St James is a narrow strip of homes between the rocky shore and a steep mountain, and many of the houses are decades old. A pool here should look like it belongs with the house. We resurface, retile, reline and repair St James pools with finishes that sit well with an older home and a view over False Bay.
Many St James homes are older, and quite a few have stone walls and traditional plaster. The pools came later, often fitted onto a terrace up the slope or into a courtyard between the house and the mountain. Because the village is so narrow, almost every garden is a stepped one.
On a lot of older properties the pool still works but looks tired next to a well-kept house. The marbelite is blotchy, the original tiles have chipped or faded, and the coping does not match anymore. Sometimes there is a slow leak as well. We want the finished pool to look as though it was always meant to be there.
The finish you choose changes how the pool looks from the house and from the street above. We bring samples to the site visit, so you can see the colours against your own walls and paving before you decide.
Marbelite has a soft, matt look that suits older homes better than anything too glossy. We prepare the shell, fix any cracks and apply the new coat in a shade that works with the stone, plaster and paint of the house.
When a pool loses water through the shell itself, a fibreglass lining seals it for good. Gelcoat colours range from pale blue to darker greys, so it can still look understated next to a period home.
The details matter on an older property. We repair the shell, find leaks, redo the tiles and service the equipment in the same job, so the whole pool area looks finished when we leave.
We source tiles and mosaic in colours that suit the age and style of the house.
Cracks, loose plaster and worn steps are fixed before the new surface goes on.
We test each part of the pool to show you where the water is actually going.
Older equipment can often be serviced, and we replace only what has worn out.
Where a terrace has room, we hold the pool water in a bladder until the new finish is ready.
Routine visits keep the new finish clean and the water clear through summer.
It may be time if the surface looks blotchy and dull even when the water is clean, tiles along the waterline are chipped or missing, or you are adding water more often than you used to.
We work across the Southern Peninsula, including St James, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg and Marina da Gama.
St James is squeezed between the main road and railway line below and Boyes Drive above, so space is tight and many homes are reached by steps. Some have access from the top and some from the bottom. We check both at the site visit and choose the route that means the least carrying and the least disruption for the street.
We also take care around the house itself. Older stone walls, paving and garden beds sit right up against many pools here. We cover them, protect the coping we are keeping and clean up at the end of each day. A renovation should improve the property, not leave marks on it.
We inspect the pool, test for leaks and bring finish and tile samples to look at.
You get a written quote with the finish, tiles and repairs we recommend.
We drain the pool, protect the surrounds, repair the shell and redo the tiles.
The new finish is applied and cured, then the pool is filled and balanced.
White or soft grey marbelite with a simple mosaic border is usually a safe choice, because it looks classic and understated. We bring samples so you can compare them against your house before deciding.
Exact matches are not always available for older tiles. Often the better option is a full new waterline border in a style that suits the house, and we help you choose one.
We cover walls, paving and garden beds near the pool and keep the coping that is staying in place protected. The site is cleaned up at the end of each working day.
Yes. Many St James homes have stepped access from the main road or from above. We plan the easiest route at the site visit and carry materials in by hand where needed.
Yes, always. We find and repair any leak in the shell, pipes or fittings first. A new surface over an active leak will not last as long as it should.
Call 062 635 8990 or message us, and we will visit your St James home to look at the pool at no cost.
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