What’s the Best Time of Year to Replaster a Pool?

Your swimming pool can host many summers of outdoor fun for you and your family. Over time, however, the plaster coating on your concrete pool will start to crack, leak, or chip and need replastering. We’ll walk you through all the factors involved in deciding when is the best time of year to replaster your pool.

When to Replaster a Pool

Pool plaster is a coating applied to a concrete pool to keep it watertight and protect its surface from damage from pool chemicals. Like other kinds of plaster, pool plaster must be applied under certain conditions and temperatures. 

Replaster your pool when the temperature is between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit—the plaster won’t cure in colder temperatures, and hotter temperatures will cause the plaster to dry too quickly, leading to cracks. Depending on where you live, late spring or early fall is the ideal time to replaster your pool. You may have a longer span of appropriate weather for replastering in warmer climates.

Factors That Affect Replastering a Pool

Replastering a pool is a big job, and several factors can affect when you choose to do it. Consider the following aspects to make the best decision.

Temperature

Temperature might be the most important factor in figuring out your replastering timeline—pool plaster should always be applied when the weather is between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In much of the country, winter temps drop too low to apply plaster, and in warmer areas, the summer sun makes it too hot for the plaster to cure properly. Mild, sunny days are your best bet.

Precipitation

You’ll want to be sure it isn’t raining when you replaster your pool. If the plaster gets wet, it’ll interfere with the setting process and result in improperly set plaster. Take the wind conditions into consideration, too. Pool plaster is sticky when curing, so a windy day might mean you’ll end up with dust, leaves, or other debris stuck to your pool’s surface.

Curing Time

Most pool plaster will need only a few hours to set before you can refill the pool. Unlike many other kinds of pool finishes, pool plaster does most of its curing underwater, and the new plaster isn’t fully cured for one to two weeks. During this time, you’ll need to brush the pool twice a day and check the pool’s pH daily for about a week since the plaster’s curing process can affect the pH levels.

The Worst Time to Replaster a Pool

In most parts of the country, summer and winter are the worst times to replaster a pool. Extreme temperatures can interfere with the plastering process and compromise results. Waiting for the temperature sweet spot will ensure your newly replastered pool lasts for years to come.

Cost to Replaster a Pool

Replastering a concrete pool costs an average of $6,500 but can easily run more than $10,000 or more for larger pools. Be sure to get quotes from several pool refinishing pros before starting your project so you know exactly how it’ll fit into your budget.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Unless you have extensive pool replastering experience, this job is best left to the pros. A local pool resurfacing company will have the expertise and equipment to make sure you get the best results. Handy homeowners won’t be totally hands-off, though—you’ll need to perform some consistent maintenance tasks in the weeks after resurfacing to ensure the plaster cures correctly.