Vinyl swimming pool liners can be repainted using epoxy paints, premium acrylic paints, and water-based acrylic paints. Environmental concerns about the use of chlorinated rubber paints have caused their use to be largely phased out.
The typical lifespan of a vinyl liner is anywhere from 15-20 years and where your liner falls in that range depends, most crucially, upon your proper maintenance of the pool's chemistry.
Two paints that provide decent results on the liner of an above-ground pool are rubber paint and epoxy paint. When choosing a paint to cover the liner, look for one formulated to adhere well in moist conditions.
Pools can be painted with three types of paint. Epoxy paint is the most durable and lasts seven to 10 years before repainting is necessary. Less-expensive chlorinated rubber-based paint lasts only about half as long. Water-based acrylic paint is easy to use and inexpensive, but only lasts two to three years.
High concentrations of chlorine (above 1.5 ppm) will attack the liner and bleach it, thus damaging it. Any level below this range will weaken its ability to kill off bacteria. The addition of chlorine to your pool water has to be done in a careful manner.
If the calcium levels are too high, you see the white spots, which is the calcium hardening on the liner. Chemicals that are added can raise or lower the calcium levels. When levels reach above the 400-PPM level, you will see cloudiness in the water, making the pool appear dirty and the scaling will begin.
Can you pressure wash a vinyl pool liner? No, you should not use a pressure washer to clean a vinyl pool liner. A pressure washer is very powerful and could easily tear your liner, resulting in a very costly repair.
Three types of paint often applied to concrete pools are epoxy paint, chlorinated rubber paint and acrylic paint. Epoxy and chlorinated rubber paints are actually essentially matched in quality, durability and process – meaning that discerning which of the two your particular pool has can be extremely difficult.
To paint the pool, you'll need to degrease the surface with TSP, then acid etch the plaster, followed by another washing and scrubbing with TSP. For acrylic pool paints, the pool can be painted damp, but for epoxy paints (the longest lasting pool paint), you'll need to let the pool air dry for 3-5 days before painting.
The sanding process will prepare it for a good epoxy coating bond. Once it's been sanded properly, wash the pool as previously detailed—acid washing isn't necessary. Allow to dry completely and you're ready to resurface your pool!
If you happened to spill the paint on something like a countertop, or on a vinyl floor, then use some shredded paper or kitty litter to help clump up the paint, and then use a dirt pan to pick it up. Wipe it up. If the paint is still wet, then use a damp rag to clean up as much of the paint as possible.
Can you put a new vinyl pool liner over an old one? We do not recommend that you leave your old pool liner in your above ground swimming pool when replacing the liner. It may seem like an extra layer of protection, but in reality, it will create more problems for you.
On average, inground vinyl liner pool owners need to replace their liners around every 5-9 years. The lifespan of your pool's liner also largely depends on how the pool is maintained, so some will have to replace their liner sooner and others can go a bit longer.
Example: A 30' x 10' rectangular shaped pool with an average depth of 5' will have about 730 sq. ft. of paintable surface area. If a previous coating is present, each coat should take about 2 gallons of pool paint or 4 total gallons for two coats.
Swimming pool resurfacing costs vary between $1,000 and $30,000. DIYing your swimming pool repainting project can cost as little as $1,500. Expect to pay about $6,500 per 1,000 square feet for high-end options.
When you are swimming, you would get scratched or roughened when you step out of the pool. Also, you could get scratched or your swimsuit could get torn with the jagged plaster. If it's unpleasant to run your hand along the side of the pool or climb up the stairs then its because your plaster is wearing thin.
Longevity. According to Pool Center, epoxy pool paint is the most durable and long lasting variety. A pool painted with epoxy shouldn't need repainting for seven to 10 years. Acrylic is much less durable, and is more appropriate for pools that receive regular repainting.
Epoxy paint is a solvent-based pool paint.
It can be used on various pool types, like concrete and even fiberglass, and it creates a unified, finished surface. The problem is, this paint can be kind of finicky.
Like we mentioned before, the three main types of pool paints are acrylic, epoxy, and chlorinated rubber. Chlorinated rubber paints aren't used quite as much as they used to be because there are more environmentally friendly options available now. But they're still a good choice for durability and longevity.
Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it's often necessary to drain your pool — completely or partially — every 3-5 years. Draining your pool often isn't necessary, especially if you're following a proper and regular maintenance program.