Renovation

When to renovate your pool: signs the time has come

Q: What time of year is best for the renovation?

Out of season — autumn and winter — so the pool is ready and cured before the heat arrives. Starting a renovation in the middle of swimming season means losing a large part of the summer without being able to use it.

There's a line that separates "this is fixed with a one-off repair" from "this really needs a proper renovation", and it's not always easy to see it in time. Here are the real signs we use ourselves to decide, without selling you a renovation you don't need.

Four signs it's time to renovate

Leaks that reappear somewhere else, a worn-out finish, equipment with no spare parts or cracks that grow year after year: when they add up, a one-off repair is no longer enough.

Leaks that come back

You fix one, and months later another shows up in a different spot on the same pool.

Worn-out lining

Mosaic tiles coming loose, a liner with more patches than original surface.

Outdated equipment

A pump, filter or electrical panel you can no longer find parts for.

Structural cracks

Fissures that grow year on year, not just cosmetic ones.

Partial renovation or full renovation

Not all renovations are the same. A partial renovation replaces whatever has failed, the lining, the pump, the filtration system, while the concrete structure is kept as is, because it's sound. It's the most common type, and the fastest. A full renovation gets into the shell's structure itself: it's only considered when cracks compromise its solidity, or when you want to change the pool's shape or size.

What a typical partial renovation usually includes

Lining: new mosaic tile, liner or polyester, depending on the condition of the old one.
Filtration system: sand filter, pump, and sometimes the pipework too if it's old.
Skimmer and inlets: checked and replaced if worn or poorly sealed.
Electrical panel: updated if it doesn't meet current safety regulations.
Lighting: using the renovation to switch to LED is a common improvement, though not compulsory.

How long it takes

A partial renovation of lining and fittings is usually sorted out in 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the size of the pool and whether you need to wait for the new lining to cure before refilling. That's why it's best done out of season, starting one in June means missing a large part of summer without a pool.

Frequently asked questions

Almost always, yes, especially if the lining or the structure is involved. Some one-off improvements (replacing the pump, adding a salt chlorinator) can be done without draining the pool.

If the concrete structure is sound and the problem is with finishes or fittings, renovating is a much better deal. Starting from scratch is only worth considering when there's serious structural damage to the shell itself.

Out of season, autumn and winter, so the pool is ready and cured before the heat arrives. Starting a renovation in the middle of swimming season means losing a large part of the summer without being able to use it.

Keep reading

Think your pool needs a renovation?

We'll come and take a look, tell you honestly whether you need a full renovation or just a repair, and give you a no-obligation quote.

Request a renovation assessment