Best Practices for Renovating and Preserving Your Concrete and Plaster In-Ground Pool

A concrete and plaster in-ground pool consists of several key components: the concrete and steel shell, bond beam, coping, tile, plaster, equipment, and decking. Built right and well-maintained, these pools can last 15 years or more before needing to be refinished. In the following article, we summarize the best plaster pool renovation practices we’ve learned over nearly 70 years in the pool business.

Start sooner, not later, to get an evaluation

Get an evaluation as soon as you see signs of aging plaster. If you think the plaster is getting rough or small cracks are appearing, call us for a free consultation. If everything looks OK for now, we’ll tell you. If something needs attention, we’ll provide you with options and estimates.

Putting off renovation can be the most expensive mistake you could make. The longer you wait, the more (often hidden) damage is done. Once the surface damage reaches a point you can no longer ignore it, hidden, costly and time-consuming repairs will be uncovered after your contractor commences work.

Your 3 Renovation Options

When it’s time to re-plaster, you’ll have 3 options:

1. Renew: This is the simplest option, and your best choice if your pool was built well, if it was well kept, and if you’ve decided to re-plaster before the surface shows signs of serious deterioration. It is also an opportunity to upgrade your pool surfaces and finishes, add new tile or decking, and bring new life to your pool and the area around it without changing its core design.
2. Restore: When a pool has suffered more deterioration, you will need to repair damaged plaster and concrete. You may also need to repair or replace other essential elements, such as coping, tile, decking, plumbing, filtration, and equipment. In addition to bringing your pool back to peak condition, consider upgrades that give the area a new look, or add new equipment such as a water care system that makes it easier to maintain your pool.
3. Reimagine: Renovation is also an opportunity to reimagine your outdoor living space. You can add a spa, water and fire features, new outdoor living spaces and structures. Remodel your pool with a sun shelf, new pool-wide steps, add a bump out, round square corners, or make round corners square.

Look behind the surface after the projects starts

For your protection, Budd Pools & Spas looks behind the plaster surface of your pool. Some conditions can only be revealed after renovation begins. When issues surface, fixing them prevents complications during renovation and saves you from future, more costly maintenance issues.

Sometimes problems beneath the surface stem from less‑than‑ideal choices made by a contractor during the original construction of the pool. Maintaining proper water balance is another cause. Whatever the cause, taking care of these details now ensures a successful renovation.

As the project ends the most important start begins

Your pool renovation job doesn’t stop once it’s repaired. Maintaining that new pool look and feel should start immediately with a carefully executed initial pool start-up. Even if the renovation has been completed at the end of the season, to protect your new surface, the pool needs to be started-up before it is then prepared for proper closure. A professional start-up takes 30 days and requires careful attention to every detail.

How to protect your renovation investment

When your renovation project is finished, it’s time to turn your attention to maintaining the value and longevity of your pool. It all depends on consistent and continuous expert care. These are the two most critical pool care tasks:

1. Good pool closings come before pool openings: For plaster-surfaced pools, professional closing is more important than the opening. A professional pool-closing ensures pool surfaces remain sound and ready for the next season. And a good closing makes for an easier opening and a better pool season the next year.
2. Year-round pool care: Plaster pools just need better care year-round. For a pool that’s been built right or properly renovated, the remaining key factor in plaster longevity is consistent, timely water care and water balance.

If you can’t or don’t choose to do it all yourself, think carefully about where you look for help. There is a lot of misinformation about pool care on blogs and YouTube. And many freelancers and companies don’t have the training and experience you can rely on.

Lasting value

At the conclusion of every Budd project, whether new or renovation, we’ll provide a custom water maintenance and service plan specifically for your pool and the level of care you require. It’s part of our commitment to the Budd Quality by Design process. From design, to build, to maintain, and renovate, Budd Pools & Spas designs for beauty, quality and lasting value.