Paint flaking off steps. How to go about removing them?

[Jason.H.]

Hello everyone, I have an inground liner pool and it has an aluminum (I think?) steps insert on shallow end. The blue paint has started flaking pretty bad on the steps. Does anyone know if the steps can be removed stripped and repainted without removing water from the pool? This is our first full year with the pool (just moved into the house at the end of last august) and everything chemistry wise is perfect. I can attach a photo when I get home. Thank you

 

[cowboycasey]

If aluminum steps they are usually under the liner and not painted?? Please post a photo so we can see what your dealing with

 

[Jason.H.]

I added a photo. Yeah definitely not aluminum. Either fiberglass or plastic/vinyl

 

[cowboycasey]

Not seeing any photo.. I found them..

They are fiberglass and should not have been painted... if it is paint it will peel off... If they were damaged they will need to have Gel coat reapplied.. There are ways to fix them but it is just like a boat.. A boat repair company should be able to fix them... You can fix them also, there are plenty of people who do there own gelcoat...

 

[Jason.H.]

Not seeing any photo.. I found them..

They are fiberglass and should not have been painted... if it is paint it will peel off... If they were damaged they will need to have Gel coat reapplied.. There are ways to fix them but it is just like a boat.. A boat repair company should be able to fix them... You can fix them also, there are plenty of people who do there own gelcoat...

Thanks, yeah gel coat makes sense. I almost think it is gel coat that is flaking. Pool is from 1994 so probably original. My main question was how to remove the step insert and can it be done with water in the pool or will pool have to be drained. Not sure how far the liner goes under the insert.

 

[cowboycasey]

Your steps are part of the pool, you can not remove it without draining and taking it out... This would be a major task and I have no idea how you would go about that.. Most are cemented in under the steps...

The liner stops at the steps, I drew a black line where the liner stops



Here is someone installing a liner


some are like this behind the steps


some like this

 

[SSharp]

We put our steps in (diy build) and I'm tellin' ya...it would take a LOT to take them out. It would be a massive undertaking.

 

[Jason.H.]

Awesome. Lol

 

[cowboycasey]

I know it sounds crazzy but you can do amazing things with resurfacing fiberglass with gelcoat.. Boat people do it all the time...