Pool Painting FAQ

The questions we’re asked most, answered with Colormaker’s published figures rather than rules of thumb.

Which type of pool paint should I use?

Australia uses two main systems, and in most cases what’s already on your pool decides it for you.

• Luxapool® Epoxy — 7 to 8 years, hard high-gloss finish, excellent chemical and UV resistance. Suits bare concrete and render, pebblecrete, marblesheen, fibreglass, and sound existing epoxy.
• Luxapool® Chlorinated Rubber — up to 3 years, single-pack, also cures hard and glossy despite the name. The right choice when your pool already has chlorinated rubber on it.

Getting the pairing wrong causes peeling. Epoxy will not adhere over chlorinated rubber.

Can Luxapool® be painted over…

Surface	Can Luxapool® be applied?
Fibreglass	Yes — Luxapool® Epoxy, no primer, full abrasion
Marblesheen / Quartzon®	Yes — Luxapool® Epoxy with Primer Sealer
Pebblecrete	Yes — Luxapool® Epoxy with Primer Sealer, three coats, roughly double the paint
New or old concrete render	Yes — Luxapool® Epoxy with Primer Sealer
Sound existing epoxy	Yes — Luxapool® Epoxy, no primer, full abrasion
Existing chlorinated rubber	Yes — Luxapool® Chlorinated Rubber only

How do I tell what’s already on my pool?

Rub the surface firmly for about a minute with a clean rag dampened in acetone or Chlorinated Rubber Solvent.

• Softens and goes sticky — chlorinated rubber
• Stays firm, though surface oxide may lift — epoxy

Test a few different areas. Older pools are often a patchwork of systems. If you’d rather be sure, send us a photo before you order.

Can you paint epoxy over chlorinated rubber, or vice versa?

No. Epoxy over chlorinated rubber will peel, and the rubber must be stripped completely before epoxy can be used. Chlorinated rubber cannot go over epoxy either. Recoat like with like.

Do I need a primer?

If the surface is bare or uncoated cement-based — new concrete, render, marblesheen, quartzon or pebblecrete — yes. Luxapool® Epoxy Primer Sealer seals porosity and water-soluble salts, and gives the topcoat something to hold. Colormaker specify around 4 kits alongside 8 kits of topcoat on a standard 10m × 5m pool.

Fibreglass — no primer. Abrasion with 20–40 grit provides the key.

Recoating over sound existing epoxy — no primer, but the entire surface must be abraded with 20–40 grit first. That saves the primer and a full extra coat, but the abrasion step is not optional.

Chlorinated rubber has no separate primer: its first thin coat acts as its own base.

How much paint will I need?

Each 3.5L epoxy kit covers 20–25m² per coat, over a minimum of two coats. Chlorinated rubber covers 7–9m² per litre per coat and goes on in three to four thin coats.

Pool size	Epoxy, repaint	Epoxy, bare surface	Chlorinated rubber, repaint
10m × 5m	8–10 kits	8–10 kits + 4 kits Primer Sealer	6 × 4L
8m × 4m	6–7 kits	6–7 kits + 3 kits Primer Sealer	5–6 × 4L
6m × 3m	4–5 kits	4–5 kits + 2 kits Primer Sealer	3–4 × 4L

Pebblecrete needs roughly double — 10–13m² per kit per coat, and three coats rather than two. A 10m × 5m pebblecrete pool takes 22 to 28 kits.

Use the Pool Paint Calculator for your dimensions, and order it all at once — colour can vary between batches. Allow a little extra rather than run short; we refund unopened, undamaged tins.

How long before I can fill the pool?

At least 10 days in summer. At least 14 days in winter. The same for both epoxy and chlorinated rubber. Longer is always better.

This is the step people rush and the one that can’t be undone. Filling early permanently damages the colour — it shows as cloudy, uneven distribution across the final coat.

Once filled, add nothing but salt or chlorine for a further 3 to 5 days. Fresh water won’t go green in that window.

How long between coats?

A minimum of 20 hours and no more than 24, with the surface fully dry. Past 24 hours you’ll need to abrade the whole pool to a dull finish and remove all sanding dust before the next coat.

What temperature can I paint in?

Epoxy: 10 to 30°C, and it must stay in that range for the 3 to 6 hours after application. Chlorinated rubber: 15 to 25°C. Humidity around 50%, never in direct sunlight — shade-cloth over the pool for the whole job — and never if rain is forecast during the drying period.

What tools do I need?

Colormaker specify a roller at least 270mm wide on a 60mm core with a medium nap, a tray sized to match, and a 75mm brush for cutting in at the tile line.

Our DIY Pool Painting Kit comes with a 270mm frame and 12mm nap covers. For a three-coat run — primer plus two top coats, or pebblecrete — the DIY Kit PLUS carries the extra cover and brush. Add a Drill Paint Mixer for the two-pack mixing and Luxapool® Solvent A for clean-up.

Gloves, goggles and a suitable respirator as well.

Is chlorinated rubber pool paint flexible?

No. Despite the name, it cures hard and glossy — much like epoxy. It should not be considered a flexible membrane and it will not bridge cracks.

My pool is leaking — will paint bridge the cracks?

No. Coatings don’t bridge gaps or cracks. Visible cracks must be properly repaired before any paint goes on — Structural Epoxy Filler and Patch & Anchor Polymer Cement handle surface defects; structural cracks need professional assessment.

Will my pool lift out of the ground or crack if I drain it?

Most pools are built with a hydrostatic valve in the deep end, which lets ground water in if the pressure outside the shell is high. Usually ground water won’t come in unless the pool is in a low-lying area, river bed or tidal zone.

If water is entering through the valve, remove the top and fit a 1m length of PVC pipe over the outlet — the water will rise in the pipe until pressure equalises. Sometimes a simple weight, like a brick, will stop water coming in.

If you’ve never drained the pool before, get advice on your ground conditions first.

How long will the paint last?

Luxapool® Epoxy: 7 to 8 years with correct preparation, application and pool chemistry maintained to Colormaker’s guidelines. Luxapool® Chlorinated Rubber: up to 3 years.

Individual results vary with pool conditions, water chemistry and colour choice. Darker colours show wear sooner, and the waterline and shallow end age fastest.

Why does paint sometimes peel after one season?

Almost always preparation:

• Inadequate degreasing — body fats and sunscreen film
• Existing epoxy not fully abraded before recoating
• Cracks not repaired
• Painting over chalky or dusty surfaces
• Surface not dry enough — moisture must be below 5%
• Skipping primer on bare porous concrete
• Filling before the coating has cured
• Painting in direct sun, high humidity, or before rain

No hygrometer for the moisture check? Tape a square of black plastic to the pool floor in the morning. Droplets underneath by mid-afternoon mean it’s too wet to paint.

Do I have to use whole packs?

Yes. The two components are pre-weighed to fine tolerances and part-mixing stops the paint curing. Allow 5–10 minutes induction after mixing, then use within the hour. Paint still tacky after 4–6 hours wasn’t mixed properly and won’t cure.