Looking for recomendations on how to remove calcium buildup from tile and watefall rock. Looking for local companies, preferably sugarland, or DIY. Im happy to DIY, but I prefer not to use harsh chemicals. Many thanks

Putty knife for the water line tile works well and is super easy. Just takes some time.

For the waterfall, only way I know of is a muriatic acid solution.

We had 25 yr buildup on our pool tile and I tried everything in the books....acid, scraping, fine sanding , etc. Finally listened to my pool plasterer, who I've used and recommended a number of times and he said the only effective way is to use a very fine sand and sandblasted it. I've done blasting myself and didn't believe him but decided to trust him and go with his suggestion...BEST decision I ever made!!! It came out shiny and looking like new tile . I was absolutely amazed and that doesn't happen often!!!!

Bald Eagle said:

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We had 25 yr buildup on our pool tile and I tried everything in the books....acid, scraping, fine sanding , etc. Finally listened to my pool plasterer, who I've used and recommended a number of times and he said the only effective way is to use a very fine sand and sandblasted it. I've done blasting myself and didn't believe him but decided to trust him and go with his suggestion...BEST decision I ever made!!! It came out shiny and looking like new tile . I was absolutely amazed and that doesn't happen often!!!!

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Did he do the sandblasting? I have a friend in the business and he has been considering one of the rigs that use a water soluble medium or glass microspheres. Curious as to what was used / the process. Mind sharing?

Is he in houston?

Watching …

Calcium Blasters

Know nothing about them. Just a quick google search.


Also found this:

Amazing Cleaning of Calcium from Pool Tiles with a $30 Tool from Harbor Freight (4K UHD) - Bing video

I saw the Harbor Freight video and that looks to be a workable type solution. He did not drain the pool at first and at the end he showed getting all the glass beads back out.

Seems like you would want a soluble media that ultimately "decomposes" or is otherwise removed through the normal filtration process... without damaging or destroying your equipment.

Then there is this method:

Phew. These threads remind me not to build a pool

No worse than a boat imho.

100% agree. Though generally more convenient and less costly than most boats.

Both are not worth it if you don't have time nor the desire to use it and maintain it.

TexAg1987 said:

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No worse than a boat imho.

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My old man has always said a pool is a hole in the ground you fill with money, while a boat is a hole in the water you fill with money.

Didn't stop him from building a pool (yes, built, not bought) or buying a used boat. The pool he still has, the boat is long gone.

TexAg1987 said:

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No worse than a boat imho.

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sitting at home alone in the dark is always free(ish)!

If in the Houston area look up Modern Method Gunnite. They have been doing this type of cleaning for years. From what I remember: They drain the pool below the level of what they're going to "sand"-blast(using glass bead(I don't recall what size media)), blast it at low pressure, then use the pool filter to remove the glass bead media. If you're a DIY type you could try baking soda media, then you wouldn't have to worry about clean up.

Balancing your water with the LSI method would go a long way in helping the calcium release from the tile. You could also add some jacks magic blue or magenta stuff or some Orenda sc-1000 scale control.

Thanks. I think we are past the point of doing it this way however.

Pumice stones is what we always used. Wont damage tiles or any stone harder than itself.