During our 40 years in the pool service industry, we’ve come across a common dilemma many homeowners face: to paint or not to paint their plaster pools. While painting may seem like a quick fix for problems like stains and wear, our experience strongly suggests that this option leads to more challenges than solutions in the long run. In this article, we’ll explore why painting your plaster pool is a less-than-ideal choice. We’ll discuss the immediate and long-term maintenance challenges, delve into complications such as filtration difficulties and chemical imbalances, and finally offer a more sustainable alternative to address these issues effectively.
Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Challenges
It’s worth noting that painting a pool might not show immediate issues. The first year or two can be relatively trouble-free, which often leads homeowners to think they’ve found a suitable solution. However, the problems start to manifest over time, particularly if the paint is not reapplied regularly.
Frequent Repainting
If you are diligent enough to repaint your pool every two years, you might be able to sidestep some of these challenges. However, this is far from a practical solution for most people. The reality is that many homeowners let the paint go well beyond its effective period before considering a repaint, thereby facing the complications that ensue.
Complications in Maintenance
Maintaining a painted pool presents an array of challenges that are not typical in standard pool care. A frequently encountered issue is the painted pool turning cloudy green, an issue that persists even when water chemistry is balanced and regular maintenance is conducted. This often leads to customer dissatisfaction, as they assume their pool looks poor due to inadequate maintenance. In reality, the problem stems from the painted surface itself, creating a frustrating situation for pool service providers. Many pool service companies eventually choose not to service these pools because standard maintenance practices fail to resolve these problems. To effectively address the issue usually requires draining the pool, repainting it, and replacing the filter mediums—a solution many homeowners either don’t know about or are reluctant to undertake. This creates a difficult and often contentious situation for pool maintenance professionals.
Filtration Difficulties
The breakdown of paint releases particles into the pool water, which can severely hamper your filtration system. These particles are not only difficult to remove, but they also clog filters and can reduce their operational lifespan.
Chemical Balance Disruptions
Degraded paint also affects the pool’s chemical balance, making it more challenging and time-consuming to maintain safe and clean water.
Increased Drainage Needs
Paint particles and imbalanced chemicals necessitate more frequent draining, adding both operational costs and environmental concerns.
Re-plastering: The Preferred Alternative
Whether you’re dealing with stains or worn-out plaster, painting only offers a temporary and superficial solution. Based on our 40 years of experience in pool service, we strongly recommend re-plastering as the most effective, long-term approach. Re-plastering not only tackles the root causes of these issues but also simplifies maintenance and enhances durability, making it the superior choice for both aesthetic and functional pool care.
If re-plastering is outside of your budget, we recommend leaving the pool as-is rather than painting it. Doing nothing is actually a better choice in this scenario, as painting will complicate maintenance and potentially lead to more costly issues down the line.
Conclusion
While painting a plaster pool may seem like a convenient, short-term fix, especially as it may look satisfactory in the first couple of years, it leads to long-term maintenance complications. Repainting every two years is theoretically an option but is impractical for most homeowners. Based on our 40 years in the pool service industry, we highly recommend re-plastering as a more sustainable and manageable solution.