Going to paint my 25 yrs old pool

Need help in finding good price for paint and concrete. Can anybody help me find some good resources for this. I'm getting inclined towards Smart Seal from Leslie but that is very expensive. Any other/better paint?

Leslie's Smart Seal appears to be rebranded Kelley Technical epoxy. The source address is the Kelley's address (see below). But, it's possible that it's not only rebranded, but reblended. So, if you want to go epoxy, I'd recommend sticking with the Kelly Olympic brand. Their pool epoxy paints are what I've always used; are superior to several brands, and may be the best.

But . . . epoxy is tricky to use. You MUST follow the directions. It's not actually that hard; just very very picky. The basic rule with epoxy is, unless you follow the rules carefully, it sticks forever to everything you DO NOT want it to stick to, but peels off what you DO want it to stick to. So READ THE INSTRUCTIONS:
http://www.kelleytech.com/olympic/ol...-bulletins.asp

You can get Kelley paints at Doheny's:
http://www.doheny.com/poolsupplies/Z...ool-Paint.html

I'd bet if you tell that Leslie's is selling the same product at lower prices ($1 cheaper) and free shipping they'll match it.

Ben
'PoolDoc'


Smartsealco 'website': http://www.smartsealco.com/ -- address is same as Kelley's

I recoat my concrete deck every few years with Sherwin Williams H&C Concrete Stain, the non water-based stuff (they have a couple of types); it never peels or flakes as it's not a paint, but a stain. Years ago when I first did it, it was nothing less than transforming. The concrete went from a porous, mottled, stained mess to a stunningly gorgeous pool deck. And for relatively little cost. It comes in certain colors, i.e., you have no choices beyond this. I first used the Bombay color but when I recoated a couple of months ago, went to Sandstone and it's much richer and I like it so much more. Don't waste money having the Shark Grip (a separate product) mixed into your stain as I did the first time round - it will be a waste of money and provide no traction. It needs to be topically applied on the 2nd (or last) coat of product. I did not do this a couple of months ago and I regret it - when it's wet it is SLIPPERY. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I hosed the deck down to clean it and *then* went to add chlorine and fell hard and fast on my back on the pool coping and broke my tailbone, ouch! (Fortunately, I only missed about 4 days of swimming and though it will very possibly take months to totally heal at my older age, at least I'm back 'in the swim.')

When you apply the H&C you need to keep a wet edge at all times, so once you start, you need to continue until done for each of the two coats (minimum recommended). It dries to the touch extremely fast - I was walking on mine within an hour. If your concrete is porous/never been treated it will really soak it up. It runs, if I remember right, about $24 a gallon - far less than a lot of the stuff pool retailers sell comparable products for.

My routine for applying the stuff: I tape the pool coping and around the stairs and then set out the gallons around the pool deck (I think I used 6 gallons recently for a recoat but read the coverage chart on the back of the label--I've a 16x32 with about a 5' wide deck around it). Then I get to work using a roller with a 3/8" nap. If your concrete is porous you will need several rollers as it will eat them up, but if not, one will do the trick for each coating. If your concrete is porous/never been sealed or treated, you will want to roll the first coat of product in one direction and then on the second coating in another direction. On my recoat I did not do this and it turned out fine, however. Don't forget the Shark Grip!

I don't know how to upload a picture here (I mean, clueless) and just have access at work, but if you'd like me to email you a pic I'd be glad to, just let me know your address in a pm.

Elsie,
Hi, I was reading a post you had on concrete stain, I would love to see some pics of this project and details for prep & application. I tried to send a PM but it dosn't look lilke it's gone thru. Also any recommendations you might have, like if you had to do it over again ,,what would you do different.

Thanks, herb garron

herb396

You might not want to put your email address on the forum. There are email harvesters out there looking for email addresses to scarf up. Might want to go in and edit your post and remove it. Maybe Elsie's PM inbox is full. If that is the case, she can delete some of the old stuff and make room and then you can try again.