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Pool Prep

You really don't have to read any of the 5-pages of these instructions. As soon as your pool is empty we give you instructions every step of the way but you must call us. When water is going in your pool it is once again your pool not ours. Today our failures are far less than 1 1/2 percent. This is because we hold your hand and stay with you every step. Once you have placed your order, we give you a hotline phone number. We are available 7 days a week even on holdidays.

ULTRA GUARD 6000

Call Steve before you prep because all pools have different prep problems and before you open any buckets.

During your application you must call the office at least 5 times or more if necessary to receive a control number, which is part of your warranty. Without a control number you will not have a warranty. You will receive your control number when you finish your project.

888-639-7695 if busy 231-881-6921

ULTRAGUARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPLICATION
When you receive the product keep in the house at a temperature of 70 degrees prior to application

Section 1: Introduction

1.1 The restoration of the swimming pool surface will meet the manufacturer's criteria for the proper application of UltraGuard.

The procedures outlined in these recommendations apply to all concrete steel, fiberglass swimming pools, spas and fountains.

Section 2: Preliminary Preparation

2.1 All pools should be drained away from the pool itself, not in immediate area.
Utilize storm drains when available.

2.2 If necessary, groundwater should be stabilized by removing the hydrostatic plug at the bottom of the drain. It may be necessary to install a plug if one is not available when the job is complete. It may also be necessary to install an overhead well point if groundwater is higher than 24 inches above the pool bottom.

2.3 Remove or cover any hardware, hardware accessories, plates, light fixtures, or other similar equipment to avoid contact with the epoxy compound.

Section 3: Surface Preparation

Every pool is different when prepping. Every pool is unique with its own problems. We do not know until after the first procedure of prep can we tell you what is next. Listed below 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 are the basic instructions but cannot always be used in the order it is typed.

3.1 Surface preparation is the most important step in the application of UltraGuard coating. Improper surface preparation is responsible for most of the problems. As much care as possible must be taken to insure good surface preparation.
It is recommended that a key grove be installed under the coping or tile only if more than one (1) topcoat is applied.

We do not today recommend the offensive, harsh muriatic acid and TSP. UltraGuard has the exclusive concrete cleanser that will stop hydration, osmosis that will change the bad calcium that all concrete has to the good calcium. All this can be done in one step, and you do not have to wear a mask.

3.2 Before applying UltraGuard, the entire surface must be thoroughly cleaned
using muriatic acid and a high pressure power washer to remove any loose marcite, dirt, grease, oil, release agents, or other surface contaminants or residue. In some cases, a diluted solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water can be used to remove stubborn oil and greases. As mentioned on our website there are 10 ways pool coatings fail. Every pool is unique and different as far as problems. Once your pool is empty we will give you the first step of your prep. Once you have accomplished this you will call us and tell us what happened at that time of prep and we will then give you the next step. REMEMBER YOU MUST CALL US FOR EVERY STEP OF YOUR PREP OR YOU WILL NOT GET A CONTROL NUMBER AND NO GUARANTEE.

3.3 Thoroughly inspect the surface area to determine the extent of any damage or
degradation in the existing cementitious surface. Check for hollow spots, cracks and any other defects. Call your local concrete store and ask if they have Acryl 60 a 5-gallon bucket and white Portland cement. Go to Home Depot and buy a 50 lb. bag of playground sand in the seasonable department. This must be a light tan sand. You will need a window screen. Now go to the concrete dept. and buy a pool trowel which has rounded corners, also buy a cheap sponge, a hawk and a 2 ft. squeeze. Buy 2 - 1 gallon buckets and 3 - 5 gallon buckets then go to the dry wall dept. and buy a mud paddle. A mud paddle is flat; rectangular and looks like a picture frame with a long stem that goes on the end of you drill. All repairs to the surface should be sanded or ground smooth so that the repaired area does not show through the epoxy topcoat. Do not do any of the above steps until you call us before starting, as soon as the pool is empty. If your pool surface is rough call us so we can tell you which material to use and how to apply it.

Condensation Test: To determine whether or not your pool is dry you should perform the condensation test. To perform the test, get 4 - 2ft x 2ft patches of a clear piece of plastic and some duct tape. Place one piece at the bottom drain, one on the slope, one on the shallow end and one on the wall. The duct tape should be applied around the entire perimeter of the plastic so no air gets underneath it. The plastic should be in the sun for 4 to 5 hours. If condensation forms then your pool is still moist, if it does not you should be able to coat your pool. If you have an indoor pool you must call us for additional information.

Section 4: Application of UltraGuard Primer/Hardener Only

To apply the bond coat to the pool two (2) people should apply this coating.

4.1 Thoroughly tape and cover areas that are not rolled with the coating material (tile, returns, pool light, etc.) to insure that these areas are adequately protected against accidental spillage.

The tile glaze (gloss) must be covered with either duct tape or 1" fiberglass strapping tape (found in Staples) and blue painters' tape on top of the fiberglass tape. The same should be done around all fittings, lights and bottom drains.

4.2 On level ground split 50% of the 2-gallon primer hardener bucket into empty
2-gallon bucket.

4.3 On level ground split 50% of 5-gallon bucket of primer resin into empty 5-gallon bucket. You now have 4 buckets of material. Put 1- 5-gallon bucket and
1 2-gallon bucket in the shade with lids, which you are not going to use at this time.

4.4 Mix the 2-gallon bucket that you split into the 5-gallon bucket that you split. Mix for 1 minute with a large mud paddle purchased at any hardware store or Home Depot in the dry wall department.
Split this mix into an empty 5-gallon bucket. You now have a 1/4 of a mix for each person.

