Proper Procedures for Painting a Pool

Ensuring your swimming pool looks good and is functioning properly requires regular attention to maintenance. One crucial step is painting, which is a relatively easy way to make your pool look new again. But before you begin, it's important to understand the proper procedures for painting your pool.

Q: Our pool is due for painting, but we're not sure where to get started. What should we know?

A: Before anything else, you need to choose the right coating. It's common for pool owners to choose the wrong type of coating. You need to first identify the original coating on your pool. Along with any products applied previously, this will have an impact on the type of paint you use.

If your pool has already been painted, you need to use the same kind again. If you're not sure about what type of paint was used, you can send a paint chip to the pool paint manufacturer, and they will test it to determine compatibility.

Q: How do we prepare our pool for painting?

A: Surface preparation is crucial to the success of your pool painting project. Before you get started, you need to follow a few steps to prepare the surface.

First, check the pool surface's condition. Whether it's plaster, concrete or a previously painted surface, you should look for signs of flaking, chipping or peeling. While painting your pool will prolong the life of pool surfaces that are in good condition, these symptoms indicate the surface might fail, and repainting will not help.

There are three types of coatings suitable for aquatic surfaces. Acrylic water-base can be applied over most types of coatings. Synthetic rubber can be applied over existing chlorinated or synthetic rubber systems, bare concrete or plaster, and requires a dry surface. If the pool is currently painted with epoxy, you must continue to use epoxy. Two coats of a high build epoxy will achieve a hard, abrasion-resistant surface that can last up to eight years, with proper preparation.

Be sure to properly clean the surface before painting to ensure success. If you're using acrylic, you can leave the surface slightly damp, but epoxy requires the surface to be completely dry. Moisture can still be present, even if the surface looks and feels dry. Talk to your paint provider about steps to follow to ensure the surface is completely dry.

Q: Once the surface is clean and prepared, what do we need to know?

A: When you're ready to paint, use a 3/8-inch nap roller and begin by painting the walls, then the deep end floor, and work toward the shallow end, exiting at the stairs or ladder.

Make sure you are applying the paint according to the recommendations on the label. If you apply it too thin or thick, you might not get the results you want.

Once you've painted, wait for the recommended drying time and then make sure your pool is completely dry before refilling your pool, using a constant steady stream of water. Then, routinely monitor water chemistry to ensure your finish lasts.