A lot of Oranjezicht pools were built decades ago for a family garden, and they have done their time. We bring them back with new marbelite or a fibreglass lining, fix the leaks and tired plumbing, and fit the work around homes that are often being renovated at the same time.
Oranjezicht sits on the north-facing lower slopes of Table Mountain, and by City Bowl standards the stands are generous. That is why so many of the Victorian, Edwardian and later family homes here have a proper garden pool rather than a small plunge pool. Plenty of those pools have been resurfaced more than once, and the pipes under the paving may be as old as the pool itself.
Age shows in a few predictable ways. Marbelite goes thin and rough, old layers of plaster start to sound hollow, and the joint between the shell and the coping opens up. Older pipes crack or pull apart at the joints, and a pool that always lost a little water slowly starts to lose more.
Because a north-facing slope gets sun for most of the day, these pools also take a lot of UV. That fades and roughens the finish faster than on a shaded site.
Older pools often have several coats of plaster on them already, and that changes the decision. Sometimes we can chip back and re-marbelite. Sometimes the build-up is so uneven that a fibreglass lining is the better fix. We inspect, tap-test the walls we can reach for hollow areas, and then tell you what we would do.
On a sound shell, marbelite is still a good, honest finish. We remove the old layers back to firm plaster, deal with any cracks or hollow areas, and apply a new coat. It suits a classic garden pool next to an older house, and you can pick a colour that sits well with the stonework and paving.
If a pool has been patched many times, or keeps losing water through the shell, a fibreglass lining is usually the longer-lasting answer. It bonds over the existing surface and closes up the small cracks and porous spots that old plaster tends to have. The finish stays smooth, so the pool needs less brushing.
Older pools rarely need just one thing. We handle the plumbing, tiling, equipment and surface work as one project, so you are not chasing three contractors while the pool stands empty.
We match or replace coping and waterline tiles so the pool suits the age and style of the house.
Cracks, hollow plaster and worn steps are repaired properly before any new surface goes on.
Old pipes under the paving are a common source of loss, so we test the lines as well as the shell.
We service or replace an ageing pump and filter so the new surface is not let down by tired equipment.
Larger gardens usually have room for a water bladder, so the pool water can be kept and reused.
Regular cleaning and water checks protect the new finish from strong sun and falling leaves.
Older pools give plenty of warning. Look out for a surface worn thin enough to show patches of the layer beneath, damp spots in the paving near the pipes, or a coping joint that has opened up.
We cover the whole City Bowl, from Oranjezicht and Gardens to Vredehoek, Higgovale and Tamboerskloof.
Many older Oranjezicht homes go through a full renovation at some point, and the pool is often part of the plan. If builders are on site, it makes sense to agree the order of work early. We prefer to apply the final finish after the heavy building is done, so rubble, cement dust and scaffolding do not end up in fresh plaster.
Mature oaks and other old trees shade parts of the suburb, and their leaves mark plaster if they lie in the pool for long. Most pools here are still in full sun for much of the day, though, so we also look at how well a finish will hold up to strong summer UV. Colour and surface choice matter more than people expect.
Bigger stands also make the logistics easier than in some City Bowl suburbs. There is usually space to stage materials and keep a water bladder on site, which shortens the job and saves water.
We check the surface, coping, plumbing and equipment, and measure how much water the pool loses.
We explain whether marbelite, fibreglass or repairs make sense and put it in a written quote.
The pool is drained, old plaster is stripped back and cracks, leaks and fittings are repaired.
We apply the finish, refill, set up the water chemistry and walk you through looking after it.
Usually, yes, but the old layers often need to be chipped back first so the new coat bonds to firm plaster. If the build-up is very uneven or hollow, we may suggest fibreglass instead.
After the heavy work is best, so cement dust, rubble and paint do not damage the new surface. We can do the repairs and plumbing earlier and leave the final finish until the builders are done.
In older pools the cause is often a cracked pipe, a worn fitting or porous plaster rather than one big crack. A proper leak test tells us which it is, so you only pay to fix the real problem.
Both last well in full sun when the water is kept balanced. Badly balanced water is what usually etches marbelite and dulls gelcoat, so regular testing matters as much as the finish you choose.
If there is space in the garden, we pump the water into a bladder and put it back once the new surface has cured. At the site visit we will tell you if your property has room for one.
Call 062 635 8990 or send us a message about your Oranjezicht pool, and we will come out for a free site visit and written quote.
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