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Swimming Pool Paint FAQ

What Swimming Pool Paint Do I Need?

Good question! The following page should be able to answer the questions that you have about what swimming pool paint you need for your painting project.  Just scroll through the following list to find the statement that best describes your current situation to find the answer. If you still have questions, please feel free to e-mail us at info@poolandmarinepaint.com.

If you have questions about how to apply swimming pool paint or marine paint, please take a look at our DIY Pool Painting Tips page.

 

I have an unpainted concrete, plaster or Gunite pool that I need to paint.

If your swimming pool, pond or other concrete, plaster or Gunite surface is currently unpainted and you would like to paint it, you can use any pool paint you like, since you are working with a bare surface. To get the longest service life out of the paint that you choose, we would highly recommend using the High Build 2-part epoxy paint. This paint will give you the thickest, smoothest finish of all the paints and should last up to 8 years without having to be recoated, given that the pool is prepared, painted and maintained correctly (pools should not be over chlorinated or else the service life of the paint will be affected). You can also go with an Acrylic water-based paint, which gives more coverage to the gallon and is easier to clean-up (soap and water), but doesn’t last quite as long as the chlorinated rubber or the epoxy (about 2-3 years). The Chlorinated Rubber Paint is your other choice. Chlorinated Rubber has long been used to paint pools, but it is the most toxic of the paints and doesn’t last as long as the epoxy (anywhere from 2-5 years).
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I have a concrete, gunite or plaster pool that is currently painted with chlorinated rubber paint and I would like to paint it again.

If your pool is already painted with chlorinated rubber paint, you can only use either chlorinated rubber again or you can opt to use a water-based acrylic paint, which will also overcoat the chlorinated rubber paint. The acrylic paint gives more coverage to the gallon and is easier to clean-up (soap and water), but doesn’t last quite as long as the chlorinated rubber. Also, if you opt to use the water-based acrylic paint, you must use that again the next time you paint. The only other option is to remove all paint from the pool, usually done via sandblasting, to go down to the bare surface and then you can use whatever paint you like.
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I have a concrete, gunite or plaster pool that is currently painted with a water-based acrylic paint and I would like to paint it again.

If your pool is already painted with a water based acrylic paint, you must use the same paint again. Epoxies or Chlorinated Rubber Paints will not overcoat a water based acrylic paint. If you would like an acrylic water based paint that will give you a longer service life than traditional acrylic paints, you can buy the Ramuc Aqualuster, which is a newer formulation of the acrylic paint that should last 3-5 years, as opposed to the 2 year life of the other acrylic paints. The acrylic paints also have the advantage of being able to coat a damp surface, they have more coverage to the gallon and are easier to clean-up (use soap and water).
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I have a concrete, gunite or plaster pool that is currently painted with an epoxy paint and I would like to paint it again.

If your pool is already painted with epoxy pool paint, you can only use either epoxy again or you can opt to use a water-based acrylic paint, which will also overcoat the epoxy paint. The acrylic paint gives more coverage to the gallon and is easier to clean-up (soap and water), but doesn’t last as long as the epoxy (only 2-3 years, as opposed to up to 8 years with the epoxy). Also, if you opt to use the water-based acrylic paint, you must use that again the next time you paint. The only other option is to remove all paint from the pool, usually done via sandblasting, to go down to the bare surface and then you can use whatever paint you like.
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I do not know what type of paint is currently on my pool...how can I find out?

If your pool is currently painted but you don't know what type of paint is on it, you can perform a test to find out. Wipe on some solvent alcohol and xylol in an inconspicuous area. If the coating softens under the alcohol, it is probably a water based coating. If the coating softens under xylol, it is probably a rubber base. If there is no softening under either solvent, it is probably an epoxy. This is an approximate test and may not give you accurate results. If you want us to test a paint chip, you can send paint chip(s) to: Marine & Pool Paint Warehouse, PO Box 140114, Howard Beach, NY 11414. Include your name, phone, email, type of substrate (concrete, fiberglass, gunite, etc) and how old the pool is. Paint chip testing can take up to 2 weeks.

Your next option is to remove the paint completely and start from a bare surface. The best way to remove paint is via sandblasting. Another option is to use a water-based acrylic paint, which will overcoat any other pool paint.
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I have a fiberglass pool or spa that I would like to recoat.

