You have an in-ground concrete pool with a marblesheen or pebblecrete surface. It has rust spots, a bit of concrete cancer, and the waterline tiles look like the ones in your Nanna’s bathroom.

Well, you have a few options, and here they are:

1. Drain the pool, paint it and hope for the best.

This is an option, but we advise against it. The reason is, you are simply slapping a bandage on the situation. Paint will bring the surface to life cosmetically, but you are not addressing the problem with the rust and concrete cancer. Within a year or two, you are more than likely to see signs of the rust coming through again. Further to that, paint doesn’t last and will need to be re-painted in the next five years.

2. Remove the marblesheen, replace the waterline tiles, cut out and replace the areas of the concrete that are rusting.

From there, you can resurface with tiles, or a rendered product like beadcrete, quartzon or NZ pebble. This is a good option if you have the budget or desire for one of these surfaces. It will provide a long-term solution; however, there are a couple of downsides. With the exception of a fully tiled pool, you are dealing with a porous surface, meaning they are much harder to maintain and clean. Any porous surface allows the opportunity for algae to bloom. Even a tiled pool has porosity, as the grout between the tiles is porous and a pain to clean.

3. Treat the concrete cancer, replace the waterline tiles and reline with a fibreglass or composite surface.

Ask a local fibreglass pool resurfacing company, and they will tell you that this is THE BEST OPTION! Ask a homeowner who has resurfaced their concrete pool with fibreglass, they will probably say the same. Here are a few reasons why:

– The process is fast and does not require a huge amount of demolition. Fibreglass composites can be molded to the existing surface after the concrete cancer has been treated.

– The surface is strong, durable and flexible. Essentially, you are building a “pool within the pool” getting a “like new finish.”

– It will be great for the kids, and you. The pool finish is so smooth on your feet and skin.

– Maintenance will be easier than it ever has. Since the surface is so smooth, you will not have issues with algae as you do in a rougher concrete pool.

– You will use fewer chemicals to maintain pH levels because there will be less algae in the pool.

For more information on our solutions, please feel free to give us a call or email us.