How to Resurface Pool Concrete

Concrete deterioration due to weathering, water absorption and the growth of microorganisms is inevitable inside the pool and on the deck. Resurfacing the concrete is the best way to relieve those problems and help prevent them from reoccurring. Removing the top layer of concrete with acid washing and placing a new layer of concrete over it is the resurfacing process.

Things You'll Need

• Hose and water
• Garbage bags
• Rubber Gloves
• Rubber boots
• Safety goggles
• 1 gallon of acid
• 1 gallon of water
• Metal bucket
• Metal dowel
• Metal watering can
• Soft-bristled brush
• Portland cement
• White sand
• Plastic bucket
• Trowel
• Plastic tarp
• Bricks or weights

Instructions

1. Drain the pool and clean any debris and dirt from inside. Put on safety gear because you will be working with liquid acid. Hose the inside of the pool to force all debris to the center. Collect the pieces and put them into garbage bags.

2. Combine the acid and water to create the acid wash. Mix the combination in the metal bucket with the dowel. Do not use your hands. The acid should be poured into the water and not the other way around. In case the liquid splashes up, it will be the water and not the acid. Acid washing removes the top layer of concrete that is normally stained and discolored. It allows the fresh layer of concrete underneath to become the top surface.

3. Fill the watering can with the mixture and pour it down the sides of the pool's perimeter. It will trickle down to the bottom center drain, and you will see it begin to foam. Let it stand on the concrete for about 20 minutes.

4. Get into the pool, and scrub the surface with a soft-bristled brush to help remove some of the top layer. Do not scrub too hard where the concrete begins peeling off and wearing away.

5. Rinse the surface and make the concrete mix in the bucket. It is alright to use your hands to stir the mixture. The ratio should be three parts cement, two parts sand, and one part water. Add the water in small amounts to keep the cement light and pasty, not thick and lumpy.

6. Pour the cement onto small sections and use the trowel to smooth it over the surface. Because the pool is sloped, it will take time and patience to cover the entire inside area. Once one section is completed, move onto the next until the entire pool has been resurfaced with fresh concrete.

7. Lay the tarp across the top of the pool and keep it held down with bricks or weights for several days. This allows the cement to cure without moisture and dirt getting inside and disrupting the curing and drying process.

References

• Pool Center: Acid Washing Pools
• Buzzle: Pool Deterioration Causes
• Cement: Create Cement for Resurfacing