Nothing lasts forever, and your swimming pool surface is no exception. Even when installed by the most experienced pool technicians, there will still come a time when you need to invest in pool resurfacing to give it a new lease on life.
If you recognize the following signs, now’s the right time to schedule swimming pool resurfacing with trusted pool remodeling experts:
#1: Rough, Cracked, or Peeling Pool Surfaces
After years of UV exposure, water chemistry, and cool cannonball moves, pool plaster naturally wears down. And once it starts, a small imperfection can quickly become a huge repair job. What’s more, the rough surface that a failing pool surface leaves can snag swimsuits and scrape skin – two things you don’t want when you’re just trying to beat the heat and hang out with friends.
Why Your Pool Surface Starts to Break Down
You haven’t done anything wrong when your pool surface starts to break down. As any pool expert will tell you, it’s the nature of time – things break down. Most plaster products last around seven to 12 years before you need to resurface pool walls and floors.
Fluctuating water chemistry and UV exposure, especially from harsh DFW summers, can also speed up the deterioration, along with saltwater systems, heavy use, and even harsh winters.
Rough Plaster, Hairline Cracks & Peeling Plaster
When you notice rough plaster, this is almost always an indication that the smooth outer layer of your plaster is starting to wear thin. A healthy pool surface should be comfortable on bare feet and smooth to the touch. If it’s abrasive, the top layer has eroded, often due to years of water movement and chemical exposure.
Alongside rough plaster, you may also notice hairline cracks. These are common in older plaster and typically relate to sun exposure, normal aging, chemical-related stress, and temperature-related expansion.
While hairline cracks don’t usually mean there’s an issue with the structure of your pool, they do mean that the plaster is reaching the end of its working life, and pool repair professionals will soon be required to carry out pool resurfacing.
Is your pool surface peeling or flaking, rather than cracking or feeling rough? This also means you’ll need to schedule swimming pool resurfacing. Peeling plaster is essentially delamination: the bond between plaster layers has broken down, causing pieces to peel, flake, or lift.
The most common causes of pool surface peeling include:
- Age-related weakening
- Improper curing when it was first installed
- Low-quality water chemistry
- Freeze-thaw cycles
When Surface Damage Means It’s Time to Resurface
You might not have anticipated needing a pool renovation, but rough parts, cracks, and peeling indicate it’s time to resurface. Now is a good time to contact your local pool remodel specialist if:
- The roughness isn’t isolated and, instead, it’s widespread
- You’ve patched cracks, and they’ve returned
- Flaking areas are growing quickly
#2: Stains and Discoloration That Don’t Go Away
While some pool stains are purely cosmetic and can be removed through thorough pool cleaning, not all are. Some are deep-set stains that point to chemical imbalances or aging plaster.
Deep-Set Stains vs. Simple Surface Marks
Understanding the differences between deep-set stains and simple surface marks is integral to taking the right actions. For simple stains, you can brush them away or treat your pool with routine chemicals. When stains are stubborn, your local pool technician can use their expertise to remove them and provide weekly maintenance to help prevent their recurrence.
Deep-set stains are different. They are often caused by age or mineral buildup and penetrate the plaster. When your pool technician is unable to resolve issues with techniques such as acid washing, pool resurfacing is usually the only solution.
Mineral, Metal, and Algae Staining Explained
Did you know that different colored stains can have a range of causes? For example, stains from minerals, metals, and algae each leave a different color.
You’ll notice brown or green stains when your swimming pool water has high copper or iron levels. If calcium scaling is present, cloudy white patches will be visible. Dark, stubborn spots are caused by black algae. While such stains may be easy to clean when your plaster is fresh and smooth, old plaster becomes porous over time, making them much harder to remove.
#3: Chalky Residue and Aging Plaster
If you’ve ever run your hands along your pool’s walls or floors and felt chalky residue, it may indicate a weak or aging surface.
What “Plaster Dusting” Tells You About Your Pool
As a general rule, plaster dusting means that the plaster in your pool is reaching the end of its life. However, there’s more to it than that.
