Painting a Swimming Pool

Painting a Swimming Pool

Like any other large structure, swimming pools require periodic maintenance. The best time to perform these chores is in the early part of the year, when the weather is still relatively cool and you can refill the pool immediately after the new paint cures.

Inspect the pool for cracks, chips, and other needed repairs. Repair hairline cracks in a concrete pool with a coat of the proper chlorinated rubber or epoxy swimming pool paint. For slightly larger cracks, use an epoxy patching compound made specifically for concrete pools.

In fiberglass pools, hairline cracks that don't open to the substrate may not need repair; they're a sign of weathering. Repair larger cracks with a fiberglass patch kit. Fix cracks in fiberglass pools immediately; water can quickly damage the substrate and rot it. Buy fiberglass patch kits at swimming pool dealers, auto body supply houses, and watercraft retailers. Follow the instructions that come with the kit.

Hire a pool-care pro to repair cracks wider than 1/8 inch or longer than 1 foot.

Checklist

Time
From 1 to 3 days, depending on pool size and your skills and experience

Tools
Utility knife, paint roller with extension handle, roller pan, sandblaster (optional), respirator, paintbrushes, safety goggles, garden sprayer

Skills
Preparing a masonry surface, repairing existing cracks, and applying paint

Prep
Drain pool, patch cracks, remove flaking paint, fill holes.

Materials
Muriatic acid, pool paints

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Safety First: Relieving Hydrostatic Pressure

As an in-ground pool is being drained and the water pressure against the interior of the walls reduced, hydrostatic pressure from groundwater can build up on the exterior of the walls.

This pressure from the outside can cause serious damage if it's not properly released while you're emptying the pool. Hydrostatic forces can be strong enough to float the pool out of the ground or can seriously crack the walls and physically move them.

To avoid this damage, many in-ground pools are equipped with pressure-relief valves, which allow groundwater to be slowly released into the pool and drained away with the pool water.

If you can't locate the pressure-relief valves or aren't sure your pool has them, consult a pool builder, the previous pool owner, or a pool professional to determine whether you have them and where they're located.

This is of special concern to anyone owning a pool located next to a body of water in any low-lying land.

If your pool is located in an area with an extremely high water table, you may need to attach a hose to the pressure-relief valve so you can continuously remove the incoming groundwater while the pool is empty and until you've finished with your repairs and painting and can refill the pool.

Preparing a Swimming Pool: Step 1

Determine what kind of existing paint you have on the pool walls. Loosen the edge of a peeling piece, pull it off, and take it to your dealer and have it tested. It is always best to continue recoating the pool with the same kind of paint.

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Paints for Pools

Paint is perhaps the most common of swimming pool finishes. It is attractive, comes in many colors, makes maintenance and cleaning relatively easy, and is inexpensive compared to other coatings.

Pool paint comes in three varieties:

-- Epoxy paint is best for new pools and for those previously painted with epoxy paint. It is long lasting, durable, and will stand up to UV rays, automatic pool cleaners, and chemical treatments. With proper surface preparation and application, epoxy paint will last seven to 10 years.
-- Chlorinated rubber-base paint is not as durable as epoxy paint, but is a dependable, easy-to-use, inexpensive coating. It is easy to apply, comes in many colors, and properly applied has an expected life span of three to five years.
-- Water-base acrylic pool paint can be used on any type of surface, is easy to apply, and cleans up with water. It's the ideal choice for pools that get a lot of use and that require regular repainting. It should last two to three years.

Within each of these categories, swimming pool paints come in a broad range of prices. You get what you pay for both in quality and durability. Whatever paint you use, follow the manufacturer's instructions and heed the recommended safety guidelines. You might need a respirator when using some paints in poorly ventilated areas.

Apply paint with a 3/8-inch nap roller. Start in the deep end of the swimming pool and work your way to the shallow end. Wait two to four hours before painting the second coat.

Wait five to seven days before filling the swimming pool. If it rains, remove any standing water. If the rain lasts more than an hour or two, add a day to the cure time.

Preparing a Swimming Pool: Step 2

Determine how many coats are already on the pool walls. Painting over a coat or two of both rubber and epoxy paints is fine, but you'll likely run into adhesion problems with more coats than that. It's best to sandblast the pool to bare concrete.

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Preparing a Swimming Pool: Step 3

Drain the pool and remove all debris. Scrape off loose paint (a high-pressure power washer will help). Cut out cracks in the pool shell to a 1/4-inch depth with a diamond saw or grinder. Chip out loose cement. Caulk the cracks, and patch any large chips with hydraulic cement.

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Preparing a Swimming Pool: Step 4

Wearing old clothes, boots, eye protection, gloves, and a respirator, and working in sections, apply a coat of 50-50 water-muriatic acid solution mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Let the acid soak in for the required time, then scrub the surface with a stiff brush.

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Preparing a Swimming Pool: Step 5

Rinse the acid off the walls with a steady flow of clean water from a garden hose, and wash the pool down with TSP solution to neutralize any remaining acid. Apply the paint you have chosen using rollers and brushes and making sure that you have plenty of ventilation.

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Draining the Pool

-- Stop adding chemicals to the water three or four days before draining. Check the pH.
-- Attach a long hose to the drain line so it will drain into your lawn or trees (not the neighbor's). Run the pump until the lawn appears nearly sodden. Turn off the pump and wait several hours. Repeat until the pool is empty.
-- Check with local officials before you allow large amounts of water to run into the storm sewers. It may be illegal.

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