Fiberglass pools and spas can only be coated with either a gelcoat or 2-part epoxy paint (the high build epoxy is recommended).
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I have a concrete or Kool Deck deck surface that I would like to paint.

For concrete or Kool Decks, we have several pool deck paints to choose from.
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I have a fiberglass slide that I would like to paint.

Yes, you can use an epoxy swimming pool paint to paint your fiberglass slide. We recommend the EP Epoxy.
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I have a concrete pond that will house fish and sea life and I would like to paint it.

Pool paints are marine life safe, which means they can be used for ponds or areas that will house fish or other sea life. You MUST make sure that the paint has cured fully, according to the curing times recommended for the paint, before filling the pool and adding the marine life.
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I have a bathtub or shower base that I would like to paint.

We do not recommend painting bathtubs with any of our paints. Fiberglass or concrete shower bases can be painted with an epoxy paint, but pool paints only come in gallon-size containers, which may be way more than you need, depending on the size of the shower base. Also, since these pains are highly toxic, you must be sure to use a respirator when painting indoors, and make sure the area is very well ventilated – open all windows, have a fan blowing the fumes out, etc.
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I would like to order pool paint in a custom color using a color swatch that I have.

Custom colors can usually be mixed, but generally only on large orders (40-50 gallons or more). Each paint has different minimum quantity restrictions, so if you would like more information on custom colors, please e-mail us at info@poolandmarinepaint.com.
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I have ceramic or glazed tile that I would like to paint over.

We do not recommend painting tile, as good paint adhesion is hard to achieve on these surfaces.
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I have a concrete or fiberglass fountain or baptistery that I would like to paint.

Fiberglass surfaces should only be painted with a gelcoat or epoxy paint.
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I am painting a mural in a pool – what paint can I use and can I tint the paint to make different colors?

The easiest pool paint to use if you’re painting a mural is the water-based acrylic paint. It cleans up with soap and water and doesn’t harden like the epoxy. Paints cannot be tinted, but different colors can be purchased and mixed together to produce different colors.
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I have a vinyl liner that I would like to paint

Vinyl liners CANNOT be painted. If you would like to change the color of the liner, you would have to change the liner.
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I am looking for the longest lasting paint I can get – what should I use?

The longest-lasting of the pool paints is the High Build 2-part Epoxy paint, which has up to 8 year service life.
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I have a metal deck that I need to paint.

To paint a metal deck, you can use the Rust No More Rust Proof Primer, overcoated with the Epoxy Guard Heavy Duty 1 part Epoxy Coating. It is always recommended to use a non-skid additive on steps or any surfaces that will be walked on and may become slippery.
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How many coats of pool paint do you recommend that I put on the pool?

We recommend using 2 coats of pool paint to get the longest service life.
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Do I need to use primer before I paint with swimming pool paint?

No – all pool paints are self-priming, so no need to prime first.
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We just had a concrete pool installed - how long should the concrete cure before painting it?

Concrete pools should be allowed to cure AT LEAST 28 days before painting it.
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How do I determine if my pool is dry enough to apply chlorinated rubber or epoxy paint?

Please see the article: How to Determine if Your Pool is Dry Enough to Paint
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I have a steel walled pool that I would like to paint.

For a bare steel walled pool, you can prime the surface with the Rust No More Rust Proof Primer and then overcoat with 2 coats of the National EHB High Build Epoxy Paint. For more information on how to prepare and paint a steel walled pool, please see the article How to Paint a Steel Pool.
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How do I apply paint to my pool or surface?

Please see our DIY Pool Painting Tips page for articles on how to paint your pool.
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How do I prepare the pool for painting?

Please see our DIY Pool Painting Tips page for articles on how to prepare your pool for painting.
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How many gallons of paint do I need?

Please see our Pool Paint Calculation Guide for more information.
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What are your shipping and returns policies?

Please see our Shipping/Returns Policies page.

 

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Marine and Boat Paints and Coatings
Blue Water Marine Boat Paint
Do it yourself fiberglass swimming pool tile kits
garage floor painting kits
Swimming Pool Paint Bulk Pricing/Paint Volume Pricing
Swimming Pool Paint FAQ

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