In May 2025, Fibreglaze restored this painted concrete pool in Glass House Mountains, Queensland. The existing painted surface showed visible staining, including rust spots reported through the coating.
After the pool was drained, the painted interior was acid-washed, mechanically ground and grid-cut before a vinyl ester primer and resin filler were applied. The pool was then reconstructed with two layers of Fibretech fibreglass laminate and finished with two Sand Speckle AquaGuard topcoats, while the existing waterline tile band was retained.
These photographs follow the work from the pool’s original condition through preparation and repair to the completed finish.
These were the main pool conditions recorded for this project. Select an issue to learn more about its common signs, possible causes and repair considerations.
Additional views of the preparation, repair work and completed finish.
It looks fantastic in the photos.
Answers to common questions about the pool conditions and restoration work shown in this project.
These are common signs that the existing gelcoat is oxidising or wearing away. If the surface is faded, difficult to clean, rough underfoot or no longer holding its colour, resurfacing will restore a smooth, fresh-looking finish.
A fine hairline crack is not automatically structural, but its width alone does not determine the risk. Location, depth, direction, displacement, moisture, surrounding soundness and whether it is growing are all important. Fine crazing may be limited to the surface, while a crack through the shell can admit water or indicate movement. Photograph and mark the crack so changes can be monitored, and arrange an assessment if it is widening, leaking, recurring through repairs or associated with movement.
Pool stain colour alone does not confirm the cause. Brown or rust-coloured marks may involve iron or organic debris; green, grey or black marks can involve algae, copper, manganese or material trapped in a rough surface. Location, texture, recent water changes and the way a small test area responds are more useful than colour by itself. The source also needs attention, such as metals in fill water, corroding equipment, poor circulation or debris, otherwise the stain can return after cleaning.
Oxidised gelcoat commonly looks faded, patchy or chalky and may leave a powdery residue when rubbed. Calcium scale is a mineral deposit added to the surface, so it is more likely to feel raised, crusted or sandpaper-like, particularly around the waterline and high-evaporation areas. Staining and scale can also sit over a worn finish, making visual diagnosis difficult. Check the water balance and have the surface assessed before using aggressive chemicals, because a treatment suited to scale can further damage ageing gelcoat.
Ongoing water loss, damp ground, staining, water movement at the crack or a bucket test that confirms abnormal loss can indicate leakage, although the actual source may be elsewhere. Structural concern increases where the crack is displaced, widening, repeated through an earlier repair or accompanied by settlement, bowed walls or movement at steps and fittings. Neither condition can be confirmed from a photograph alone. Leak testing and inspection of the surrounding shell are used to determine whether lining repair, plumbing work or structural investigation is required.
Many stains can be treated without resurfacing when the underlying finish is sound and the stain type is correctly identified. Organic, metal and mineral deposits require different treatment approaches, so the safest starting point is water testing and a controlled test on a small area. Resurfacing becomes more relevant when stains are deeply embedded, repeatedly return through a porous surface, or occur with widespread roughness, pitting, peeling or earlier failed repairs. Correcting the stain source remains important after either treatment.
Send us a few photos and our team can help identify the likely issue and the most suitable next step.
