Can Gunite Pools Be Salt Water?

Contrary to popular belief, gunite pools can contain salt water. As a matter of fact, it is okay to use salt water chlorinators in gunite pools. Nonetheless, pool owners often reported the problem that salt water stains the plaster surface in gunite pools. When plaster comes into contact with salt, it erodes. Thus, it could lead to rough surfaces on gunite pools. Even so, this rarely interferes with the concrete underneath it. Let’s look at an in-depth explanation of this concept.

Does salt water lead to staining in gunite pools? #

When you notice stains on a gunite pool using salt water, you would instantly assume that salt is the cause. But here is the thing. Salt, in its pure form, only contains sodium chloride, which does not cause staining of your pool. However, it is rare for salt to be in its pure form. It includes metals like iron and copper that are responsible for staining your pool. The metal iron could lead to red-brown stains on the pool surface. Copper, on the other hand, could lead to a greenish stain on the pool surface. So, salt is not the cause of the pool stains. Furthermore, these stains could have resulted from pipes from the drainage system. Even so, there are a few techniques to incorporate to prevent salt water stains on your gunite pool.

Use a pure form of salt #

Now that you know impurities in salt are the primary cause of pool stains, why not use salt in its pure form? Consider purchasing pure salt that you can use for your pool. Pure salt is smooth and does not have any lumps. Additionally, when adding salt to your pool, do not pour large quantities. When you do this, you increase the chances of undissolved salt settling at the pool’s bottom. Pour small amounts of salt into the pool at regular intervals to allow all the salt to dissolve.

Do not use plaster as your finishing material #

As seen earlier, plaster finishing reacts with impurities in the salt leading to stains. Thus, consider resurfacing your pool with another material. You can use quartz, ceramic tile, and glass tile. This way, you prevent stains from occurring in your pool. These finishing materials are more costly than plaster. Nonetheless, they cut down on your maintenance procedures.

Conclusion #

Ultimately, gunite pools can accommodate salt water chlorinators. However, it would be best if you avoid using plaster as your finishing material. Also, invest in pure salt if the interior surface of your pool is plaster. Your gunite pool can develop stains on the plaster in the presence of salt water. So, change the finish material or use raw salt. As a result, you will enjoy the numerous benefits that come with using a salt water chlorinator and owning a salt water pool.