If you’ve noticed excessive dust, consider whether you’re being overly vigorous with your brushing to remove pool contaminants or whether there is a chemical imbalance. Aggressive pool water chemistry dissolves calcium from the pool surface due to an imbalance, which causes permanent damage. If you’re struggling with chemical balancing, leave this task to the professionals and protect your pool surface.
How Erosion Affects Water Clarity and Comfort
You might be surprised by how aging and chalky plaster affect your swimming experience – and even your utility bill! Clouds of dust from the eroding pool surface reduce water clarity. The resultant dust also makes the filters work harder, increasing your energy usage.
You can’t help but feel uncomfortable when gritty sediment rubs against your skin on the floor or steps. Over time, the erosion also exposes the coarse aggregate underneath.
#4: Water Chemistry Is Harder (and More Expensive) to Maintain
You may be scheduling swimming pool resurfacing before long when you realize just how hard and expensive it can be to balance the water levels in your pool when the pool surface is failing.
As the plaster ages, it begins to leach minerals into the water, disrupting what might have been easy-to-maintain chemistry. Before long, you may feel as though you’re constantly adjusting pH and alkalinity levels or adding more chlorine.
How Old Plaster Throws Off pH Balance
Old plaster throws off the pH balance of your swimming pool. This is because it releases calcium hydroxide into the water, raising the pH levels. When your pH levels are consistently high, you may experience cloudy water, scale buildup, and reduced sanitization effectiveness.
Using More Chemicals but Getting Worse Results
Are you using more and more chemicals to balance the water, but feel like you’re getting nowhere? Some property owners even find themselves using more chlorine than normal, and still experiencing algae growth. So, they perform frequent shock treatments – only for them to no longer solve the problem. These are all signs of a failing pool surface. Don’t hesitate to contact trusted pool resurfacing experts for a comprehensive pool renovation service.
Why Resurfacing Can Actually Cut Maintenance Hassle
You may be wondering whether resurfacing your swimming pool will solve all your problems, such as higher utility bills, cloudy water, and increased reliance on chemicals. The answer in the case of a failing pool surface is yes.
New pool surfaces are less porous and smoother, making water balancing easier. You also use fewer chemicals to stabilize the water. Finally, your filters don’t have to work as hard, so you’ll notice increased energy efficiency.
#5: Your Pool Just Looks Tired
There doesn’t have to be a single problem that makes you want to resurface pool walls and floors. Your pool can simply look tired! That’s reason enough to call in the experts.
Faded Colors, Dated Finishes, and Worn Textures
When your pool isn’t aesthetically pleasing, it can hurt your property’s curb appeal. You might not be entirely happy if your plaster has faded to a dull color or has an outdated look, especially if you prefer a modern option like quartz or pebble. Texture inconsistencies from previous repairs may also prompt pool resurfacing.
Modern Resurfacing Options That Refresh Your Backyard
While white plaster is a common, cost-effective, and straightforward pool resurfacing option, it’s not your only option. Ask your local pool remodeling business in DWF about pebble, quartz, polished, and other contemporary finishes.
You can also explore different colors that make your pool water appear deeper, clearer, or more vibrant, as well as upgrades such as tile and LED lighting.
When to Call a Pool Resurfacing Specialist in DFW
It’s not always easy to know when you should call a pool resurfacing specialist in DFW, especially when you only notice one or two of these signs mentioned above. However, pick up the phone when:
- You see multiple signs from this list
- Stains and cracks have spread across a large area
- Your upkeep costs are rising, but your pool looks worse
Ready to Resurface? Call Safari Pool Service
You deserve a swimming pool that you’re proud to spend time in with your loved ones. If that hasn’t been your experience, schedule pool resurfacing today! The experienced pool technicians at Safari Pool Service in Grapevine, Texas, offer comprehensive swimming pool resurfacing throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, helping you get your pool back in action!
You can also rely on the friendly team for a range of other pool services, including pool cleaning, equipment repair, filter maintenance, weekly maintenance, and more. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.
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