Many people still use plaster as a final touch for their pool. For quite some time now, people have found it more practical and economical to use. They have been proven the best finish for Gunite, shotcrete or even concrete pools. Plaster works well with them because they are porous enough. This allows them to stick naturally on their surface. This could be possibly one of the reasons why people still use them.

Many people have criticized plaster because of their flaws. They say as much as they are very affordable or economical options in choosing the right pool finishes, you can also be worked up with the maintenance. However, there have been advances or changes in plaster use. They have become even more popular as there have been ways to lessen plaster problems like introduction of aggregates and improvement of their additives.

Despite of it all, we cannot avoid problems on the finishes because of its constant exposure to water chemicals. Whether we like it or not, we cannot eliminate the use of chemicals because they play major role in keeping the water safe to swim on at all times. Unfortunately, plasters react to chemicals easily. That is why it is very important for pool owners, to know the importance of maintaining them.

The question in here is how you maintain it. Here are some of the common practices that you should strictly follow in order to take and prolong the life of your plaster finishes:

• Make sure that your pool water has the proper ph. You cannot maintain this if you do not ensure balance in the chemistry of the pool. The desirable ph for the water is round 7.4-7.8. For some the lowest could be 7.2. You can also do this by doing water testing.

• Brushing is also important. Some recommend brushing three times a week. When you do this, you will be maintaining the smoothness of your pool and remove any debris causing irregularities on its surface.

• Ensure proper filtration. We cannot avoid dirt and other materials to accumulate on your pool. Allowing them to do so can have various effects to the ph levels of your pool. Some may cause discoloration or staining of the plaster. The ability of the material to stain or to mottle the plaster depends on its reaction to the chemicals of the water.

• Ensure that chemicals in your water are properly balanced. Some minerals should also be taken into consideration. Know the levels of the elements present in your water and follow guidelines on how to maintain them. Have it tested every month can be a great maintenance practice since we all know that chemical composition in every area varies.

• Never forget to winterize your pool. Winterizing it protects the structure of the pool that is caused by freezing. Low temperatures causes water to freeze, therefore it expands. When this happens, it can cause problems to the plumbing system, pool finishes and other equipment used. If you do not winterize, it can have drastic effects to the plaster.