NEWS
24th October 2023Swimming Pool Winter Painting Maintenance. How to prepare and paint your swimming pool.
Winter Swimming Pool Maintenance
As Autumn changes to Winter, so the use of outside, uncovered pools wanes. If you're lucky enough to have a covered or indoor pool for Winter use, do take the time to maintain paintwork in and around the pool and pool room areas. Now is still an excellent time to put right and paint pools, their surrounds and the plant room. Providing application temperatures remain above 10C and it remains dry, then it’s fine to clean and re-paint.
If the temperature drops below 10C when you wish to paint, then please consult our guide "Painting In Cooler Weather" and also see the relevant Technical Data Sheet.
If you are lucky enough to have a pool housing and undertake painting and maintenance, then it’s still good practice to open the doors and windows to allow the paint to dry naturally.
We offer not only swimming pool paints but also a comprehensive range of primers, undercoats and finishes in both water based and high performance solvent options. These are ideal for structures, pool halls, changing rooms and plant rooms. External fountains, water features, animal pools and leisure parks can also be freshened up during the forthcoming months providing the air temperature remains suitable.
This information is intended to provide guidance on Winter and Spring maintenance and preparation for the refurbishment of your pool. You should note that up to three months may be required for repairs and re-painting before your pool can be safely used again, so do consider at an early stage of the year when you think you might want to have the pool available for use.
Consider what issues you may have found or did not deal with earlier in the year or what you may have put off the last time it was refurbished.
Points to consider.
Do any of the tiles around the top of pool need to be repaired? Are there cracks in the render that need making good? Do light fittings and skimmers need replacing? How long will it take for specialist pool paint to be made and delivered? These are just some of the things that take time and planning before any associated pool and pool surround painting can take place.
Skimmers and light fittings.
If replacement parts are required, they will need to be ordered and their fitting arranged.
Repairing Cracks.
Jobs like tiling and crack repairs can be taken on by yourself if you feel confident. Otherwise find a tried and trusted or recommended tradesman. Repairs in walls and floors are generally easy to fix if they are not extensive. You will normally need to cut them out in the shape of a “V” using either a grinder or hammer and chisel. Once you have done this the repair can be made with a waterproof sand and cement mix providing you have a window of approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to re-painting the pool with A148 Chlorinated Rubber Swimming Pool Paint. If you don’t have this period of time available to you, then a Two-Part Epoxy Cement-based Filler will work which can be paintable in 24-48 hours using A148. If you are considering using WB148 Acrylic Water Based Swimming Pool Paint on a sand and cement based repair, you will require a minimum of 8-10 weeks after the repair before the paint can be applied.
Cleaning the surface.
Acid Wash the swimming pool with 50% water, 50% Muriatic Acid solution. Be sure to scrub the pool walls and floor and to use the correct safety equipment and procedures. Rinse the entire swimming pool, skimmers, fittings, lights, and stairs completely. Once the pool has been rinsed completely, re-clean with TSP (Trisodium-Phosphate). TSP is a detergent available from swimming pool suppliers and specialist hardware outlets. Follow the directions on the TSP container. Re-cleaning with TSP will neutralize the acid and remove the glaze from the existing paint. It will also remove any grease, oil or any dirt that the acid did not remove. Rinse with fresh water completely, several times. This is an essential part of the preparation process.
Pump out all residual liquid and remove any left-over debris. Remove any liquid from the skimmer and sponge any standing water from low spots around steps and fittings. Allow the swimming pool to dry for 3 - 5 days before painting.
Repainting.
Tape off the tile band and fittings with masking tape to prevent getting any paint on the threads, tiles or fittings. Before painting the pool, scrape any remaining flakes from the pool surface, sweep the pool out and sweep or blow any leaves or dirt from the pool surround. It is prudent to check the weather forecast for potential rain or high winds (you will need stable, dry conditions of 10C minimum for application and drying of paint). If there is a chance of rain, you should wait. When you are confident that the weather will remain clement, open the pool paint and mix it well. You may need to use an electric drill with a paddle mixer. Mix for about 3-5 minutes. Apply paint with a short-pile, solvent resistant roller. Start in the deep end of the swimming pool, working your way to the shallow end. Use an extension pole on your roller for the deep end walls.
You should prime with a thinned first coat of your specified paint on to bare newly repaired areas allowing them to fully dry. Then apply two even coats of either A148 Chlorinated Rubber Swimming Pool Paint or WB148 Acrylic Water Based Swimming Pool Paint. These should be applied neither too heavily nor too thinly - good even coats are required. It is also very important to allow the paint to fully cure which will normally takes up to 7 days dependent on climatic conditions. This will allow the paint to fully dry out below the surface of the paint allowing any water or solvent that gets entrapped to migrate out of the surface. This is to help prevent the coating from blistering or softening.
As stated at the outset, the last step is very important. You MUST wait 7 days before filling the swimming pool so your new paint can cure completely (5 days with Acrylic paint). If there is rain during that time, remove any standing water after the rain has stopped. Use a sponge and leaf blower to dry the pool. If the rain lasts more than an hour or two, add a day to the cure time. After the cure time, fill the pool without stopping until the pool is full. When the pool is full, restart the swimming pool filter system remembering not to used shock treatments and adjust the total alkalinity and calcium hardness levels to a minimum of 150 PPM. Resume your normal chemical maintenance programme. This will provide the greatest longevity to the paint coating.
"Which paint do I use for my swimming pool?" For all NEW pools we recommend that you contact our Technical Team who will be able to guide you on surface drying times: 01202 295 570 or mail: Email Us Here.