Steps for cleaning and painting a pool
Remove all of the loose and flaking paint.
Remove main drain cover and injectors. Remove lights from niches and place
them on the pool deck.
Repair and patch any rough surfaces. A smooth surface yields the best paint job. DO NOT polish
the surface with a power grinder. The finish should feel like fine sandpaper.
Clean the pool with T.S.P. or strong soap, with a scrub brush, to remove body
oils. Acid treat the concrete/pool surface with a mix of acid & water 50-50 and
rinse well, using a brush. A power washer of 3000 psi does a great job.
Dry in the sun for 3 to 4 days. Test dryness by taping a 16” x 16” plastic sheet to
the bottom of the pool for one hour, in the sun, and check for moisture on
the bottom of the plastic. If dry, proceed to next step.
For patches and new cement, thin the epoxy with 15% to 20% of thinner and
paint the raw surfaces. This acts as a primer/sealer for the next coat of
paint. We recommend
POPULAR GUARD industrial epoxy and
follow the
mixing directions on the can. Also, buy the epoxy at a large ferreteria like
Ochoa or Americana that sells large volumes of paint because epoxy has a
short shelf life. We highly suggest using White or Sand color in pools with
a Blue tile line.
Cut in (detail) the tile edges and around fittings first, and then use a good
lambskin 9” roller, with ½” nap. Remember, the first coat will use much more
paint than subsequent coats.
Next day, paint the first full coat of Epoxy in late afternoon to avoid the sun from
drying the wet epoxy too fast and creating small bubbles. *** For slip
resistant steps and stairs, immediately after painting the first coat of epoxy,
sprinkle a fine coat of dry pool sand over the steps.
Next day,
and within 24 hours, (before the paint is fully cured) apply the second
full coat of epoxy in the late afternoon as to avoid the sun from drying too fast
and creating small bubbles.
Let the pool dry for 4 days in the sun before filling. Filling sooner will prevent the
epoxy from curing to its full hardness and prematurely pealing. If rain occurs,
drain and dry the pool in order that the epoxy fully cures.
Once the pool is full and operating, maintain normal chlorine and water balance.
Put chlorine in the skimmer,
not in the pool on the new paint.
This video is from a US paint manufacturer, but has most of the basics;
