Getting Your Swimming Pool Ready for Summer

As we approach the Summer and (hopefully) the warmer weather, now may be the time to start thinking about painting and repairing your swimming pool for the months ahead. Should this be your first time of painting your pool, you might be wondering how big this task is, but not to worry as our tips on getting your swimming pool ready for Summer is sure to help you out.

Step 1: Choose the Paint
The first thing you will need to do in order to get your pool ready for Summer is to choose the paint you would like to use. This can be determined in many ways, the most important factor is whether your pool is new or an existing paint has previously been used.

If your swimming pool has previously been painted, then we highly recommend that you either sand blast all existing paints or coatings back to the bare render or shot blast the entire pool. This is an important process of preparing your pool for Summer as you won't know which paint has been originally or previously used. The reason that you need to take away any past paints is that not all paints adhere well to other paints, meaning it could affect the finish of your paint coating due to what's been there in the past. There are various paints and coatings that are simply not compatible with one another, so we definitely recommend starting from the base with your pool and then go from there.

Step 2: Drain and Clean the Pool
When you have chosen the right paint for your swimming pool, the next step to move onto is pretty obvious, it's time to drain the pool! Once this has been done you will be able to clean the pool to begin removing any existing paints as mentioned above, allowing you to start afresh with this years paintwork. Draining, cleaning, and removing any previous paints or coatings will allow you to remove the leaves, mould, oils stains or other imperfections that have been accumulated over time.

As mentioned previously, we strongly recommend that you sand blast or shot blast all the paintings and coatings that are currently existing in your swimming pool. The past way of ensuring that your swimming pool is completely cleaned and ready to begin your Summer preparations is to use a pressure washer with an oil remover.

Step 3: The Correct Day for Painting
You can't always go full force ahead with jumping into painting your swimming pool. It's actually really important that you pick the correct day for painting. Painting your pool can take a great deal of time, meaning you need to be confident in the day ahead and that the weather won't ruin things. We advise that you check the upcoming weather forecasts and aim for a warm, cloudy days as we find that these days are best. The ideal weather should be warm with a temperature around 15°C, minimal wind and a humidity level below 50%.

A cold day where the temperature is to low will result in the paint taking longer to dry, which will effect the application and finished results. A rain day is the worst day, so if your paint is still trying or being applied when it rains then it will cause havoc to the entire paintwork. All in all, avoid days with any chance of rain and try to paint on a day that is around 15°C with a light wind.

Step 4: Time to Start Painting
Now that you have completed the steps of preparation, it's time to start painting! By now you will already know which swimming pool paint you would like to use, so make sure you follow the application instructions provided by the manufacture or paint tin. When painting your swimming pool, it's always best to start with the walls and work your way down to the floors as this will give you the best all-round access.

Paint your pool as evenly as possible across all of the surface, ensuring that you do not apply the paint too thick, especially on the floor . Doing so will lead to 'blisters' which will cause the paintwork to fail and come away easily.

Step 5: Fill the Pool
Before you jump into the pool (literally), stop and ensure that the pool is completely dry in all areas. Even corners and areas that are shaded over as they may not of been given enough time to dry. Always allow the pool to sit for at least 14 days before filling it with water. This will not only give everywhere enough time to dry, but it will prevent any blisters from forming in the process. Take a final walk around the pool to quadruple check everywhere is dry and there's nowhere that needs touching up. Also take the time to inspect the filters and drainage systems for any potential blockage due to loose paint.

Step 6: Enjoy your Beautiful Pool
With all of the hard work and time out of the way, now is the time to really enjoy your beautiful pool. Whether it's the first time of painting your swimming pool or something you do each year, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing the results and being able to enjoy it. You've done your hard work and everything will look fabulous, so all you need to do is wait for the weather to play its part and make the most of the Summer months. Relax and enjoy your swimming pool, host an event or two and make some great memories in and around your swimming pool and outside space.