Swimming Pool Paint – Paint With The Right Materials!

November 28, 2008 by admin 

Swimming pools are often painted right after construction. But pool chemicals, sunlight, and more will eventually fade, peel, or crack even quality pool paint. Redoing it requires first and foremost a little information about how pool paint differs from its cousins.

You can’t paint a pool with an ordinary house latex or oil. It won’t wear correctly or spread properly. But, above all, it simply is NOT safe. Swimming pool paint is specially formulated for that specific purpose. Not even deck paint is intended for the pool itself. Accept no substitutes.

♦ Paint Types

Epoxy-based paint is typically used right after the initial construction is complete. It will last anywhere from about 7-10 years, providing an attractive surface that also protects your pool. It resists well those high-energy UV rays that break down paint of all kinds.

It also stands up well to harsh pool maintenance chemicals like chlorine and bromine. No need to worry about adding pool shock here. Cleaners don’t faze it either. Over a very long time, scrubbing will wear it only slightly. The actions of automatic pool cleaners present no risk to your pool surface when they’re painted with epoxy.

Less expensive, but still very good, is rubber-based paint. It’s easy to apply, but will typically only last 3-5 years. You save money on the initial investment, but can expect to have to redo the job later. It still provides good UV protection and will also stand up to pool cleaning and maintenance chemicals reasonably well.

Water-based acrylic pool paint is at the bottom of the list. It covers a number of different surface materials well and costs less than other types. But it can only be expected to last 2-3 years. Draining the pool that often is no fun and can even be costly, since most people pay for water and it has to be re-heated. But in selected circumstances, it might be the right choice.

♦ Extending Your Pool Paint’s Lifetime

Thanks to pool chemicals and sunshinen, it’s reasonable to expect swimming pool paint to fade over time. A dilute muriatic acid wash can extend the time before you have to consider re-painting. This removes surface dirt and some oxidation. Oxidation can be detected by the chalky look and feel that paints get over time. A white powdery residue near the water’s surface is a good sign.

Another way to extend the life of your paint is to keep water at the proper pH, between 7.2-7.6. pH 7 is neutral and lower numbers indicate acidic water. Those acids eat your paint. That range is also very healthy since the fluid in your eye is about 7.3.

Proper pool maintenance, following the directions for chlorine, algaecides, and so forth is your best bet for a long-lasting and healthy pool. But when it comes time, be sure to paint with the right materials.

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