Experience with fiberglass resurfacing of Gunite pool

[vousdoo]

Hello All:

We're in the California bay area have a Gunite pool that's going on 21 years old. Over the past few years we've experienced a steady breakdown of the plaster finish and it's time for a refurbishment. Starting around 2004 we began to experience rebar breakdown resulting in the need for underwater pool repair to bore out the area, find the disintegrating rebar, remove and repair the area. We used scuba repair services to enact these repairs. Earlier this years we had several pop-offs and one or two rebar issues repaired int he same manner.

I'm thinking about resurfacing the gunite pool with fibreglass as an option. Has anyone had experience with these type of renovation? Is it a good idea to use fibreglass over gunite or should we resurface using gunite/plaster? Any suggestions or feedback on these approaches would be most welcome.

[PoolDoc]

It *may* be a good option, if you find a skilled contractor with a successful track record. It *will* be a terrible option, if you don't.

With most refinishing techniques, the contractor is more important than the method.

[Marin]

I've only seen one done like that around here, and it was done decades ago. I couldn't even begin to guess at finding someone skilled. Maybe you'll have better luck in SF. However, when the CA market tanked many of the skilled pool crews moved east (I employ a few).
The one I worked on was so-so at best. You could tell it was a remodel.
I don't know what technique is correct, but on this one they had sawcut above the tile, tucked the fiberglass sheet in there, and worked it down.
Good luck.

[vousdoo]

Thanks all for the great input. It confirmed what I was thinking and we've decided against fibreglass and are going with a Gunite and Primera Stone refurb.

[PoolDoc]

Hope it works out well for you!