Paint or Plaster??

[Deluca]

Hello,

As I continue to clean up an old gunite pool that has not been opened in years (full album here and higher resolution http://imgur.com/a/JFZZj) I have a question I hope someone can answer. I borrowed the neighbors power washer today and immediately it became clear that I had to be very gentle with it. Some small chips came off my pools finish, however the finish appears very thin in spots and now I am not sure whether the pool has a plaster finish or just pain over concrete. Sorry grew up with vinyl liner pools but never had a concrete one, so this is all new to me. Thanks for any advice!

 

[PebblePool]

It looks like paint to me the way it is blistered out. My advice would be to get estimates to replace the paint with a proper masonry finish.

I'm of the "never paint a pool crowd". Best of luck!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Del,

While it looks like paint, I suspect it is just very thin plaster. I say this because most painted pools had plaster at one time and then some (who should be shot!!) painted them.

Since you are right down to the gunite, I vote plaster and not paint.

That said, I've been wrong before... about 50 times today alone..

Thanks,

Jim R

 

[Deluca]

Well be it paint or plaster since most of the pool surface is intact is it crazy to think I could patch up/live with the chips for a few years before I spring for a resurfacing?

 

[JamesW]

Looks like paint. Put a chip in paint thinner and one in acid to see which dissolves the chip better.

If it's plaster, the chip will bubble off carbon dioxide when put in acid.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

Sure.... The only reason to plaster is to make things look pretty or if you have a leak.. (Plaster or paint is what makes the pool water tight..

Jim R.

 

[Deluca]

So today I took a chip of of my pools surface and dropped it in some xylene and it started to dissolve. Looks like my pool was painted with a rubber based paint. It actually looks like someone chipped off all the plaster then painted it. It just goes to show protected from sunlight and clorine the paint can last a long time, my neighbor says the pool has not been touched in at least 8 years. While I understand it is not a long term solution right now I am considering just touching up with some acrylic paint. Most of the pool looks very white after today's acid wash.

 

[pooldv]

I don't know much about pool paint except that it doesn't seem to last more than 2 or 3 years. But, I can't imagine an acrylic paint would last long or even cure underwater. Seems like the water would just dissolve it since it water based.

 

[Deluca]

Unfortunately I am stuck with paint; it is in too good condition to justify the expense of sandblasting and refinishing. I am going to go with a pool specific acrylic because it will overcoat the rubber paint. I could paint with rubber but i am not sure if I have a clorinated or synthetic based paint. Reading over the data sheets the acrylic also seems a little more forgiving in surface prep. You do have to let it cure a week before filling the pool.

 

[pooldv]

Ok, that sounds better than I was picturing. You've done some good homework. Good luck!