Fish Room and Indoor Pond 24' by 7' by 4'

[AW7020]

The indoor pond was affected by this problem on 3 sides.

Closer look at the activities and the workers not looking too pleased having to do this another time.

 

[AW7020]

More pics of the re work by the workers.

A good look at the long side of the pond which was completely removed at least down to the pond floor base level. Look at pic 4 to see what i mean.

 

[AW7020]

More Repair work this time finishing up with the final white cement coat.
Aaaagh... have to refill with water next week for another test.

Till then cheers.

 

[kumdoalan]

at this point, I wish there was some type of bonding agent that you could put on the walls before you replaster.

From the photos it sure looks like you are banging off and replastering most all of the wall along that side, if thats the case then this is just like many swimming pools that also have to be replastered after their first attempt at plastering fails.
The plaster must have swelled up right?
Perhaps because the plaster "brown" coat sucked in water and expanded ?

If the 2nd attempt also fails to bond-
I dont own a pond or swimming pool, but it seems to me that if I needed to fix a problem like this in my own pond or pool I would try to get the first plaster 'scratch" coat to hang on the walls as best I could.
From what i have been reading about fixing pools with this same common problem the first scratch coat is key to getting the plaster to stay stuck to the under layer of blocks.


Perhaps I would nail or screw on some type of metal mesh to the walls so that the scratch coat of plaster has something to hang on to.
http://www.metal-mesh.org/expandedwiremesh/expanded-metal/wall-plaster-mesh.html

or as in-
http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Librar...h_Three_Coat_Plaster-Plaster_Walls-A1921.html

But, in the end, if nothing works you always have the idea to call in a guy who does roofs and he could water proof the whole thing with a hot tar liner of some form or another...

 

[AW7020]

at this point, I wish there was some type of bonding agent that you could put on the walls before you replaster.

From the photos it sure looks like you are banging off and replastering most all of the wall along that side, if thats the case then this is just like many swimming pools that also have to be replastered after their first attempt at plastering fails.
The plaster must have swelled up right?
Perhaps because the plaster "brown" coat sucked in water and expanded ?

If the 2nd attempt also fails to bond-
I dont own a pond or swimming pool, but it seems to me that if I needed to fix a problem like this in my own pond or pool I would try to get the first plaster 'scratch" coat to hang on the walls as best I could.
From what i have been reading about fixing pools with this same common problem the first scratch coat is key to getting the plaster to stay stuck to the under layer of blocks.


Perhaps I would nail or screw on some type of metal mesh to the walls so that the scratch coat of plaster has something to hang on to.
http://www.metal-mesh.org/expandedwiremesh/expanded-metal/wall-plaster-mesh.html

or as in-
http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Librar...h_Three_Coat_Plaster-Plaster_Walls-A1921.html

But, in the end, if nothing works you always have the idea to call in a guy who does roofs and he could water proof the whole thing with a hot tar liner of some form or another...

Thanks Kumdoalan for the great suggestions. Went through this with the contractor so if it happen again they will have to do more drastic repair methods.

one of the other suggestion was to use the epoxy sealer type of finish common in our area for use on factory floors. very tough material with a bit of flex and also water proof. however cost quite a bit. that would be another option.

till then cheers. and keep your inputs coming.

 

[kumdoalan]

one of the other suggestion was to use the epoxy sealer type of finish common in our area for use on factory floors. .

Yes, the plaster must not have been waterproof and as the plaster sucked in water from the pond it swelled up and popped free of the wall.

I see the point of adding a waterproofing coating on top of the plaster.

If this second attempt fails, or if you do decide to go with the epoxy you might check to make sure the stuff can be used on a wall.

Some floor epoxy are "self-leveling" and Im not sure they would work at all on a wall.
see - http://www.epoxy.com/1004.htm

 

[The Amazonian]

Amazing Project!!!

 

[bmxer4ever]

Just read the whole thread from start to finish - great project!
Sorry to see your having problems with the final coat - I'm sure you'll find a solution. Always annoying when you get so close to completion only to take it apart again!
Good luck with it.
G

 

[kumdoalan]

I have been doing GOOGLE searches about the way to plaster a pond and I have seen on some ponds that they fill the pond with water the very same day they plaster it!
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29792&page=8
In the pond of my link they actually filled the pond up with water just 6 hours after plastering the pond.
Also in that pond they had just one leak after another and there were big issues with the plastering that caused the whole bottom' plaster to be hammered off and re-plastered.(sorta like with your pond's walls)

So from what i have been learing , needing to hammer off the plaster of a pond is nothing new and is just something that can happen to any guy's pond.

I read about this problem on other sites and it seems very important with some pond type plaster that it be kept wet, even kept underwater so that it cures in a correct manner.

I also learned about bonding new plaster to the older stuff, and there are some products that they use to help with a good bond.

 

[AW7020]

Amazing Project!!!

Thank you

Yes, the plaster must not have been waterproof and as the plaster sucked in water from the pond it swelled up and popped free of the wall.

I see the point of adding a waterproofing coating on top of the plaster.

If this second attempt fails, or if you do decide to go with the epoxy you might check to make sure the stuff can be used on a wall.

Some floor epoxy are "self-leveling" and Im not sure they would work at all on a wall.
see - http://www.epoxy.com/1004.htm

Just read the whole thread from start to finish - great project!
Sorry to see your having problems with the final coat - I'm sure you'll find a solution. Always annoying when you get so close to completion only to take it apart again!
Good luck with it.
G

Your fingers must be throughly exercised by now. Thanks for doing all the reading. I guess the problem are normal and hopefully curable..

I have been doing GOOGLE searches about the way to plaster a pond and I have seen on some ponds that they fill the pond with water the very same day they plaster it!
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29792&page=8
In the pond of my link they actually filled the pond up with water just 6 hours after plastering the pond.
Also in that pond they had just one leak after another and there were big issues with the plastering that caused the whole bottom' plaster to be hammered off and re-plastered.(sorta like with your pond's walls)

So from what i have been learing , needing to hammer off the plaster of a pond is nothing new and is just something that can happen to any guy's pond.

I read about this problem on other sites and it seems very important with some pond type plaster that it be kept wet, even kept underwater so that it cures in a correct manner.

I also learned about bonding new plaster to the older stuff, and there are some products that they use to help with a good bond.

Wow great efforts here mate. Would have to remember those options should the problem crop up after the repairs are tested.