It’s never too early to start preparing your swimming pool for warm summer months. Painting, or repainting your pool is no child’s play, so it is important that you know everything about repainting yours.
Before we get into it, we’re going to bust a few myths about pool painting
- There’s no need to drain your swimming pool before painting! Find this surprising? Well, this myth, no matter where it comes from is absolutely FALSE! Your pool needs to be drained before any painting is done. The drier it is, the better the better the paint will adhere.
- All paint types are the same – verdict? False! This is one of the most important factors to consider when getting your pool painted. Buying the wrong paint to paint or repaint your swimming pool will lead to it peeling off before the first month comes to an end.
- You can use any roller, so even the cheapest you can find will do. Let’s pose this question, how would you feel about having a hairy pool? You don’t, right? So, buying a roller that has a solvent resistance core with about 3/8”nap is a great option as it will prevent the roller from falling apart.
- If it’s already painted, there’s no use to prep – Wrong! Having the surface prepared is the most important step with painting your pool. If the surface is not adequately prepared, the paint will not last, this is also because the coating used is strong and durable due to the chemical bond with the previous layers of paint.
Try out to Determine Swimming Pool Paint Type
Using the same type of paint that was previously used is essential when repainting your swimming pool. Make sure to use epoxy when repainting your pool if that’s the type that was used before, or rubber base paint if rubber was used!
A pool painting company will always test the pool paint type by dissolving a paint chip in epoxy, rubber based solvent, or acrylic. If it dissolves within a few minutes in one of the solvents, then you’ll know it matches that particular paint type. If not, it’s the other.
Pool Paint Solvent Types
Solvents are liquids that dissolve other substances. How it works is that it doesn’t completely or rapidly dissolve substances, but merely affects the surface lightly.
- If you want a solvent that dissolves acrylic pool paint choose denatured alcohol.
- Xylene dissolves rubber-based pool paint types
- In the case of epoxy swimming pool painting, butanone (MEK) dissolves epoxy
Testing Paint Chips
It is important that the paint chip is clean of any oil, dirt or other contaminants. Once it’s clean, drop it into about an ounce or two of one of the solvents for about 30 seconds and watch the chip for any surface action. You should notice either a cloudy haze or micro bubbles surfacing. With a pair of tweezers, remove and wipe the chip with a cotton ball or kitchen towel and see if the paint rubs off.
If the paint rubs off easily, or the paint gets soft, you’ve found the pool paint type. The opposite of this means that you need to try another solvent. This time, make sure that you use a different chip for certainty reasons.
Testing Wall Paint
The walls of your swimming pool need to be cleaned that will be tested with TSP or simply using soap and water so that any grease or oil is removed from the surface. As soon as the area is dry, using a cotton ball, apply the solvent directly to the painted surface about 6-8 inches long and 1 inch wide in a vertical area. With an up and down motion, rub the area for about half a dozen passes. By now, the paint should become soft and sticky, and if you don’t feel these, move to another area and repeat the test with a different solvent. Another tip is to ensure you use adequate solvent to saturate the material you’re using.
Swimming pool painting is not something to take lightly. It is essential that you get professionals on the job so that you don’t come across any issues. At Diotte Coating Services, we have the experience and expertise to perform swimming pool coating, and painting when you need it. Browse our website to learn more about our services.
