Salt spray and the strong afternoon sun are hard on a Clifton pool. We resurface, reline and repair pools on the steep slope above the four beaches, and we plan every job around stairs, tight decks and the neighbours below.
Most Clifton pools sit on terraces cut into the slope, often with a glass balustrade and a view straight down to the bay. That position is the whole point of the house, but it also means the pool takes the full force of the weather. Salt drifts in off the sea, the afternoon sun bakes the waterline, and fine sand ends up in the skimmer box.
Over time that shows as a rough, chalky marbelite surface, stains at the waterline and tiles that start to lift. Water loss is common too, because a shell built on a slope moves a little and old fittings crack. We look at all of it before we talk about a new finish.
There are two main ways to renovate a Clifton pool surface. Which one suits your pool depends on the state of the shell, how much water it loses and how you use it. We inspect first and then give you a straight answer.
Marbelite is the classic finish for a concrete pool. When the old plaster has gone rough and grey, we chip out weak areas, repair the cracks and apply a fresh coat in white, blue or grey. It suits a stable shell where the main problem is the surface itself.
When a pool keeps losing water, grows algae quickly or has needed patching every few years, fibreglass is usually the better route. The lining bonds to the old shell and forms one smooth skin that is easier to keep clean in salty, windy conditions.
A surface finish is only part of a renovation. We handle the repair, plumbing, tiling and equipment work in the same project, so you deal with one team from inspection to refill.
New mosaic borders and tile repairs that suit a modern Atlantic Seaboard home.
Repairs that stop small faults on a sloped site from becoming big ones.
We test the shell, pipes and fittings to find where the water is going.
Equipment that has to cope with sand, salt air and long summer run times.
We store pool water in a bladder on site where space allows, then reuse it.
Keep the new surface looking new with regular care.
Book an inspection if the surface feels rough on your feet, the water level drops more than evaporation explains, or the waterline keeps staining no matter how often it is cleaned.
We work across the Atlantic Seaboard, from Clifton and Bantry Bay through to Camps Bay and Bakoven.
Access is the first thing we plan. Many Clifton homes are reached by long flights of steps, with little or no space for a skip or a mixer at the top. We work out how materials come in, where the old plaster goes and how the water is drained before the job starts, so there are no surprises for you or your neighbours.
The second is timing. Summer is when everyone wants the pool, so we suggest booking resurfacing or relining in the cooler months. The finish cures better without extreme heat, and the pool is ready long before December.
We check the shell, surface, tiles, fittings, pump and filter, and test for water loss.
You get a clear quote for marbelite, fibreglass or repairs, with the reasons behind it.
We drain, chip out weak plaster, repair cracks and seal problem areas.
We apply the new surface, refill, balance the water and hand the pool back.
Most resurfacing or relining jobs take one to two weeks on site, plus curing time before the refill. Access and weather can add a few days, and we will tell you the expected timeline when we quote.
Both can last well near the sea. Fibreglass is non-porous, so it resists staining and algae and is easier to keep clean in salty air. Marbelite costs less upfront and suits a stable shell. We inspect the pool before recommending either.
Yes. A lot of Clifton homes only have stair access, and we plan the job around that. Materials are carried in by hand and we keep the site tidy for the neighbours below.
Always. We find and repair leaks in the shell, pipes and fittings first. Putting a new finish over an active leak only hides the problem for a while.
Where there is space, we pump the water into a bladder on site and reuse it after the work is done. On very tight properties we discuss other options with you.
Tell us about your Clifton pool and we will arrange a free site visit for resurfacing, relining, leak detection or repairs.
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