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jmowreader

(53,561 posts)

29. The very expensive, tough finish would have made a lot of sense if Trump wasn't involved

Fri Jun 19, 2026, 10:09 PM

Jun 19

Because the Pool wasn't built on solid ground, it has developed a lot of cracks during its life. This causes it to leak like a sieve.

The proper way to fix this would have been to tear out the Reflecting Pool, dig down to bedrock, and completely rebuild it on a solid foundation. This would take several years, cost more than Trump's ballroom and screw up the tourism industry in DC until it was finished.

If properly applied to dry concrete with suitable water barriers between the coating system and the concrete, this coating would have sealed the cracks and made the Pool hold water for the first time in its life. You know the commercial where the guy makes a boat hull out of window screen painted with Flex Seal and the boat floats? This product is like the platonic ideal of FlexSeal.

If you've got the most brainless president in American history screaming "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" and demanding the pool be blue and full of water for his birthday party...you get what we got.

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mtairyguy

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Highlight:

Folks, I'm going to tell you EXACTLY why the Reflecting Pool paint job is failing [View all] jmowreader Jun 18 OP

So how long should they have waited for the concrete to dry Ocelot II Jun 19 #1

The walls are probably six inches thick jmowreader Jun 19 #3

A bigger question Resistance1 Jun 19 #4

Because no one challenges Trump... lame54 Jun 19 #5

And now the poor schmucks probably won't get paid and vanlassie Jun 19 #6

Don't feel bad. It's this guy Maru Kitteh Jun 19 #16

The dyed hair, the cigar, paid escort and outfit just scream Resistance1 Jun 19 #18

It's the circa 1990's Rush Deadballs look. Maru Kitteh Jun 19 #20

The fifty-dollar suit doesn't help matters any jmowreader Jun 19 #31

That's the second worst toupee I've ever seen. louis-t Jun 19 #26

I gotta ask jmowreader Jun 19 #30

I believe the appropriate acronym here is... COL Mustard Jun 19 #8

They may very well have told Trump his timeline was unrealistic jmowreader Jun 19 #10

Thank you canetoad Jun 19 #2

The "builder" is a "destroyer". BigmanPigman Jun 19 #7

This will now have to be fixed videohead5 Jun 19 #9

K & R SunSeeker Jun 19 #11

All this science stuff...ridiculous. PCIntern Jun 19 #12

I'll add on another reason choie Jun 19 #13

Everything Trump touches dies - except algae, covid, flu and ebola. Ocelot II Jun 19 #17

Some questions for you... Hugin Jun 19 #14

Primers are used. The concrete doesn't have to be smooth. jmowreader Jun 19 #21

Thanks for your expertise edhopper Jun 19 #15

It's too expensive to use for "regular pool surfaces" jmowreader Jun 19 #22

So the application edhopper Jun 19 #23

That's one way to put it jmowreader Jun 19 #24

From what I read about the contractor edhopper Jun 19 #25

Completely Agree ProfessorGAC Jun 19 #19

It's all about the prep. louis-t Jun 19 #27

The very expensive, tough finish would have made a lot of sense if Trump wasn't involved jmowreader Jun 19 #29

Interesting. Thnx. I have often said that DU is very educational. 3catwoman3 Jun 19 #28

An article in the Atlantic stated that algae is made worse by a dark color due to heat absorption. LeftInTX Jun 19 #32

Question: Does the algae smell bad? n/t legallyblondeNYC Jun 19 #33