4.5 With a 1/4 of a mix you have more than enough time to apply this material

4.6 NO HAND MIXING!!

4.7 PRIMER/SEALER APPLICATION DATA

Working Time:  15 to 20 minutes
Pot Life:              15 to 20 minutes at Min 55 degrees
Curing Time:     24 to 48 Hours

4.8 Prior to application of the primer hardener, inspect the entire pool surface to insure that the surface is dry, clean and completely free of any dust, dirt, or any other surface residues. If you have residue use denatured alcohol and towels (not paper) to wipe down the pool.

4.9 Coverage for the primer hardener is approximately 650 to 700 Sq. Ft. per unit of product. Actual coverage will vary depending on the porosity and absorption rate of the surface.

4.10 The primer hardener should be applied to the entire surface with a Purdy lint free 3/8" by 9" nap. The primer hardener within 5-6 hours, depending upon temperature, humidity and winds should be 100% cured. Call for instructions on how to scratch and scuff the primer bond coat. This must be done to get a chemical and physical bond.

If you have a high water table, hydration may occur during the application
of the primer sealer. This is common on marcite and other porous cementitious pool surfaces that may retain moisture. This problem may be reduced by insuring that the surface has had sufficient time to dry and by applying the coating material during the coolest part of the day (early morning or late afternoon). If this should happen, lightly sand these areas prior to color topcoat.
UltraGuard sealers are moisture tolerant.

Section 5: Roll On Application of the UltraGuard 6000 Topcoat

Did you call for instructions on how to scratch and scuff the primer bond coat.

At time of application of topcoat, two (2) people should apply the material.

5.1 Prior to the application of the topcoat, inspect the entire primed surface and repair as mentioned in 4.8.

5.2 All color topcoats, before splitting, should be mixed thoroughly to make sure that the color at the bottom of the bucket is even throughout the entire mix. Prior to adding hardener. It is necessary to shake the 2-gallon bucket vigorously and then stir with a paint stick.

5.3 Duplicate the instructions that were given on the primer coat for dividing buckets and mixing. You are now ready to coat the pool with the color coat.

5.4 Call us before you open any buckets for instructions how to apply the color coat.

5.5 When we ship the color top coat the website say 300 sq. ft. per unit in reality we ship more to allow if the customer did not measure the pool correctly. The success

1. After mixing the hardener with the color coat you dip your nap and roller in the bucket and put as much material on it as possible. I don't even care if you get drips push the bucket closer to the wall.

2. Dip your nap and roller in the bucket and put as much material on it as possible and do a 6 ft. horizontal swipe under the tile. By doing this you will not get that much material on your tapes. It easy to know what a 6 ft. swipe is your wooden stick is 5 ft. and your nap and roller is 7 or 8 inches will call that 6 ft.

3. Do the back wall first. You go to the left and your partner goes to the right.

4. Dip your nap and roller in the bucket and come up with a lot of material come down vertically 6 ft. Dip your nap and roller in the bucket again and come up with a lot of material come down vertically and over lap it this time ¼ of a inch or ½ of a inch at this time make any corrections necessary. Drip, runs or bald spots you can go up with you 9 inch nap and roller remove ridges etc or if you have a bald spot chances are the material next to it is too heavy and you can move that over where needed.

5. Once you have applied a 6 ft. by 6 ft. area do not go back again to make corrections. You will disturb the titanium that is curing. If this happens you pool could turn white yellow or tan.

6. If your pool is deeper than 6 ft call for additional instructions. Finish the back wall it is now time to do the sidewalls. Follow the instructions exactly as you did for the back wall except you do a 6 ft. by 6 ft. on the wall only, your partner on the other side of the pool is doing a 6 ft section of the wall only. The next step is to 6ft by 6ft section on the floor and your partner is doing the same thing on his side of the pool. You now meet in the middle with your partner and finish the floor with a 6 ft. by 6 ft. section. This is were my customers are making mistakes.

5.6 Upon completion of color topcoat, you must call me before you put water in the pool. At that time I will tell you how many hours it will take. This is a must.

Top Coat Application Data (55 degrees to 90 degrees)
Working Time:   20 to 25 minutes
Pot Life:               20 to 25 minutes
Drying Time:           4 to 8 hours
Curing Time:      24 to 48 hours

Higher temperature quicker drying time and setting up. Lower temperature longer.

Your new UltraGuard aquatic surfaces will require less maintenance and reduce the amount of chemicals necessary to properly balance your pool chemistry. Since UltraGuard is impervious and cannot absorb chemicals, we recommend the following chemical levels be maintained:

Chlorine:    1.5 - 2.0 ppm
Acidity:         7.4 - 7.8 ph
Alkalinity:     90 - 120 ppm
Calcium:   250 - 350 ppm
Stabilizer     60 - 90 ppm

Precaution: Do not allow tri-color powder, tablets or stabilizers to settle directly on the surface.
This may result in staining or discoloration of the UltraGuard surface.

Keep this page for the chemical levels needed in your pool.

Before you fill your pool take a sample of your water to a pool service company and have it tested for calcium and iron minerals. If you have a problem with calcium I would recommend going to my website FAQ and click on Jacks Magic he has the answers to all your problems.

Once you have the UltraGuard product on your pool, you should not empty your pool for at least 10 years. The main reason is you possibly may have hydrostatic pressure under the pool, which could result in you getting blisters. If you should have to empty the pool call us first.