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How to repair a PebbleCrete pool?

Hi, I have a repair job for my Pebble Crete in ground concrete pool. Does Bunnings sell any Pebble Crete product for this type of job. I'm planning to cut out the Pebble Crete and concrete substrate in an area of 15cm by 9cm then reinstate the concrete to below the current surface and finish the cut out with a Pebble Crete topping. I've done this before many years ago very successfully but I cant for the life of me remember where I got the Pebble Crete finish.

It will need to be somewhat waterproof ( although I can waterproof the Pebble Crete with glue/sealer additive if needed) and it needs to fill to depth of about 2 or 3cms.

Any ideas or advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers John

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Comments

EricL

Hello @JCav

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about repairing the pebblecrete near your pool.

I'm sorry but the Pebblecrete Re-surfacer is no longer available.

Would it be possible for you to post a photo of the damaged area you're trying to repair? This will give our members a chance to assess the condition of the pebblecrete. We can then make recommendations on how to possibly repair the damage.

One of the drawbacks of pebblecrete is that they tend to deteriorate individually or in large chunks. Is the damage limited to that area or has it started showing up randomly around the pool area? How old is the pebblecrete cover around the pool?

I propose thinking about the possibility of changing your pebblecrete cover into Brighton Masonry 200 x 200 x 50mm Charcoal Mypave Paver. It's a much more stable product and because of its standard size can be replaced easily.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/27295#Comment_27295

Thank you EricL for your reply.

It seems ridiculous that pool builders are still advocating a Pebble Crete surface as a possible option for pool surfaces when it can never be repaired in the future and will need a complete removal for any type of repair no matter how minor the repair.

A warning to other future pool owners. If the pool builder suggests a Pebble Crete finish sack him and get another pool builder.

I guess I'll have to look for another option. If any one has any ideas?

Thanks anyway EricL, all the best.

John

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/76286#Comment_76286

Hello John (@JCav)

There is always the option of doing a traditional pebblecrete patch with mortar. The general steps are to mix a batch of mortar along with some Tuscan Path 5kg 4-6mm Natural Mixed Decorative Pebbles. You then lay the mix over the repair area and use a large tile sponge to wipe off the surface of the mortar to reveal the pebbles. It won't have the same look as your current pebblecrete, but it's an alternative that you can try.

Let me call on our experienced members @Adam_W and @Dave-1 for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102031#Comment_102031

@JCav @EricL

🙂 I was reading this yesterday and thinking about your issue and how you could get around it.

I have a repaired a patio previously with a bunnings repair kit also (read 15ish years ago) and was surprised there isnt easy kits available as there are still a LOT of pebblecrete surfaces out there. As far as I know the patio fix is still going strong.

I just had a look on google and This company popped up. And they mention pebblecrete surfaced pools! Ive never used them so cannot say how good they are but there are a bunch of FAQ's that sound interesting. Pebblekits

Always feel odd posting outside links but think options are always good to have.

Dave

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102031#Comment_102031

Thanks Eric,

The mortar patch with 6mm pebbles won't work. The pebble size for PebbleCrete is generally less than3mm, a 6mm pebble blend would look totally out of character. but thanks anyway.

John

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118015#Comment_118015

Great minds think alike Dave.

I did an internet search yesterday and after a lot false web-sites (companies advertising they are in Australia when they're in Asia somewhere) I came across the Pebblekits site (www.pebblekits.com.au). Ive been in contact with them and they have been very helpful. I have order a kit (they have given advise which kit would suit my pool surface) and I should receive it early next week (free shipping) They are listed somewhere on the Gold Coast (ABN lookup). I'll give details on this post about the process etc once I've completed my project.

Like you I was very surprised Bunnings no longer provides those kits, especially with so many PebbleCrete surfaces (pool's, patio's, walkways etc) but I guess it all boils down to profits.

Thanks for your reply Dave.

