Cleaning efflorescence off of pool deck

[Sierra Clean Care]

Ok, I’ve got a pool deck I need to clean, and remove efflorescence off of.
The pool was installed in 2016, and besides basic maintenance, has not had a deep clean performed at all.

This is a very important contract for me, as they get me to do a bunch of work for them.

It’s a commercial project, and I need to perform to their standards to keep the relationship alive.

Any suggestions for an acid product that will do the job to a higher standard?

I’ve got the TM, I’ve got the tile tools, I’ve got agitation covered, I just need a chemical that’s going to help make a difficult job easier.

Thank you in advance.

No, I haven’t got photos, as the pool was in heavy use when I looked at it, as in families with young children, I didn’t think it prudent to take photos under those circumstances….

 

[Mike Pailliotet]

Ok, I’ve got a pool deck I need to clean, and remove efflorescence off of.
The pool was installed in 2016, and besides basic maintenance, has not had a deep clean performed at all.

This is a very important contract for me, as they get me to do a bunch of work for them.

It’s a commercial project, and I need to perform to their standards to keep the relationship alive.

Any suggestions for an acid product that will do the job to a higher standard?

I’ve got the TM, I’ve got the tile tools, I’ve got agitation covered, I just need a chemical that’s going to help make a difficult job easier.

Thank you in advance.

No, I haven’t got photos, as the pool was in heavy use when I looked at it, as in families with young children, I didn’t think it prudent to take photos under those circumstances….

Before anybody starts recommending a magic acid or efflorescence remover, we really need a lot more information.


At a minimum, we need:

• Photos
• Exact surface identification — concrete, pavers, natural stone, overlay, stamped concrete, etc.
• How thick the surface is
• How long the white deposits have been showing up
• Whether this is a recent issue or something that has been ongoing for years
• What has already been tried
• Whether sprinklers, drip systems, or irrigation are hitting it regularly
• Whether the only water source is pool splash-out, or if there are other moisture sources
• What the drainage is like underneath
• Whether this is a valley location, hillside, high groundwater area, always-damp area, etc.

Around a pool, you have constant water exposure plus cementitious materials that can contain calcium and other soluble minerals. Then you may have mortar, thinset, fill material, soil conditions, irrigation, groundwater, drainage problems, or chronic moisture movement from below. That is exactly why efflorescence is not a simple “spray this on it and rinse it off” problem.


In other words, this is not just about chemistry. It is about where the moisture is coming from, what salts are present, how the surface is built, and whether the problem is active or just residual from the past.


So in my opinion, giving a blind recommendation like, “Use product X, scrub it, and rinse,” without photos and site details would be irresponsible. On the wrong surface, or in the wrong conditions, that advice could make things worse, not better.


And to be blunt, if this is a major commercial account and the goal is to protect an important referral relationship, this is probably not the kind of job to walk into with a truckmount, tile tools, and an acid suggestion from the internet while still trying to figure out what the surface even is.


The better approach is:


Document it first. Identify the surface. Identify the moisture source. Identify prior attempts. Then decide whether this is a cleaning issue, a mineral-deposit issue, a moisture-migration issue, or all three.


Until then, any chemical recommendation is guesswork.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

"No, I haven’t got photos, as the pool was in heavy use when I looked at it, as in families with young children, I didn’t think it prudent to take photos under those circumstances…."

That was prudent Jeff, especially with children present.

I would recommend that you go back when the place is quiet and when there is good lighting to get the photos.

I echo Mike's recommendations (without his renowned bluntness of course), and you're just the person for this job. I remember your willingness to be up before the sunrise to meet me in the lobby of the place we stayed for a class, and your analytical nature.

Take that combination of prudence (see above comment about time and place for photos), thoroughness, and analytical strength and do the investigations that Mike recommended. The place should appreciate your concerns, and your chance of getting the problem solved to everyone's satisfaction will be far greater for the effort.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with their pool person and ask if they can help identify specific issues. Now you're going the extra mile.