What is plaster and gunite?
Plaster is the coating over the gunite pool shell that is made of crushed white marble dust. Gunite is the concrete shell of the pool with rebar enforcement. Standard depth of plaster should be no less than 3/8″ thick, this requires two coats of plaster to be trowelled onto surface. What is the purpose of plaster? Plaster is needed to have the smooth touch on your pool surface. Plaster is at its smoothest when it is new. This is when the plaster has no erosion or calcuim build-up on the surface. Once erosion occurs the surface gets very rough and creates pits for algae to grow into the pool walls and floor (causing problems with repeated algae formation in short periods of time.) How long should plaster last? White marble plaster should maintain its smoothness and whiteness about 5-7 years before you should notice any type of erosion. Water chemistry should be properly maintained at all times to get a longer life out of your plaster. Other coatings will last longer but will cost a litt
