Fresnaye has some of the oldest homes on the Atlantic Seaboard, and many of their pools have been patched and re-plastered more than once. We strip them back, fix what is underneath and give them a finish that will last, from the older streets to the newest rebuilds.
Fresnaye sits on the lower slopes of Lion's Head and Signal Hill, above Sea Point, and it is sheltered from the worst of the southeaster. It is an established suburb. Many homes have been there for decades, and some pools are as old as the houses, with several layers of marbelite and plumbing that has never been replaced.
That history matters. A fresh coat over old, poorly bonded plaster can lift within a few seasons, and old pipes can leak behind a brand new finish. So on an older Fresnaye pool we start by checking how well the existing layers are holding and what state the pipework is in. Then we decide how far back to go.
For an older pool the choice between marbelite and fibreglass comes down to the shell underneath. A sound shell with a tired surface suits marbelite. A shell with many cracks or a long history of leaks usually does better with fibreglass.
We sound the whole surface with a hammer, mark every hollow area and remove the plaster that has lost its bond. Cracks are opened up and repaired, and then a new marbelite coat goes on in one continuous application.
Fibreglass gives an older, tired shell a new waterproof skin without rebuilding it. It is also smoother than marbelite, so leaves and dust from the garden are easier to brush and vacuum off.
Older pools usually need more than a new surface. We look at the tiles, pipes, lights and pump room too, and fix them in the same project so you are not draining the pool twice.
We replace tired waterline tiles or match the style of an older home with new mosaic.
Long-standing cracks, worn steps and broken coping are repaired before any new finish goes on.
Old pipework is a common cause of water loss, so we test every line, not just the shell.
If the pump and filter are as old as the pool, we can replace or service them during the renovation.
On properties with room for it, we store the pool water in a bladder and pump it back after curing.
Leaf-heavy gardens need regular cleaning, and we can take that off your hands after the renovation.
It is time for an inspection if tapping the surface sounds hollow, if patches of plaster are flaking off, or if the pool has been re-plastered before and is already rough again.
We do pool work right along the Atlantic Seaboard, in Fresnaye, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Green Point.
A lot of Fresnaye homes are being renovated or rebuilt. If that is happening at your house, bring us in early. The best time to redo the pool is near the end of the building work, once the heavy trades are done but before the new paving and garden go in. That way scaffolding, rubble and cement dust do not end up in a fresh finish.
Gardens here are often mature, with large trees near the pool. Leaves and roots both cause problems over time. We check for root pressure near the shell and for blocked or cracked pipes under the paving, because those are easy to miss until water starts going missing.
We sound the surface, test the pipes and fittings for leaks and look at the pump and filter.
We explain how much old material should come off and which finish suits the shell.
Old layers and loose plaster are removed, then cracks, pipes and fittings are repaired.
The new marbelite or fibreglass goes on, the pool is filled and the water is balanced.
Yes, but the old layers have to be checked first. Where they have lost their bond we remove them, sometimes back to the shell, so the new coat does not lift. We tell you after the inspection how much needs to come off.
Ideally near the end, after the heavy building work but before new paving and planting. That keeps dust and rubble out of the new surface. We are happy to talk to your builder about timing.
Yes, and it is the best time to do it. We pressure test the lines, and if sections are cracked or perished we replace them before the new finish goes on.
A smooth surface, especially fibreglass, makes leaves and stains easier to clean off. It will not stop leaves falling in, so a good skimmer routine or a regular cleaning service still matters.
Yes. We cover Fresnaye and the neighbouring Atlantic Seaboard suburbs, including Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Green Point. Site visits and quotes are free.
Tell us about your Fresnaye pool, how old it is and what is going wrong, and we will book a free site visit and written quote.
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