meowracer,
From your photos it appears that some of the finish was overwashed.
Yes, the surface can be re-finished. Good luck

We live in Sacramento County, CA. There are two authorized Pebble Tec®/Pebble Sheen®/Pebble Fina® applicators in the county. One is a pool builder, Premier Pools, and the other is Adams Pool Specialties. Adams can build a brand new pool, they also specialize in pool renovations/remodels, or they can be used to do various aspects of a pool for owner-builders. Adams also does a lot of the Pebble Tec®/Pebble Sheen® applications for pools that Premier builds. :-)

Adams is a company that has offices nationwide. There is one in Houston, and they are authorized installers of the Pebble Technology products. They, too, do pool renovations.

In answer to your question, a company like Adams could remove the existing pebble surface, and then apply authentic Pebble Sheen®. I know you are supposed to have black... the Pebble Sheen® that we have is named Black Onyx, and it is the Sheen® equivalent to Black Pearl in Pebble Tec®. In November of last year, Pebble Technology, Inc., released a new color -- in Pebble Tec® it is called Jet Black, and in Pebble Sheen® it's called Black Satin. There are very, very few stones that are not black in this new product color. The ratio of tan and white stones to black in your photos is not appropriate for Black Onyx, and certainly not for Black Satin.

In your second picture, the pebble finish should not be going up between the two tiles. The pebble should meet up to the bottom of the tile, but that's it. There are some areas where you can see little indentations where a pebble had been, but there are also areas that appear never to have had a pebble stuck there.

In your last picture, there is way too much matrix and not enough pebbles. You should barely see any matrix at all. The odd thing is that there are so many indentations where pebbles had been. It's almost as if they pressure washed it too soon after troweling it smooth.

Also, with authentic Pebble Tec® and Pebble Sheen® there is a drying period, which is generally 24 hours, between application and acid wash. The pool-filling process begins right after the acid wash has been completed. BUT, with the Sheen® product, the pebbles are buffed as part of the cleaning process prior to acid washing.

I can understand why you're not happy. I know I wouldn't be, and I would want the surface redone. Does your written contract specify Pebble Sheen®? If so, did you sign a Change Order allowing this other product to be used? If your contract specified Pebble Sheen® and you did not sign a Change Order, I would be insisting that it be redone with Pebble Sheen® immediately.

Oh -- when our Pebble Sheen® was applied, the stuff definitely looked black. After the 24-hour drying period, it was very grey, but the acid wash brought the black back and it's definitely black now.

This is what it looked like while being applied:

meowracer,
I am so sorry. That looks awful. But it can and should be fixed.
We had a bad application of 3M Quartz. They came and demo'd out all the plaster down to the gunite. I would think they would do the same for a pebble product.
Good Luck, Lisa

Thank you to all for the information. There are tons of rocks in the bottom that are loose. When I sweep, you can see them being disturbed at the bottom and settling again, plus you step in them in those places where they rest and your feet actually sink in them. Seems like too many to me to be loose. Our product did not get buffed, which I thought odd since the Sheen does get buffed. They did wait 24 hours for the acid wash. On day one, I asked about the size of the rocks (being much larger than the sample) and the places with no rocks at all. Also had to point out where there was a hole in the corner with nothing (that is their patch with the grey stuff going up the tile). Not much English being spoken on either day so I could not communicate much.

Intersting point about the contract - yes, Pebble Sheen is in the contract. I verbally agreed to the switch b/c I was told this was better and we would not get put off like Modern Method Gunite had done (supposedly they were 9 pools behind). I don't know the whole story - just that. We had been added and removed to and from their schedule a few times due to delays with our pool. It was supposed to be done 2 weeks ago and they were behind so it got put off. We rescheduled for the next Tuesday and it was put off again, that being when they were 9 pools behind. Our builder suggested the other product. I also only have his word that the cost is the same. We paid $5005 for the Sheen and our pool is quite small - less than 10000 gallons. Hmmm - I just decided to look at the contract for size and they have it wrong. Well, that is another story. I think the perimeter measurement is right, which is 94 feet. The deepest part is 5.5 feet. It is about 28 feet long by 9 feet wide - just measured, plus a small sunshelf, about 6X2.

