Resurfacing, Waterline Tile or Just a Cleaning: What Does Your Pool Need?

Every pool ages. Florida sun, warm water, rainy summers and years of chemicals all take a toll on the finish and the tile. At some point you look at the pool and wonder if it just needs a good scrub, or if it's asking for something bigger. The answer matters, because cleaning a pool that needs resurfacing wastes your time, and resurfacing a pool that only needed a cleaning wastes a lot more.

Signs a cleaning is probably the answer

A lot of what looks like permanent damage comes off with the right treatment. Algae, whether green, yellow or black, is the obvious case. Dull, cloudy water points to chemistry or filtration. Light stains from leaves, fallen berries or organic debris often respond to treatment. A chalky line at the waterline can sometimes be cleaned off the tile, and a surface that feels slimy usually has a water balance problem, not a surface problem. If the pool was neglected for a few weeks, or you recently inherited one that sat through a season, give cleaning and balancing a fair try first.

• Green or cloudy water that clears when circulation and chemistry are corrected.
• Stains that fade when brushed or treated.
• A film or crust at the waterline that comes off the tile.
• A slick feel on the walls that goes away once the water is balanced.

Signs the surface itself needs attention

Run your hand along the wall and floor, and pay attention to how it feels. A rough, sandy texture that scrapes feet or swimsuits, plaster that flakes or chips away, or patches that look worn through all suggest the finish is wearing out. Stains that keep coming back in the same spots after you've cleaned and balanced the water can mean the surface is porous and holding them. Etching, where the finish looks eaten away, often points to long-term water balance trouble. Cracks need a closer look, because a hairline surface crack and a crack that lets water out aren't the same thing, and only an inspection can tell them apart.

Signs you need new waterline tile

The tile band at the waterline takes a beating from sun, waves and chemicals. Look for tile that's cracked, loose or missing, grout that's crumbling, or a hard mineral line that no amount of scrubbing removes. Tile that has popped off or that sounds hollow when tapped needs replacement, not cleaning. Loose tile also lets water behind it, and that can cause bigger trouble over time. Replacing tile is something we do as part of our renovation work, and it often makes a pool look much newer without touching the rest of the finish.

Is the pool losing water?

Pools lose water to evaporation, and in Brevard summers that's a lot. But if the level drops faster than you'd expect, or you're topping it up every few days, ask for a leak check before you plan any renovation. Surface problems and leaks can look alike, and you want to know which one you have before you spend money on a new finish. A simple bucket test is something we can walk you through, and our repair side can track down plumbing leaks and equipment problems.

What a renovation can include

Our renovation work covers pool resurfacing, deck refinishing, tile replacement and automation upgrades. People often take care of several at once, since the pool is already being worked on and the backyard is already torn up. If the deck is cracked or the controls are old, it can make sense to look at everything together. Bobby Johnson, our president and license holder, has been in the swimming pool and spa industry since 1975, including construction, repairs, and renovation and remodeling, so you're talking with someone who has seen how these projects go.

A simple way to decide

• Balance the water and clean the pool first. Give it a week or two to settle.
• If stains, roughness or tile damage remain, make a note of exactly where.
• Check the water level over a few days to rule out a leak.
• Bring photos or a description to the store, or ask us to take a look in person.
• Decide with the facts in hand, not in a panic after one bad day.

Here's our promise on this one: we'll tell you honestly what your pool needs. If a cleaning will do it, we'll say so. If the surface or the tile has reached the end, we'll say that too, and explain what we're seeing. Has your pool lost its fun appeal? Is the backyard feeling a little boring? A renovation can change that, and a good look at the pool is how it starts.

Call Aqua-Rite at (321) 255-0506 or visit us at 4100 N. Wickham Road, #122, in Melbourne. Read more about our renovation work at /services/pool-renovations, and if you want the pool kept clean between projects, see /services/weekly-pool-maintenance. We've been family owned in Melbourne since 1990.