Looked at a job today that they want me to provide a quote for it’s a paver patio clean and the concrete pool deck around the pool. The pool deck seems pretty straight forward pre treat, turbo and Sc rinse and post treat. Same goes for pavers, pre treat sc and wand rinse and post. I explained to the home owner about some sand might get removed and they should look into having some more installed but I can’t tell if these pavers have failing sealer on them or not.
What’s that white stuff on pool deck.? Looks like failed sealer.
I’m not sure. I don’t have a lot of concrete experience. We don’t have much around here. My experience stops at a few front walkways and some front steps. I would like to learn though. Does the concrete look problematic to you
be careful
In the top picture you posted the liner is either cracking, or just came off the top lip/bead and needs retucked. The white edge on the pool is either quite worn and needs repainted, or just dirty, can’t tell. If you run your surface cleaner over the edge they clean up well. If it has been repainted, you have a big chance of flaking the new paint off… Since you don’t know much about these, be careful around that solar cover with any pressure, it will shred. I don’t know what other people will say, but as a guy who helps out the pool guys building and relining pools, that bead seperating could be signs of other problems with the pool. It’s vinyl and the expand and contract with the water pressure/weight/heat. Might just be a retuck, might have other issues. Can’t tell without lots of other pics.
Between the filter system and the chems, the pool will self clean all the dirty water you would put in it, however, try to push the dirtywater away from the pool. If the owner comes out or watches on video big black clouds being pushed into the pool they will cry. When we open pools they are sometimes filthy green, but run the filter and put in some chems and clean and clear after a bit. We opened one last week where the water was black, like coffee, the full time guy said it would clean just fine with chems and the filter.
An inground liner, just so you know, has to be measured when the pool is empty, and they cost thousands. You couldn’t get liners last year, there was shortage and people just ran their pools anyway which could cause other problems.
I know you are just trying to clean the deck, but owners are funny animals. They sometimes blame others for issues they knew about or should have known about. I know enough to know what to look at when someone says come clean my pool deck. I’ve done pool decks, wooden above ground and concrete decks and told customers that their pool was going to collapse/liner was bad/other problems. Sometimes they were legitimately unaware. They have guys that do all that…when they call them.
So since I don’t have much concrete experience do you think I should pass on the job? It’s the pool deck and his paver patio which is like 60ft by 20ft. Ide like to do the job and learn but I don’t want to mess up his pool / patio or get blamed for something I didn’t do. Also I mentioned the solar cover was in the way he said he can remove it and move it out of the way
I’m not trying to scare you, I just wanted to let you know there is a small issue and potentially other issues. Let them know that maybe they should call their pool person. Most of them are grateful that you spotted a problem. Like I said, it could just be a 5 minute retuck. I wouldn’t pass on it, I would put it in my estimate and take pics. Every pool estimate says that some dirty water is going in the pool, but it shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t use that as a lame excuse for not trying to push the dirty water away, but if they pitch the crete towards the pool you get what you get. Every estimate says that I am not responsible for preexisiting damage.
Unless you use excessive pressure and damage the concrete, it is pretty hard to mess up. I try not to use high pressure of any type by the pool edge/skimmer covers. I am still learning, and I just asked racer a question yesterday about making my pool decks better. We were all new at one time, we all learn from our mistakes (hopefully).
Anyway, I just thought I’d mention it. I’m actually procrastinating right now, I have to cut the remainder of my field and don’t want to do it. If you haven’t watched it and you have time, watch racers concrete cleaning video. It is only 16 hours long 
but has a ton of helpful info in it.
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Thanks I appreciate the information. I have a 4gpm machine I was planning on useing the want with a turbo nozzle from a distance around the end he close to the pool then SC the rest I have it set up for about 2000psi maybe a little less I have 25030. I explained to the customer I’ll try to keep as much water from the pool as possible but he understands it’s impossible to completely avoid it. In person it looks pretty well pitched away from the pool.
How about the pavers ? Does anything catch your eye? Do they look like they have failing sealer? I explained to him some joint sand might come up and that I don’t replace it. Again please someone corrected me if I’m wrong but it also seems pretty hard to mess up as long as I don’t hit it with really high pressure
Also I know your costs are different but for reference purpose what would you charge for this
Your asking a lot in a short bit. I’m waiting for the rain to end so I can burn stuff without burning down my field, so I will take the time to answer your question.
I’ll say it again, everyone is new at one point. I’m still learning and asking questions. I’m not busting your chops, but you have asked questions on here about jobs that you are estimating. Maybe it is the way you are phrasing it, but it gives the impression that you are experimenting on customers homes. How can you wash/clean something without knowing the basics? Do some more research. I read for months before I started, asked a ton of questions, and I experimented on lots of things.
Since you are doing a variety of work, make yourself up a little estimate kit. Put a rag(s), a tape measure, some denatured alcohol in a spray bottle, water in a spray bottle, or whatever other testing chems you use for different jobs in a bucket/box/tub. Research on what you need. Take it with you to the estimate. Always test in an inconspicuous area and get permission to do that.
This will save you one bit of research. How do you test anything to see if it is sealed? I don’t know what other people do, but I apply water. I do this on wood, and I also do it on other substrates. If the water goes into the porous substrate it hasn’t been sealed or the sealer failed. If it doesn’t penetrate (beads or lays on top) then it is sealed. This is the bascis for a porous substrate. Concrete is porous. Most pavers are porous. Pavers can be made out of lots of materials, and not all pavers are the same. Me, If I was concerned that there was sealer on the pavers, I would have dumped my 5 gallon bucket of junk out, walked over to the pool, dipped my bucket in there, then poured that pool water around on the pavers and waited to see.
Your question on concrete price is hard to answer. Basically, with no special work I am at .10 a sq ft for flatwork. I don’t know how you run a surface cleaner over pavers, remove the sand, and not put it back. Seems janky to me. It’s just sand, a broom and water. Work the price of that material and labor into your estimate.
Maybe during your downtime or offseason go work with some masons or read stuff online. I didn’t know jack about pools until I worked with the pool guys. I get a bit of work from the pool people.
Just one old fat guys .02 and worth everything you paid for it. Now I am logging off to go burn stuff. How do I burn stuff after a rain? Gas baby, lots of gas or diesel fuel. And boom goes the dynamite.
