The surface layer of your pool has become rough and worn out? Then, it’s definitely time to ‘change clothes’ and freshen up your favorite, cosy nook in the backyard. Insufficient information and inexperience impose the need to inquire about it better before the works start. Which material to choose and why – it’s an eternal dilemma. Your friends say one thing, your manufacturers persuade you to do something else, often only in order to convince you to buy their product.
In order to help yourself make a decision, you need to consider many factors and, above all, find out about the choice of materials that are generally used. Then, according to your possibilities and the existing conditions in the yard, you decide on what would suit you best. It’s basically all up to you – and you need to do it right if you want it to look smokin’ hot and be functional, too.
Let’s talk about some of the most popular and most commonly materials used in resurfacing first.
Plaster is one of the cheapest options for recovering, and for that reason, people usually choose it rather than other alternatives.
However, given the lowest price, it also provides the shortest lifespan and after a few years, you may have a problem as it will require rework… again.
As PoolResurfacingChandler.com states, you’ll know that it’s time to do so when you notice small cracks, stains or similar changes in your existing plaster The good thing is that repairing is easy – you just reapply it and paint it in the desired color.
Pebble stones are usually applied in combination with mortar. Resistance to unwanted dirt and stains is probably the major benefit that comes out of this option, which makes maintenance much easier.
Of course, it also makes it more popular, as nobody wants to bother much about this. For all those who want to have the impression of swimming somewhere in nature, for example on the river, this will do a marvellous job.
Concrete is generally considered a traditional choice in this situation. Longevity and quite a decent resistance to destruction are its basic features.
The aesthetic quality is negligible compared to the previously mentioned plaster and pebble, but at least you can choose the desired color of concrete.
Arranging the interior of the pool in such cases is often just one of the to-do points on your checklist. During resurfacing, its environment is usually remade as well and then brick, wood and various types of tiles can also be considered.
Non-slip and safe
This point should be considered first if the first thing you want to take care of is your health and wellbeing. We all know how fatal the injuries caused by slipping and falling might be – breaking body parts or hitting the head hard on the floor can even lead to death.
For that reason, just try to secure yourself in time with a non-slip rim around the pool. And especially if you have small children. Here, pebble stones would probably be most suitable due to their rough surface.
Flat, not rough, without bumps
Hiring a master to do this job is not a negligible item as the quality of the completed task will depend on their skills. The entire surface must be well leveled, without any protrusions that might bother you while swimming or just chilling in the pool.
You know that feeling when you grab the edge of the pool and it scratches your hands as the material seems to be too rough? Don’t let it happen! This is the opportunity to choose wisely and avoid such inconveniences.
Price
Think about how willing you are to invest in this – if you only want to renew the old and worn concrete base or you want to do it because you’re tired of its old ‘look’. You must answer this question first to know exactly what you’re looking for. And after that, consider your budget.
Be aware that the second option is usually more expensive, as there’s an aesthetic aspect which requires more funds. As we previously stated, some materials are cheaper than others, but if you want to decide well, take into account all pros and cons and guide your search according to that.
Color
The choice of color will undoubtedly affect the outcome since the whole aesthetic experience will be enhanced by this factor. The choice of the perfect color will rest your tired eyes – for example peacefully blue, enough to imagine yourself in the crystal clear sea at some exotic destination. Or gray, as a neutral shade.
Depending on the producers, you may come across a narrower or wider choice, but most of them include shades of these two colors – graphite and silver-grey, aquamarine, sapphire blue, etc.
Ability to reflect heat
Do you like to walk barefoot around the pool in the summer? Ouch, it burns! Yes, this is exactly the moment we want to draw your attention to – you don’t want to wait for this moment to come to find out that you’ve made a mistake.
Try to avoid this situation by getting a substrate made of heat-reflecting material. Sun absorption should be kept to a minimum and one of the ideas is to choose a darker color and keep the surface cooler on hot days. If you’re resistant to this and more durable, well, ignore this part of the text.
Consult experts
Don’t make decisions on your own at any cost. It’s always good to listen to different opinions – this proved to be a good recipe for perfect results: after talking to friends, seek advice in some other places.
Consult with experts who have many years of experience in this business. Nowadays various companies offer free consultations which can be very useful if you don’t know where to start. This definitely makes the activity of finding materials for this occasion less challenging and tiring.
Consider the resistance of the material to chemicals, mold, and weather
And lastly – ensuring the long life of the material after the restoration is a priority. Therefore, inquire about its durability and properties. You certainly don’t need something that will wear out quickly and cause you a new expense in a very short time.
Adequate maintenance is crucial – and it often includes almost inevitable use of chemicals. The substrate must be able to absorb a large amount without any consequences. Rarely does anyone decide to build an indoor pool and it’s often placed in a yard. In such cases, another must would be its resistance to frost.