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tcupp_gw

Diamond Brite Finish

18 years ago

We installed a pool and spa last Aug. with Diamond Brite Finish. We love the Pearl color on the beach entry, but the Cool Blue on the rest of the pool and spa have streaks. The PB did an acid bath two weeks ago. We brushed and brushed to remove the "cream" coat. However, the finish looks no different. PB doesn't want to do another acid bath. Any advice? Has anyone else had this trouble with Diamond Brite. Paid $5600.00 for this product and not satisfied.

Comments (9)

  • 18 years ago

    The diamond brite should have been acid washed the day it was installed (prior to fill up) this takes care of 90% of the cream..Then the pool should have had an aggressive start up (6 gal of acid per 10k of water ) and brushed for 3-4 days to remove the remaining cream. If done properly this works excellent everytime.

  • 18 years ago

    We have Diamond Brite also (in French Grey). And while I like the blue color of it, ours also appears to have some pretty bad streaking on the bottom. Our pool was just finished a few weeks ago, so I am not sure if it will wash out eventually. Our PB tells us it will even out. But if you are still seeing that after a year, I am a bit worried now. I will ask our PB about the streaking again and see what he says. Maybe this is a problem with Diamond Brite in general??

    As a side note, I am also beginning to see some small round "rusty" looking spots on the bottom -- mainly in the shallow end. I tried to scrub them off w/ the brush but they won't come off. All chemical levels seem good, so I am fairly certain it is not from that (FC=3; TC=3; pH=7.4; Alk=65; CYA=60; Copper=0; Iron=0; Hardness=300; TDS=300). And there are no metal items in our pool at all so I don't know what it could be from. Maybe another flaw of the Diamond Brite starting to appear?? Do you get this also with your Diamond Brite?

  • 18 years ago

    The streaking is caused by the surface not being exposed properly..it will not even out, that is what the builder is telling you to keep you off his back.
    There is not a problem with the product, just some applicators do a much better job of applying and exposing the surface. The only way to get streaks out is to drain & acid wash,but it must be done by a highly trained crew to not over expose the rest of the pool.

  • 18 years ago

    No brown rusty spots, just streaks. I too was told to keep brushing to remove the cream to even out the color. First brush wore out and PB brought me a stronger brush. It was dark when the crew came out to do the acid washing before the first fill. My guess they couldn't see what they were doing. Our PB did not drain our pool for the acid bath. He added acid to the water. If we drain the pool and acid wash again would that compromise the length of time the diamondbrite will last? The SGM rep. came by and told us along with PB to do the acid bath.

  • 18 years ago

    I had cool blue Diamond Brite installed 12 days ago and we were told to brush it lightly (just the weight of the brush) 3 times a day for 7 days. We didn't come close to wearing out the brush.

    I posted pictures and a link to the installation guide here but I think it's worth posting the link the the installation manual again on this thread because it's just as relevant: sgm.cc/download/installationmanual-DiamondBrite.pdf

  • 18 years ago

    Your pool looks great. Is there any difference when the sun is not out? Thanks for the info. Talked to PB today. They are talking to the reps. at SGM on advice of what to do. Doesn't sound like they have this sort of thing happen alot with Diamondbrite. They have been in busy since 1972. PB agrees there is a problem. After doing some research, including installation manual, our problem was with the finishers not removing 90% of the cream. All I saw them do was use a pump sprayer. Again it was dark when they were doing this. We didn't know what they were doing. If they can't figure out what to do, I am not sure what we will do. My first thought is asking for some of the $5600.00 back. Anybody had any luck with that?

  • 18 years ago

    tcupp,
    I'm not sure how to answer your question about how it looks when the sun is not out.

    dark? :)

    I would say it looks the similar but with less shimmer.

    GB

  • 18 years ago

    GB-
    I was wondering if you could see any streaks when the sun is not out. Our finish looks much better in the sun. It is early morning or on cloudy days when you can really see the streaks. Thanks for your imput.

  • 18 years ago

    Tcupp, During the first week I saw strange things at dusk but it seems fine now.