Swimming Pool Refinishing Methods

Concrete Pool Refinishing

• Concrete in-ground swimming pools feature basins that have a waterproof plaster topcoat which is very durable. However, even a concrete swimming pool's finish will require renovation after 15 to 20 years, on average. Most often, a concrete pool is refinished through a replastering process in which the old plaster topcoat is first "stripped and chipped" away. After a concrete in-ground pool's old plaster topcoat is removed, a new topcoat is put on by plastering professionals.

Epoxy Paints

• Special epoxy-based concrete pool basin paints exist that can eliminate the need to refinish the pool's basin through replastering. Rolled on much as any other paint, pool basin epoxy paints are designed to cover most types of concrete and even fiberglass shell pools. Pool basin paints don't need much pool basin surface preparation before rolling them on, which is a plus. In most cases when applying an in-ground pool basin refinishing paint, all that's required is a good power washing before painting.

Rubber Paints

• Another type of pool paint used in pool basin refinishing is something called chlorinated rubber; the paint is rolled on just as you'd roll on an epoxy paint -- evenly and quickly. Additional surface preparation before applying any type of paint involves finding and repairing any cracks first. Also, any holes in a pool's basin surfaces are patched before any sort of pool paint or pool plaster refinishing is done.

Fiberglass Pool Refinishing

• Not uncommonly, you'll need to refinish a fiberglass pool's shell every 15 to 20 years. Refinish fiberglass pools by stripping off their old gel coats by sandblasting or hand sanding. After a fiberglass pool's old gel coat is stripped off, surfaces are cleaned with pool acid, washed with fresh water and then a new gel coat is applied. Cracks or chips in a fiberglass pool shell will require repairs before the pool can be refinished. Fiberglass pool gel coat costs about $130 in 2011.

Considerations

• Once a concrete pool's plaster topcoat is covered over with a pool paint, continue refinishing it in the future with the same type of paint. In 2011, pool replastering runs from $2,800 to $4,000, but extensive replastering work will cost several thousand more. Pool refinishing paints last from 2 to 3 years for chlorinated rubber to up to 15 years for epoxy. Costs vary per pool contractor, but a gallon of epoxy-based pool paint runs about $200 in 2011.