In November 2024, Fibreglaze restored this 11 x 4 m painted concrete pool in Elanora, Queensland. The 100 m² interior had a worn, patchy coating, and a V-joint was required below the retained waterline tiles before the new lining could be installed.
The painted surface was mechanically prepared, the V-joint was formed, and the substrate was primed and levelled with resin filler. Two layers of fibreglass laminate and two AquaGuard topcoats completed the Sapphire Blue Speckle interior.
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.
Pool looks so good mate.
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.
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.
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.
That depends on what remains beneath the faded surface. A cosmetic coating over oxidised, porous or poorly bonded material may only conceal the weak layer and can fail with it. Proper resurfacing removes unsound material, repairs cracks, blisters and soft areas, levels the pool and applies a continuous system suited to permanent immersion. If the existing shell and finish are still sound, the required preparation may be less extensive, but the decision should follow inspection rather than colour fading alone.
Both can feel rough, but they affect the surface differently. Calcium scale adds a raised, chalky or crusted mineral layer, often around the waterline or where evaporation is high. A worn finish has lost material and may feel etched, porous, pitted or uneven across broader areas. Scale can also form over an already deteriorated surface. Water testing, inspection and controlled spot testing help distinguish a removable deposit from surface breakdown before aggressive cleaning or resurfacing is recommended.
Send us a few photos and our team can help identify the likely issue and the most suitable next step.
