The pool needs a full renovation

What you might notice

• Surface damage across large areas rather than in patches.
• Water loss that returns after repairs.
• Equipment that is old, mismatched or hard to service.
• Coping, steps or surrounds that are cracked, uneven or slippery.
• A design that no longer suits you, such as wanting an overflow edge, new lighting or a chiller.

Common causes

Pools age in layers. Finishes wear, joints fail, pipes and fittings deteriorate and equipment reaches the end of its service. When repairs on one layer keep exposing problems in another, owners often find it more practical to renew the pool as a whole.

What a renovation often covers

The scope varies, but a full renovation can include:

• Removing the old finish down to the shell and repairing cracks in the concrete.
• Confirming the shell is watertight and applying a new waterproofing membrane where needed.
• New tiles, mosaic, plaster or pebble finish, coping and surround.
• Replacing or re-routing pipework, fittings, lights and drains.
• A new pump, filter, disinfection system, chiller and controls.
• Safety features such as fencing, covers and signage.

Tiling and waterproofing manufacturers set curing times that shape the programme. Instarmac's UltraTileFix guidance gives a minimum of six weeks for a new concrete structure to cure, three weeks for renders and screeds, and three weeks before water is introduced after tiling, with filling no faster than 750 mm in depth per day. Construction Chemicals' guide for its system specifies at least 28 days of curing for new concrete and at least seven days at 23 °C and 50 percent relative humidity before filling, longer in cooler conditions. Times differ between products, so ask your contractor which apply.

UAE notes

Heat affects the work itself. Construction Chemicals specifies that its pool products are applied between 10 and 30 °C, and not in direct sunlight or hot, windy conditions. Ask how your contractor will schedule surface work and protect fresh work from the sun.

In Dubai, Dubai Municipality's technical guidelines for approving pool plans list what the drawings must show, including a cross section of the pool, the pipe layout for the pool and pump room, the electrical diagram, the drainage scheme and details of pumps, filters and disinfection. If a renovation changes the design, approval may be needed. Shared pools in buildings and communities also need the agreement of whoever manages the common areas.

What you can safely check yourself

1. Gather the history. Original drawings, previous repair invoices and equipment manuals.
2. Photograph the pool and plant room. Include the surround, the coping and the access routes for machinery.
3. Separate problems from wishes. List what is wrong and what you would like to change in two columns.

What a specialist will usually do

A renovation contractor will usually survey the pool, check the shell, arrange a leak test and inspect the equipment before proposing a scope. Expect drawings, a written specification of materials, a programme that shows curing times and clarity on who handles approvals. Ask whether the contractor carries out all trades or subcontracts some, such as electrical work or leak detection.

What to prepare before you call

• Drawings, past invoices and equipment details.
• Photos and your list of problems and wishes.
• Your preferred timing, and any dates when the pool must be open.
• Access for machinery and waste removal, and building rules on working hours.
• For shared pools, the person or committee who approves the work.