meowracer, sorry to hear about the issues you are having with your pebble finish. I just wanted to mention that we finished our pool about 3 weeks ago. We went with a pool builder who does not use Pebble Tec products, but uses NPT Stonescapes. Basically, just another brand of pebble pool finish. I was somewhat concerned with them not offering Pebble Tec, but they assured us they use NPT because they have only one crew do their pebble finishes and they are consistent and reliable. They mentioned what I have also read on this forum that the job the installers do is more critical than the pebble material used. We were also very concerned with how smooth the mini pebble finish would be. I can say that we are very happy with the job they did and do not regret going with the NPT Stonescapes mini pebble instead of Pebble Tec. My guess is that it isn't so much the product you used as it was the lack of quality work by the installers. By the way, our Stonescapes was not buffed as I've heard Pebble Tec does with the Sheen product and I've noticed no issue with roughness. It was acid washed the day after it was installed. I hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction.

Some loose pebbles are to be expected. The Pebble Technology web site even mentions that, and the written guarantee that we received also mentions it. BUT, from all of the little indentations that can be seen in your photos, you have lost WAY too many pebbles. We did have some loose pebbles, but all in all it was considerably less than a small handful.

Our pool is 19' by 32'; the shallow end is 3.5' deep, and the deepest part is only 5' (I like to be able to walk the length of the pool and still have my head above water). Our perimeter is, I believe, 109'. We did ours as an owner-builder pool and from everything that has been posted here over the years, I know we got a great price on our Pebble Sheen®. We paid $4,690, and that was in 2004.

Yes, a pool plastering company can get really booked up, especially in the summer months. But, I wouldn't think they'd hold it against a pool builder (or an owner-builder) if a pool kept getting put on and pulled off the schedule, unless it repeatedly got pulled off the day of the scheduled application. All they do is call the next pool on their list and tell them they've moved up!

I tend to agree with what Kelly said in your other thread -- that your pool company probably owes them money so they aren't willing to plaster/pebble any more pools for them until they're paid in full.

gd2garden, your pool looks great. I completely agree with your comment about the installers. They were in a hurry, it seemed, and not the least bit concerned with details. I think Stonescapes is something that I have seen, at least it sounds familiar. One day, we will have this all resolved and no more workers here!!

lindsey ca, I am glad to hear the price you paid is comparable to what we were given. I wish I knew if the Satin Matrix was in line with the price of Pebble Sheen. I would say that we could fill at least half a bucket with loose pebbles. I do understand that the companies get backed up, especially with the summer afternoon showers we get here sometimes. I wish we would have waited. Nothing like hindsight :)

I really appreciate the help here. The owner of the pool company will be out tomorrow and at some point, the owner of the Wet Edge installation company.

Here is an overall picture of our pool - still work to do in the back, and clean up in general. Overall, we are thrilled and know that the pebble issues will be resolved one day. I'll keep you posted.

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having. I took a photo for you so you can see how the pebblesheen looks in comparison. Offhand I'd say your pebbles might be 2x larger on average. But from your closeup photo they look nicely rounded and probably would be a bit smoother than the sheen.

BTW, this photo is representative of the finish throughout the pool. Loose pebbles are common the first couple years. My pool's been in two years now and I still sometimes get loose pebbles, although not nearly as much as the first year.

{{!gwi}}

I agree with g2garden, I don't think it's so much the product as it is the intstallers that you have the issue with. I would be very upset too. You have every right to speak up. I hope everything can re resolved soon.

That's good to hear that your builder is standing behind you. IMHO, the real value of pebbletec is the standards to which they hold their installers. Since they've been around for a while, the installers are generally pretty experienced plus you have pebble technologies themselves standing behind their product.

