We tell our clients verbally and in our contracts that plaster finishes will have color variations.

The sample chip you probably were given, when choosing a color, is just a 2x2 sample and closely represents the finished product.

Most finishes like yours, must be exposed after application with either a light acid wash or a vigorous brushing with water. This is done to remove the creamy haze inherent in all plaster finishes.

In time your finish will begin to be consistent.

My preference is to utilize water trucks to fill our pools as the water is part of the curing process.

Filling with a garden allows the plaster to be exposed for too a long a period and in my opinion not allowing it to cure properly. Sometimes spider cracks or crazing develop because of this.

It does not necessarily mean the plaster is cracked through, it means the lack of moisture allowed the surface to dry too quickly and the plaster shrinks which develops the cracks.

How did your pool turn out? we are looking at the same