John

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/127351#Comment_127351

I will ask Eric to pass on your feedback to the Bunnings merchandise team @JCav.

There could be lots of different reasons why the team no longer stock a particular type of product, including suppliers not being able to supply the volume required, insufficient customer demand, or customers consistently providing feedback that a product didn't meet their expectations.

All the best with your repair.

Jason

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133495#Comment_133495

Thanks Jason,

The official line given initially by Bunnings spokesman about why they no longer hold this PebbleCrete repair product was almost verbatim to your explanation.

Cheers

John

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/27295#Comment_27295

Thanks for your reply Eric,

The area I'm trying to repair is due to a rust blow out from the Rio bar. that was installed into the underlying concrete base.

Its a very small area no bigger than a 50cent size. but it entails cutting out the pebblecrete and concrete base possibly 15cm x 9cm rectangle, then cutting out the Rio bar rusted section and re cementing the base and patching the pebblecrete. The rest of the pool is OK, so I don't want to spend thousands on removing it all and recovering it.

Cheers John

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/76333#Comment_76333

Hi @JCav

Have you thought about adding a feature tile to cover the area you'll be cutting? For example, instead of just digging away at the damage, I propose cutting the repair site to the same size as a 200x200 tile. Once the repair has been accomplished, I suggest putting in a Decor8 200 x 200mm Barcelona Sorrento Ocean Matt Floor Tile as a kind of enhancement to the pebblecrete surround.

If you find the right tile to compliment your pebblecrete, it should look like that it belongs there and not feel out of place. It should also make a good conversation starter.

Eric

JCav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102062#Comment_102062

Thanks for the reply Eric.

I think a tile (no matter how well it matched) would look terribly out of place in the middle of a pool wall, But thanks anyway for the suggestion.

John

ellhawthorn

Hey there!

I just came across your post and it really resonated with me—it sounds very similar to the issue we’ve had with our pebblecrete pool. Ours is over 30 years old and kidney-shaped, with a wading pool at one end. The area between the main pool and the wading pool, specifically the wall of the wading pool, was where we first noticed rust.

At first, we didn’t think much of it, but eventually realized what it actually was. My mum did a lot of research to find someone who specializes in repairing pebblecrete pools. Most of them said she’d need to redo the entire pool. Thankfully, we found someone willing to come out and repair just the rusted spot.

Unfortunately, not long after the repair, the rust reappeared.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/57293#Comment_57293

Hello @ellhawthorn

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.

I suspect that the steel reo reinforcing bar inside the concrete wall is leaching rust out to the surface of your pebblecrete. I'm surprised that the repair person did not pick up on this and treated and sealed the section first before covering it back with pebblecrete. If the repair came with a warranty, I suggest speaking to the installer and asking them about the rust reappearing on the surface.

Unless the source of the leaking rust is treated, cleaning or patching will only be a temporary fix.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with. please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/90952#Comment_90952

Good Afternoon @ellhawthorn

Do you have any photos of the repairs in progress of the wall? Its an interesting mark and I have been trying to figur out why it only appears in that one spot? Do you know what product they used?

Another question that comes to mind, did the repeairer remove any of the old pebblecrete?

Dave

ellhawthorn

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/111424#Comment_111424

Thank you for your reply guys!!

They drained the wading pool, jackhammered the concrete, and cut out the rusted reo. I thought/hoped the remaining reo edges were treated, but it's unclear if that happened. The hole was filled with a plastic emulsion mixed with a pebble blend-it looked great initially, but unfortunately, it's starting to rust again.

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/123140#Comment_123140

Good Morning @ellhawthorn

Well that does sound like the way to do the job properly, Is it rusting in the same spot? I think if they had gone to the hassel of jack hammering the concrete out, surely they would have waterproofed anything that needed doing. If its rusting in the same spot is there anything above that area?

My first step would be to contact the company that did the repair, having the issue show up after they did the repair within a few years is dissapointing at the very least. You could also ask them what the process was with the repair?

Dave

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