My pool is ocean blue pebblesheen. Here's a photo at midday. It's significantly darker when the sun is lower.

Meowracer, I forgot to type earlier that your pool area looks great! Even though the finish is not righr, wanted to say you have a very nice design! Very sleek & modern looking.

Glad to hear they are willing to re-do it. If it's all the same, I would just go with the Pebble Sheen rather than Wet Edge, I think in the long run it is going to give you the peace of mind you need. I almost went with Wet Edge, ended up going with a different company though & am getting Stonescapes, like g2garden, matter of fact my newly pebbled pool is waiting for me at home! Acid tomorrow!

What a bummer though that you have to drain & start all over again! Ugh!

Chiefneil, You pool is beautiful as well! So jealous of all of these gorgeous pools here, mine is very average.

Chiefneil, I almost did the Ocean Blue - it was my first choice. Then I decided on the black. Your pool is beautiful as are the surroundings. We are trying to use up the rest of our yard so there is only grass where the dogs are. We have a 16' easement so we can't have anything down that is permanent unless we want it torn up on the chance they ever need to dig. It looks like you have some sort of pavers that aren't grouted? Is that right? I like them b/c they don't look like the average pavers - also like the gravel.

Fauxnecian, Thanks for the compliment! I formulated the design in my head for months and knew when I was finished - that is when we built. My husband has little interest in design and lets me run with it so that is fun for me! I'm sure your pool is not average! What pool is, really?? It is a pool in YOUR yard - that is the best part. G2gardens Stonescapes looks great - I know you are excited for yours! Our pool is very small and filled quickly so we were in it that evening (of the day they acid washed it.) We just spashed around and didn't put our heads under to actually swim, but what a feeling to be in the pool finally!! We hope to be able to wait until winter to drain and start over again - you are right though - bummer to start all over. We are thinking of asking the pool company to redo in the Sheen. Lindsey ca mentioned that if we didn't sign a change order (which we didn't), then legally they should do what the orginal contract stated, which was the Sheen.

Lisa sandiego, how long of a process was that for you? Sorry you had to endure it b/c I know it can't be fun. I'm guessing it is in my future too.

Meowracer, your pool is really pretty - very elegant. The water color is great -- and as soon as you have the interior redone you will truly have a FANTASTIC pool.

Wow! Thank you. It took a long time to get it right in my head, then it was a matter of telling the pool company what I wanted and finding the right tiles, waterfall pots. etc. It makes to feel great to hear such a compliment :)

I was also admiring your pool photos in the other thread on dark pebble colors. It looks awesome; you really did a nice job in terms of blending the colors, materials, and design.

Anyway, my pavers are actually travertine. They're set in grout and mortar around the coping and edges of the walkways, and set in sand everywhere else. For a less-permanent setting you can just use border spikes rather than mortar for the edges.

Meowracer, Here is the pool pebbled (from yesterday). I took a close up of the pebble too. It looks like they used the large pebble on yours. Mine still needs to be acid washed (today), so that will be the true test. Fingers crossed!

Fauxnecian - thank you for the pics. That is a big and deep pool! How deep is it? My pebbles were supposed to be the size of yours - yours looks great. You are right - they definitely used the wrong size. Looking at yours and the others in this thread makes it even more evident. Let me know how the acid wash goes and send a pic - Good luck today -

Thanks Meowracer! I think it's at least 10ft, if not 12ft. It hurts your ears to go to the bottom, I know that! The pool contractors were trying to tell me it was 8 ft deep, that was with water in it though. The pool itself I think is roughly 18 x 38, or something close to that. I know it does not meet the current requirement of 20x40, but it's close. There is really next to no shallow end. It drops off real quick.

I will take pics tonight, promise! Looking forward to getting this done.

Meowracer - I'm glad to hear that the PB is standing beside you on this and hopefully soon you will have the finish you expected to!! Your pool looks very nice. Good luck.

Chiefneil - Your pool is gorgeous. The water color, stone, etc. is very nice.