Reflecting Pool Renovation: Failures and Repairs

The blue coating applied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s bottom this summer failed in at least 85 locations. Renovation errors included filling the pool before the liner dried properly, an inspection report commissioned by the contractor revealed.

The report, dated August 6 and obtained by The Washington Post, highlights more extensive damage than previously reported. President Donald Trump attributed some damage to vandalism, but the report cites improper materials and rushed work as primary causes. The project aimed to finish by the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

The 75-page “failure analysis” by Atlantic Coating Inspection documented issues like blisters, peeling, and cracking, identifying probable causes. The blue coating buckled along eight of ten expansion joints within the pool’s basin.

Blisters appeared in about 40 spots due to moisture or trapped chemical fumes beneath the liner. Peeling occurred in nearly 24 areas, possibly because workers applied the coating close to the refill date, whereas the material needed 72 hours to dry.

Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC) completed the $14.7 million renovation under a no-bid contract, defended by the administration for the contractors’ unique qualifications. AIC’s report in August called most failures “cosmetic” but acknowledged some were “systemic.” The repair costs, covered under warranty, were not included.

Photos in the report show blisters and coating failures along the pool’s expansion joints. The contractor blamed “human oversight,” noting potential misapplication or inadequate primer spraying. Both AIC and the inspection company did not comment.

An Interior Department spokesperson stated AIC is working to fix the Reflecting Pool, ensuring “perfect” work and addressing “vandalism damage.” White House spokesperson Taylor Rodgers mentioned neglect but not the inspection findings. The Reflecting Pool, opened in the early 1920s, has faced algae and leak issues. A significant renovation in 2012 aimed to improve it, costing $34 million.

Trump initiated another renovation in April, calling the pool “filthy” and requested an “American Flag Blue” resurface. Contracting documents detailed material specifications. By early June, after refilling, the pool showed an algal bloom and peeled paint.

While publicly blaming vandals, an internal National Park Service report found 13 damaged spots and a slashed foam joint, possibly caused by vandalism. The repairs were estimated at over $49,000.

Federal prosecutors initially charged four people, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, with vandalism, but charges were dropped. Prosecutors cited incomplete information from the Interior Department as a factor in the misunderstanding.

AIC conducted a comprehensive inspection post-renovation finding 85 failure points and additional damage caused by Army Corps Engineers during testing. The Army Corps did not comment.

Significant damage involved peeling along the expansion joints, meant to handle temperature changes to prevent concrete cracking. Before renovations, AIC received guidance on the coating’s application.

The inspection report recommended adhering to curing time guidelines and testing coatings before application. The renovation failed mainly due to premature filling and insufficient flexibility in materials.

After the August 6 inspection, Trump continued to downplay contractor error. AIC’s follow-up report outlined repair strategies, involving more flexible materials for joints and a different primer. A smaller crew will ensure better supervision to achieve near perfection. The warranty stipulates preventing water contact with repairs within specified times.

The White House suggested improvements aim for vandal-proofing, aligning with extensive repairs nearing completion.