It can sometimes seem as though there’s never a right time to perform pool maintenance tasks like pool resurfacing and equipment inspections. You’re too busy enjoying the pool to be spending your precious time maintaining, cleaning, and repairing it!
However, there will come a time when you can’t hold off those crucial tasks like swimming pool resurfacing any longer. So, when should you add it to your to-do list? Winter, of course.
Keep reading to learn why winter pool maintenance makes the most sense, and what you can achieve during the coldest months of the year.
Why Winter Is the Best Time
Among all seasons in North Central Texas, winter offers the most significant advantages for pool resurfacing and other essential maintenance tasks. The colder temperatures mean you’ll be using your swimming pool less often, so there’s a generous window of time for trusted contractors to perform maintenance. Since it’s not peak swimming season, lead times for swimming pool professionals are usually shorter, as well.
What’s more, the mild winter weather allows for more predictable curing when creating a new pool surface.
Surface Options & Timelines
Deciding to perform swimming pool resurfacing in winter is easy, but deciding which pool surface to install is a little harder! There are pros and cons associated with multiple pool surfaces.
Plaster
There’s a reason why you see so many white plaster pools dotted around Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. It’s an aesthetically pleasing, cost-effective option that also feels wonderfully soft underfoot. You also can’t help but fall in love with the smooth, classic-looking surface that ties in seamlessly with all kinds of outdoor furniture.
Plaster is undoubtedly worth your consideration. However, it’s worth noting that its lifespan is around five to 10 years. It can also be more susceptible to discoloration, etching, and staining than other pool surface types.
Pebble/Quartz: durability, texture, color choices
If you’re looking for a pool surface material that looks smart and lasts the distance, pebble or quartz is a great option. These materials are engineered to last, and they have a nice, natural, textured feel while also offering great color depth. Most pool owners find that, with the right water chemistry, pebble and quartz finishes last 15 years or more.
How long each option takes
While materials’ longevity and aesthetics play a huge role in the type of surfacing material you choose for your swimming pool, so does the installation and curing process. The more time it takes, the longer you have to wait to get back in your pool!
It typically takes one day to drain a pool and two to four days to chip out the old pool surface, apply a bond coat, and complete surface application. The fill takes around 1-2 days.
Curing is what takes the longest amount of time:
- Plaster: 7-10 days
- Quartz: 7-14 days
- Pebble: 7-21 days
Tile, Coping & Minor Repairs You Can Knock Out Now
With the pool already drained and pool resurfacing underway, it makes sense to complete other pool maintenance during winter. Now is an excellent time to:
- Replace outdated waterline tiles
- Replace cracked coping
- Replace missing grout
- Complete minor repairs like skimmer fixes
- Perform light niche work
- Perform mastic replacement
Winter Maintenance Basics
There might be fewer people swimming in your pool over winter, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t perform swimming pool maintenance. In fact, you should have a regular pool maintenance schedule year-round.
Perform weekly chemistry
Protect your new pool surface and equipment by performing weekly chemistry testing. Ensure the pH, alkalinity, chlorine, calcium, and CYA levels are all within range.
Your local pool technician can assist with chemical balancing, but as a general rule:
- pH levels: 7.4-7.6
- Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm
- Chlorine: 1-3 ppm
- Calcium hardness: 200-400 ppm
- CYA: 30-50 ppm (non-salt) / 60-80 ppm (saltwater)
Pump run times for cold months
Your pump typically doesn’t have to work as hard during the winter months, so you can choose energy-smart settings to save power. If you have a variable-speed pump, you can run it at a lower RPM for four to eight hours a day. However, if there’s a freeze warning, put it into freeze protection mode or increase the run time to prevent the lines from freezing.
Brush & skim schedule; filter backwash/clean cadence
Many people assume they don’t need to brush and skim their pool as often in winter because it isn’t being used as frequently. However, these pool maintenance tasks are still important.
Brush your pool at least once a week, and even more frequently if you’ve recently performed pool resurfacing. You should also skim every few days, or more often if leaves are falling in your pool. Schedule filter backwashing or cleaning every four to six weeks, depending on the type of filter you have.
Add-On Upgrades That Pay Off by Spring
After frequent use of your pool over the warmer months of the year, you’ve likely thought about the upgrades that could make your swimming experience so much better. Now that you’re in maintenance mode, why not treat yourself to some of those add-on upgrades?
Variable-speed pump, heater tune-up, automation, LED lighting
A number of upgrades make perfect sense for comfort, convenience, and home value:
- A variable speed pump to cut energy use
- A tuned-up heater or a complete replacement for reliability
- An automation system to control lighting, schedules, and chemistry from a mobile device
- LED lighting for aesthetics and improved visibility
Project Planning
With winter now upon us, it makes sense to get swimming pool maintenance tasks underway! Schedule pool resurfacing today, so that your pool is resurfaced, cured, and swim-ready come springtime.
How Safari Pool Service quotes and schedules winter work
Curious about what pool maintenance during winter will look like? Let Safari Pool Service in Dallas-Fort Worth take the lead. Our team will:
- Inspect your pool surface and equipment
- Provide a free estimate with material options
- Forecast start dates based on our current workload and the weather
- Perform your swimming pool resurfacing and other maintenance tasks!
Typical start dates and cure times before spring
We know how important it is to get your pool resurfaced and ready for the warmer weather ahead. Our ideal start window for winter pool maintenance is November to February, with a typical resurfacing project, including curing time, taking 2-4 weeks.
Ready to get started? Contact the team at Safari Pool Service, and let’s get pool remodeling underway!
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