If your inground pool surface is looking less than pristine, with stains, cracks, blisters, or fading, a fresh coat of pool paint could be just what you need. New paint on your walls and floor will totally refresh and renew the look of your pool. Painting your pool is a fairly straightforward process, and it’s a great DIY project that can save you lots of money, especially when compared to the price of plastering or resurfacing a pool. Similarly, you can save money on installation of a new pool by painting it yourself. Our handy step-by-step guide to painting a pool explains the process from start to finish, so that you can get the job done right.

  1. Choose the Right Type of Pool Paint

    • The first thing to consider in the pool painting process is the type of pool paint that the job will require. There are three types of pool paint: epoxy, rubber-based, and acrylic. The type that you choose will depend on whether your pool has been painted before, as well as the type of surface you are painting.

    • Epoxy Pool Paint

      • Epoxy paint is a high durability type of pool paint; one coat can last up to eight years! Epoxies cure to a hard, non-porous finish and are resistant to pool chemicals and UV rays. Choose an epoxy pool paint on unpainted concrete, plaster, or fiberglass pools, or for pools that have previously been painted with epoxy. Doheny’s recommends Olympic Zeron Epoxy Pool Coating.

    • Rubber-Based Pool Paint

      • Rubber-based pool paint works well on unpainted gunite, plaster, and concrete pools, or pools previously painted with rubber-based pool paint. Do not use rubber pool paint on fiberglass pools. New formulas, such as Olympic Optilon Synthetic Rubber Base Paint, provide the same results as older types of chlorinated rubber paint, with lower VOCs. Rubber-based pool paints cure to a smooth, easy to clean surface. This kind of paint requires two coats and has a lifespan of up to four years.

    • Acrylic Pool Paint

      • Acrylic pool paint can be applied to bare concrete, gunite, or plaster pool surfaces, or any previously painted surface. This water-based type of paint is easy to use and can even be applied to a damp surface. Acrylic paint is fast drying and will last about two years. Doheny’s recommends Olympic Hydrolon Water-Based Acrylic Pool Finish.

    • Primer

      • Primer is applied before paint to ensure better adhesion on unpainted surfaces. If you are painting your swimming pool with rubber-based or acrylic paint, you can use a full strength or diluted first coat of the paint as your primer. For epoxy paint, an epoxy primer should be used. Try Olympic Gunzite Rough Surface Epoxy Primer if you are applying it to an especially rough surface.

  2. Determine How Much Pool Paint You Need

    • You don’t want to run out of paint in the middle of the job, or buy way too much and overspend, so start by figuring out the square footage of your entire pool (all surfaces to be painted). Divide that number by the square footage per gallon that your particular type of paint will cover. (This information can be found in the product description at doheny.com). This is the number of gallons you need to purchase. We recommend purchasing at least one extra gallon, just in case.

  3. Gather Your Materials

    • For a smooth painting process, you will need the following materials:
      • Submersible pump
      • Garden hose
      • Scrub brush
      • TSP and muriatic acid or one step prep solution
      • ⅜ inch nap roller and extension pole
      • Paint roller pan or 5-gallon bucket with grid
      • Painter’s tape
      • Brushes for painting edges and corners
      • Coarse sandpaper (fiberglass pools only)
      • Pool paint and primer

  4. Check the Weather

    • When you are ready to start the job, it is important to find a time when you have at least a week where the temperature doesn't go below 40 degrees F, or above 90 degrees F, and no rain is forecasted. You need your pool to be completely dry when you start painting, unless you are using acrylic paint. Also, consider whether there has been a lot of rain recently, as you risk floating your pool if you drain it when the water table is too high.

  5. Drain Your Pool

    • Before you can prepare your pool surfaces for paint, you need to safely drain the entire pool using a submersible pump. Open the hydrostatic relief valves at the bottom of the pool to avoid floating it.

  6. Prepare Your Pool for Paint

    1. Start by scraping away any loose or flaking paint. Then repair any cracks or divots in the pool surfaces.
    2. Use Olympic Prep Magic to prepare your pool surfaces. Rinse thoroughly. This product allows you to clean and etch the pool in one step, instead of following the traditional three step process of scrubbing the pool with trisodium phosphate (TSP), followed by acid washing with diluted muriatic acid, and then rinsing again with TSP.
    3. If you are painting a fiberglass pool, it does not require etching. Instead, sand the entire pool with coarse sandpaper and then clean with TSP.
    4. Pump out all of the remaining water from the pool, using a shop vac or towels to get the last of it. Let the pool dry for 3-5 days.
    5. Use painter’s tape to tape up the lights, tiles, and fittings.

  7. Paint the Pool

    • The pool is prepped and completely dry, and you are ready to paint! If you are using a primer, apply that first and allow it to dry completely. Check the paint manufacturer’s instructions for drying times.
    • Mix paint thoroughly before beginning. Start in the deep end and work your way to the shallow end. Use your ⅜ inch nap roller with extension pole to reach all the way up the pool walls. Use brushes to cut in the edges and corners. Work carefully and quickly, applying even pressure as you go. Be sure to monitor how much paint you are using to avoid running out. Keep your pool deck clean with a leaf blower throughout the process to avoid debris sticking in the wet paint.
    • If your paint requires more than one coat, be sure to wait for the manufacturer-recommended amount of time before applying the second coat. Drying times may vary slightly based on the temperature, humidity, and wind.

  8. Allow Pool Paint to Dry

    • It usually takes 3 - 5 days for pool paint to dry. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the drying time for your specific paint. If you get any rain during this time, remove the water as quickly as possible and allow extra time for drying. Remove painter’s tape.

  9. Fill the Pool

    • After your pool has dried completely and you have replaced the hydrostatic relief valves, it's time to add water. Refill the pool using one or two garden hoses and balance the water chemistry. Start with pH, alkalinity, and hardness, then start the filter system and add chlorine tabs. Follow with chlorine stabilizer.

  10. Enjoy Your Newly Painted Pool!

    • Your freshly painted pool looks great and is ready for swimmers! Admire your handy work with friends and family as you relax in your revitalized backyard oasis.

Pool owners who want to paint a new pool or repaint an old one can complete the process in about a week with the right tools and some preparation. If you have any questions about painting your swimming pool, or about any of our pool products, call us today at 800-574-7665 or visit us on the web at doheny.com.