Painting a Swimming Pool After Tile Problems — from Plasterwork to a Durable Solution
For facility managers who have been carrying out repairs on a tiled pool for several years, the idea of 'just painting the swimming pool' feels like too simple a solution. Rightly so – a hardware store wall paint won't work. However, a professional 2-component epoxy coating combined with the correct preparation is indeed a definitive approach.
On this page, we explain the differences between 'just painting' and a PoolFIX renovation, and why the latter approach solves the tile problem for decades.
What 'Just Painting' Doesn't Solve
A layer of paint over existing tiles will not adhere (due to glaze), will not level (grout lines will remain visible as relief), will quickly peel (no chlorine resistance), and will leach pigment into the water (not a high-solid film). It is the literal translation of 'cosmetic patching' – with no prospect of durability.
What a Professional Renovation Does Achieve
1) Preparation: fine blasting to remove glaze and create a mechanical adhesion profile. 2) Repair: hollow areas, cracks, and loose sections are filled with epoxy repair mortar. 3) Levelling: grout lines and level differences are smoothed with 2-component epoxy mortar. 4) Coating: two layers of ACRATON® Dolphin (total 300 µm dry film thickness) in a chosen colour. 5) Curing: 6 days underwater cure at 20 °C.
The result is not a paint layer but a chemically bonded, closed film that functions as part of the concrete surface.
Why 2-Component Epoxy?
1-component paints (alkyd, latex) dry through evaporation and oxidation – not through chemical reaction. They remain susceptible to chlorine, UV, and mechanical wear. 2-component epoxy reacts chemically to form an irreversible polymerisation and, after curing, effectively becomes a new material – no longer dependent on solvent properties.
When is the Right Time for This?
With more than 3 annual tile repairs or a total maintenance burden exceeding €3.50 per m² per year, a renovation usually pays for itself within 4 years. PoolFIX can provide a return-on-investment calculation based on your maintenance history.
Calculate volume for your pool
Litres, pails and price estimate in seconds — pallet discount included.
Prices exclude VAT and shipping. Based on €40/L and the theoretical coverage from the datasheet (2.7 m²/L at 300 µm DFT).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a paint and a coating?
Can I do this myself?
How much does it cost per m²?
How long does the entire process take?
Can I repaint after 15 years?
Does this also work in a liner pool?
Slight deviations between sample and final result may occur. No rights can be derived from this overview.
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Ready for a renovation that lasts decades?
Request a no-obligation technical call with PoolFIX — exclusive European distributor of ACRATON® Dolphin.