Attempt to repaint just the top band of plaster

[mknmike]

I can’t justify several thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for a proper rebuild or resurfacing. I’ve had a leak about 2” below the tile late this past summer.

I drained the pool about 18” to get down to the second step which looks real bad. Painting the top two steps and around the top band DIY will make the pool look much better. So I’m going after this, knowing it will only cost me a few hundred dollars. I know it will only last a few years. I’m not draining the entire pool, just repainting the top band.

First step (after draining) is to determine what type of paint is already on the pool. I understand the following solvents dissolve the following paints:
- acrylic - denatured alcohol (test begun)
- xylene - chlorinated rubber (test begun)
- Methyl Ethyl Ketone M.E.K. - Epoxy (need to order solvent)

Before a few minutes ago, I was thinking that I probably have epoxy, but see the xylene quickly turned white and seems to be dissolving the paint chips.

I figure for the $33, I should probably still test for epoxy, but since Chlorinated rubber is so cheap, maybe I should get on with it.

Any opinions on what anyone here sees after just a few minutes of paint chips in xylene?

(Videos coming)

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/Ko2YD38pM_0?si=9xzaHGTvbDN4H2Gx

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/n-OtYydSyF4?si=T9nh4_TqDPZzUzku

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/eMIAMIyGlTg?si=V9MrOL4uTtbw21dv

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/hJ3FNEMXNyc?si=HKzoklRWbI8FuJU_

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/8dM6tOy8c3k?si=mWVFzZGeBLWhUpVs

[mknmike]

https://youtu.be/smviJT8abac?si=-1sK_zMKXcAz8ZDS

[mknmike]

Doheny’s and Benjamin’s Moore both seem like reputable places to buy. I see Banjamin Moore offers two different rubber based paints. This confuses things a little.

https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/int ... ool-paints

[mknmike]

Water level get up above that second step before I got the MEK test done. I gave up. Hopefully I will find some decent weather to get some painting done before the water level gets too high.

[mknmike]

Well, I finally got into it. I kept bringing the level down, and today my son noticed water coming INTO the pool via a crack between the top step and the wall. Looks like I really need concrete repairs. No big surprise there.

So MEK and Xylene both dissolved paint, xylene a bit faster I think, and I bought one $75 gallon of Chlorinated Rubber paint from Doheny’s and after a quick test, decided to just go after it. I know this may not last, but it sure does look better.

https://youtu.be/kKqIKiXtKyM?si=PswSXwflAOweYms7

https://youtu.be/3A8Y7sR6-I0?si=PcwJPdCwnoPrJYby

https://youtu.be/86KTf6SQIhg?si=VtjNCF-Klj9aZzqH