My Pool Waterline Tile Is Looking Crusty And Scaly.



My Pool Waterline Tile Is Looking Crusty And Scaly.
Image result for picture of pool waterline tile scale cleaning before and afterWhy?  What Can I Do?

Question:  My pool waterline tile is looking crusty and scaley, but the last time it was cleaned, it looked like it scratched the tile.  Can you clean it without scratching it?  Why is it building up so much when it was just cleaned three years ago?

Answer:  Yes, new techniques and materials and technical skill, make all the difference!!!  The pool water contains minerals, in our heat, the water evaporates but the minerals do not leave the pool.  The minerals tend to cling to the waterline tile and make a scaly deposit on the tile. 

The old way to clean was to use acid and pumice stone to scratch off.  This did of course also scratch the tile surface which was a small price to pay to get rid of the scale.

Please note:  The grout and thin set that hold on the waterline tile on, have a ten to 15 year life expectancy.  That means we have to make sure your tiles are on and strong before we begin.  You can usually do three to five cleanings before the tile becomes too fragile to clean and needs to be replaced.

For pool/spa waterline tile cleaning:  The new method of cleaning uses high pressure bead peening to strip, clean, and  polish the pool/spa tiles.  This is a very labor intensive job, since the technician has to stand using a pencil thin type of want and just slowly and consistently work his way around the entire pool and spa.  A commercial tile sealer is used after cleaning, to seal the tile and grout to protect it from new build-up of minerals on the tile surface.  Tile cleaning should be done every 3-4 years depending on the mineral content of your water in your area.  It also helps to drain your pool every year since this is the only way to empty out the minerals.  When a water conservancy program is on, then this is of course not possible, and you may have to clean tiles more often.

For pool/spa natural stone cleaning:  Cleaning is done using high pressure silica sand to clean the stone without stripping the color from the stone.  A penetrating rock and stone sealer is used to seal the stone after cleaning.  Care is especially critical with natural stone cleaning.  If the wrong product is used to clean the stone, it will forever take out the color and beauty of the stone.  Make sure the proper technique and materials are use.

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