Service
Pool Resurfacing
Resurfacing replaces the surface of a pool rather than covering it. We resurface concrete, gunite and fiberglass pools, and on concrete and gunite the new surface is plaster. It is the right job when the finish is rough underfoot, stained, flaking, or worn through to the shell, because at that point another coat of anything only postpones it. Most resurfacing jobs take one to three days. We resurface pools in Wilmington and across coastal North Carolina.
Replacing the surface, not covering it
The pool is drained and the failed surface is removed, so the new one bonds to sound material instead of to a finish that is already letting go. That is the difference between resurfacing and painting, and it is why resurfacing lasts: the new finish becomes the surface rather than a layer sitting on top of an old one.
Taking the old surface off shows what is underneath. Cracks, hollow spots and earlier patch repairs come to light at this stage, and we show them to you rather than cover them over. A surface laid over a problem inherits the problem.
On a concrete or gunite pool the new surface is plaster, applied to the prepared shell. A fresh plaster finish is smooth underfoot and evenly coloured, which is most of what people mean when they say a pool looks tired.
Fiberglass pools are resurfaced too. A fiberglass shell is a different material from a concrete one, so it is prepared and finished differently, and we will tell you exactly what your pool needs once we have seen it rather than quote a method in advance.
Most jobs take one to three days. Where yours falls in that range depends on the size of the pool, how much of the old surface has to come off and the weather, and you will have a schedule for your pool before any work begins.
Resurfacing compared with painting
Homeowners often compare quotes for both, so here is an honest comparison rather than a push toward the bigger job.
- What each involves
- Resurfacing removes the old surface and applies a new one: plaster, on a concrete or gunite pool. Painting applies a coating over the existing surface.
- When to paint
- The shell is sound, the existing surface is intact, and the goal is a better appearance. It is a quicker job at a lower cost.
- When to resurface
- The surface is rough, failing or flaking, or has already been coated repeatedly. A new coat will not hold on a surface that is breaking down.
- Time
- Resurfacing typically takes one to three days. Painting is usually the quicker of the two.
- Cost
- Resurfacing costs more up front. Whether it costs more over time depends on how many coats the alternative needs.
- Fix leaks first
- Either way, a pool that is losing water should be checked for leaks before it is refinished. Resurfacing over a leak that has not been found only hides the problem.
Tell us about your pool
Describe what you are seeing, and we will tell you what it may mean and what a visit would involve. If the water level is dropping fast, call us. You will reach a family-owned, owner-led team.
How do I know if my pool needs resurfacing?
The surface tells you. It feels rough enough to scrape feet or snag swimsuits, it is stained in a way brushing and chemistry will not shift, it is flaking or lifting, or it has worn through so the shell shows. A pool that has already been painted several times and is peeling again is in the same place: a new coat has nothing sound left to hold onto.
Should I resurface or paint my pool?
If the surface is intact and your concern is how it looks, painting is the quicker, cheaper job. If the surface is rough, failing or flaking, resurfacing is the one that lasts, because it replaces the surface instead of covering it.
What finish do you use?
Plaster, on concrete and gunite pools. Fiberglass pools are finished differently because the shell is a different material, and we will tell you what yours needs once we have seen it.
Do you resurface fiberglass pools?
Yes. We resurface fiberglass pools as well as concrete and gunite ones. A fiberglass shell is prepared and finished differently from a concrete one, so the first step is seeing the pool and the condition of its surface.
How long does pool resurfacing take?
Most jobs take one to three days. The size of the pool, how much of the old surface has to come off and the weather decide where in that range yours falls, and you will have a schedule before work begins.
How much does resurfacing cost?
It depends on the size and shape of the pool and how much of the old surface has to come off. Call or text with the size of your pool and a few photos of the surface, and we will give you a quote before any work begins.
Should a leak be found first?
Yes. Resurfacing a pool that is losing water means covering a problem that has not been solved. Leak detection is the work this company was built on, so we can find and deal with a leak before resurfacing begins.