The average residential swimming pool needs to be resurfaced every eight to ten years. This doesn’t mean every pool will perform the same. Depending on the materials, size, and maintenance, it could be more or less often. But since this is such a long time, it’s easy to forget when it refinished last or even the date the pool was installed. The good news is, you don’t have to be a pool contractor to spot the signs a swimming pool needs resurfacing.
What’s Involved and Cost to Resurface a Swimming Pool
If you think your pool needs resurfacing, plan on it taking about 3 to 4 days to complete. This is the average amount of time it takes to drain the pool (about a day), clean it from top to bottom, pressure wash it, allow it to dry after washing, abrade the surface, fill cracks and chips, apply new coating, and refill the pool. If there is any inclement weather or the pool is in bad shape, it could take longer, of course.
If you would like to resurface your inground pool, you must understand a pair of critical points, or you may end up with significant problems. Because an inground pool is composed of nonporous material, it will not accept a new coating unless it is conditioned using friction-based abrasion. Since the new surface will be exposed to relatively high levels of chlorine, you must select a new coating formulated to be resistant to the chemical’s corrosive effects. –eHow.com
The average cost for resurfacing ranges between $3.28 and $3.75 per square foot. In general, a basic resurfacing cost on a standard 15 foot by 30 foot pool starts at a price point of approximately $2,500.00. However, that can steeply rise, exceeding $15,000 for most sophisticated premium surfaces available today. Keep in mind that some services won’t include things such as the cost of permits, inspection fees, sales tax on materials, and other expenses.
Signs a Swimming Pool Needs Resurfacing
There are a few things to keep in mind when trying to determine if a pool needs to be refinished. One, is there are ordinary maintenance and repair protocols which are able to address small issues that do not warrant resurfacing. Another is the age and overall condition of the pool itself. For instance, if the pool was installed decades ago and is used a lot, it could require more extensive repairs, substantially increasing the average cost. But, under ordinary circumstances, it’s not complicated. Here are some typical signs a swimming pool needs resurfacing:
- Cracked or broken tiles. Perhaps the most obvious sign a swimming pool needs to be refinished are cracked and broken tiles. Such cracks will eventually lead to bigger problems, like leaks in the pool. This is serious because it lessens the structural integrity against what’s known as “hydrostatic pressure.” That’s the pressure of the underground water table puts against the walls of the pool. Hydrostatic pressure can cause the walls to collapse.
- Discoloration or etching. Usually, yellow or brown discoloration, also known as etching, will generally appear on the pool floor and be visible when looking down from the deck. Such discoloration or etching is more than unsightly, it is potentially dangerous.
- A chalky film appears on the side. The chemicals used to treat the water to keep it balanced and safe for swimming have an unfortunate side effect — erosion. This appears in the form of a chalky film on the sides of a pool, indicating chemical erosion. In these instances, a pool needs to be resurfaced.
- Constant chemical water imbalance. There’s nothing out of the ordinary with having to rebalance pool water to keep it safe for use. However, if you notice the water becomes more unbalanced, more often, something is awry. Pools with pitting issues become more and more difficult to maintain and refinishing is generally the right answer.
- The need to refill the swimming pool often. It’s completely understandable you don’t want to deal with a tiny leak in your pool. But the reality is, it will inevitably grow and become larger and larger. As a result, it will run up the cost of your monthly utilities and be more expensive to repair. So, if you have to refill your pool more than you normally do, it’s probably a leak and it could mean the pool needs to be resurfaced.
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