acid wash.

I am very unhappy with the streaky deck. What is more, I still have to deal with PB concerning the unlevel liner issue. I am waiting until he finishes everything else and then I will address liner, and deck, if he has not corrected the problem. He was suppose to have finished two days ago. He hasn't showed up the last 2 days. My bloodpressure is up. Since the PB also does the stamped concrete finishes, I wonder if he thought the red streaks would get me to buy the stamped work? I think he should make the deck all one color at his expense. But I don't want red- its the color of rust.
Am I unreasonable? Please tell me.
Furthermore, I'm worried about the ground settling. He claims the deck is floating on the concrete sand and will not crack. I think the sand will settle. Right now, there are only hairline cracks at the corners of pool, only appear to be surface. But I have nightmares about large cracks that swallow me up!
On a positive note, I still owe him about $6000.00 minus any deducts for the deck and liner. Exasperated ( misspelled?) Web

[wbrady]

A red deck is unacceptable. Luckily you have not made your final payment and have something to hold over the PB head. I would fight for what is right. PB needs to make the corrections at his expense. You are not being unreasonable. Good luck.

[Poconos]

Take a lot of pictures and make sure they are time and date stamped. Even to the extent of photographing newspaper headlines in the scenes, just in case this winds up in front of a judge. Anything to prove the time/date the pics were taken.
Al

[y0manda]

should of acid stained it. might be too late now since the acid will act differently with each shade of the red concrete. Me personally I don't like colored concrete I like natural grey, then acid washed and apply a good sealer.

[webfeet]

Thanks for the responses. I have set the date and time on my camera.

[webfeet]

PB says he is done with job. He is coming back tomorrow or next week with his total bill. We had extra concrete work and he said that he has not calculated sq ft yet. He did remove some of the rough areas behind the liner today. However, after he left, I counted 17 (each one is about the size of a large shelled whole cashew nut) rough spots or rocks about 36 to 38 inches from the top edge of the pool.. They are spread out over about a 5" x 30" area near the bottom of the polymer wall on the deep end.They will not flatten out when I push on them with my thumb.
PB says there is nothing that can be done to remove the stains on the deck- that we'll just have to wait for the stains to fade. Sure, okay, and I'm thinking - you can wait to be paid, too, until the stains fade! We have a concrete specialist coming out tomorrow for a second opinion on stains, hairline cracks, and today I noticed the deck had separated from the steps and spa- just a hairline break of the seal. The deck is less than one week old! PB plans to come back with final bill tomorrow evening, but we may put him off. However, we are waiting to confront him with our complaints until after he presents us his final bill. We don't want him to try to up it- when he gets mad.
Oh yeah, did I mention that our contract specified a side mount 500 lb hayward filter? But we got a top mount. PB claims that Hayward quit making the side mount. We called the distributor that was on the address label, and he said the filter is still available, and that he had 3 in stock! Can't wait to see the look on the PB's face when we tell him that! Distributor informed me that the filter I got cost the PB about 180 bucks less, than the one we had specified in the contract. I could go on and on and on.

[webfeet]

Well, we met with PB today. He came to get his final draw, or so he thought. We voiced our concern ( dissatisfaction) with the red streaks, uneven liner, wrong filter, and rough poolcrete on walls. PB went home empty handed.
First, however, he tried to insist that there was no fix for the red streaks, and that they would fade in time. So, I said, "Well, if they fade in time, you will get paid in time." (I know I should not have said that, but I have been unable to discuss anything with him during the construction. He always blew me off.) Wow, that got his attention! But he tried to put the blame on the concrete company. I said, "I contracted you to do this job, and you may need to go back on the concrete company, but as far as I'm concerned, the buck stops with you."
Then, all of a sudden, he came up with a fix! He wants to spray a gray colored epoxy finish on the deck. We told him to get us some pictures of what our deck will look like aftewards and tell us exactly what he will be using. We will need some input from you experts on the forum about any of 'his' fixes and products. He is not to do anything to our deck until we approve it first.
Finally, we also told him that he needs to think about what consideration (financial) he can give us for the uneven liner and the wrong filter. We did not suggest or demand any specific amount. Ultimately, we told hime to go home and consider his options. Needless to say, he wasn't a happy camper when he left. But, I feel better!
I will not feel so good, if I end up in court. In my experience no one comes out on top. If we go to court, it wil be an emotional and financial toil on everyone. I'll keep you posted. Webfeet