# Problems guides

> What goes wrong: independent, numbers-first guidance from Pool Resurfacing Guide.

Canonical: https://poolresurfacingguide.com/problems/

Last updated: 2026-11-08

## Symptoms first, quotes second

Most expensive pool resurfacing mistakes start with a symptom described to a salesperson. The table maps the common symptoms to their usual cause — the diagnosis a contractor should confirm before quoting.

 |  | Symptom | Usual cause

 | Rough or pitted plaster | Age and water chemistry

 | Staining | Metals, algae or organic debris

 | Delamination | Poor bond or moisture

 | Leaks at fittings | Cracked plaster around returns

 | Calcium scaling | High pH and hardness

## What to document

- Photographs with something for scale, taken at the same angle over time.

- Dates: when it started, whether it changes with weather.

- Water: where it goes, where it pools, what it damages.

- Previous work: who did it, when, and with what material.

## What not to do first

Do not accept a repair scope before the cause is named. Patching a symptom is how the same problem returns next season with a bigger invoice. The [methods hub](/methods/) explains what each fix addresses; the [cost hub](/cost/) shows what it should cost.

### When is it an emergency?

When water is entering the structure, when something is structurally unstable, or when a safety system has failed. Everything else can wait for a second opinion.

### Should I get an independent inspection?

For anything structural or over about $5,000, yes. A few hundred dollars for an independent report is cheaper than a wrong scope.

## Guides in Problems

- [Calcium scaling: how to prevent it with saturation control](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/calcium-scaling-prevention/)
- [Calcium scaling: repair options for tile and plaster](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/calcium-scaling-repair/)
- [Calcium scaling: warning signs on tile, plaster, and water](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/calcium-scaling-signs/)
- [Delamination: how to prevent plaster lifting from the.](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/delamination-prevention/)
- [Delamination: repair options from patching to chip-out](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/delamination-repair/)
- [Delamination: warning signs](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/delamination-signs/)
- [Fibreglass maintenance: keeping gelcoat sound](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/fibreglass-maintenance/)
- [Fibreglass problems: blisters, crazing, lifting](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/fibreglass-problems/)
- [Leaks at fittings: how to prevent them from starting](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/leaks-at-fittings-prevention/)
- [Leaks at fittings: repair options and what each one fixes](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/leaks-at-fittings-repair/)
- [Leaks at fittings: the warning signs and the bucket test](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/leaks-at-fittings-signs/)
- [Pebble maintenance: a realistic weekly routine](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/pebble-maintenance/)
- [Pebble problems: what actually fails and why](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/pebble-problems/)
- [Plaster maintenance: the routine that reaches 12 years](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/plaster-maintenance/)
- [Plaster problems: what each symptom means and costs](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/plaster-problems/)
- [Quartz maintenance: the first month and after](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/quartz-maintenance/)
- [Quartz problems: mottling, grit, cracks, and fixes](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/quartz-problems/)
- [Rough or pitted plaster: preventing the dissolution](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/rough-or-pitted-plaster-prevention/)
- [Rough or pitted plaster: repair options and what holds](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/rough-or-pitted-plaster-repair/)
- [Rough or pitted plaster: the warning signs to check](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/rough-or-pitted-plaster-signs/)
- [Signs Your Pool Needs Resurfacing](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/signs-pool-needs-resurfacing/)
- [Staining: how to prevent it from coming back](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/staining-prevention/)
- [Staining: repair options for metal, organic, and scale.](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/staining-repair/)
- [Staining: warning signs that tell you the cause](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/staining-signs/)
- [Vinyl liner maintenance: the routine that adds years](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/vinyl-liner-maintenance/)
- [Vinyl liner problems: wrinkles, tears, and floating liners](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/vinyl-liner-problems/)
- [Pool Resurfacing Maintenance Schedule](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/pool-resurfacing-maintenance/)
- [Pool Resurfacing Repair: When It Is Worth It](https://poolresurfacingguide.com/pool-resurfacing-repair/)