pool plaster patch question

[HamNCheese]

I drained my pool for a couple of weeks to change the water, clean the pool surface and replace the pump. Today as I started filling it I noticed that a 4" chunk of plaster under the skimmer inlet had fallen away to reveal the gunnite beneath.

Do I need to stop filling the pool below the plaster hole to prevent water from getting inside, and behind, the plaster? Or is this a repair I can deal with another time and I can fill the pool up to the top for now and then just drain the pool below the hole when I'm ready to fix it?

How hard is it to patch the plaster, is this something I can do myself or do I need to have a pro do it?

[Richard J Kinch]

No, don't worry about that.

Yes.

Assuming there's no crack in the shell that's going to leak water, in which case you could just do a quick and sloppy patch to stop that.

Patching with "cold joints" has from ancient times been nearly impossible to screed and finish properly, but if you're willing to pay for diamond polishing tools, you can do a perfect job of it by putting on too much plaster and polishing off the excess. See my description at:

[gfretwell]

It will probably drain itself downb to that level. The plaster is what holds the water in Concrete (shotcrete, gunite) is not waterproof. You may be able to fix this yourself but a pro will make it look right. Some finishes like Florida Gem are proprietary and you probably can't buy it.

[HamNCheese]

Thanks. From what I've read doing a search, there are actually plaster mixes I can use to patch it that will set underwater, so I won't have to drain it at all. This is a pool that is in need of a replastering in the next year or two anyway, so I'm not too concerned with how it will look.

[Richard J Kinch]

Imagine that. Let us know how well it works. Hard enough to work plaster when conditions are ideal.

By the way, all portland cement products will set under water, including ordinary pool plaster.

It's not just a matter of looks. A rough patch will just collect algae and crud, and will be as bad or worse than no patch at all.