Pool Refinishing: Expert Tips to Revive Your Texas Pool

Intense sun, high humidity and UV radiation. Your Texas inground pool has taken a beating for years, and it’s starting to show. (And that’s not counting chlorine damage or general wear and tear!)

Pool refinishing gives you the chance to upgrade everything about your outdated pool — better aesthetics, premium materials, and long-lasting durability. All you need to succeed is some guidance from an outdoor renovation expert.

We’ve refinished thousands of swimming pools and pool decks in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Use this expert guide to nail your planning, material selection, installation and ongoing maintenance — let’s turn that outdated pool into a true backyard oasis.

• Tackle local climate and soil challenges to pool refinishing. Learn how to solve sun damage, UV radiation, heat expansion, humidity, moisture damage and shifting soil.
• Learn our 5 expert tips to long-lasting pool renovation. From surface prep and material selection through sealing and waterproofing, we’ll turn you into a pool pro.
• Get on board with a simple, regular maintenance schedule. Regular cleaning and balanced water chemistry extend the longevity of your resurfaced pool.

Texas Pool Refinishing: Local Challenges and Solutions

You’re probably wondering how your swimming pool got so worn out in the first place. It’s not your fault — Texas is a tough place to maintain a beautiful pool.

Intense sun, scorching temperatures and torrential rains are statewide issues. San Antonio has some of America’s highest UV levels. Houston is among the most humid cities in the country.

And if climate concerns weren’t enough — clay soil throughout the state creates unstable foundations for our pool shells and decks. 

Let’s look at some of Texas’ biggest pool refinishing challenges, and how expert pool renovators solve them.

Sun Damage and UV Radiation

Since 2006, the San Antonio area ranks in the top 5 nationwide for overall UV exposure (EPA). This doesn’t just cause sunburn on your skin — it fades and cracks your pool shell, surface materials and plaster.

The solution: You can’t “turn the sun down”, but you can turn your pool’s resistance to sun damage up. Choose UV resistant finishes for your new pool materials. Polyurethane coatings are a good choice, and pebble finishes offer natural resistance to sun damage.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are strong, premium materials that perform well against ultraviolet radiation. Keep up maintenance on their grout work to prevent discoloration or cracking.

Heat Expansion and Contraction

Dallas-Fort Worth experiences 100+ days of 100°F weather per year. As hot as it gets during the day, temperatures can dip at night.

These daily and weekly temperature swings cause heat expansion and contraction which place stress on your pool surfaces. This leaks to cracking and crazing (spider-like hairline cracks).

The solution: Flexible, high-quality sealants are key to preventing heat damage to pool surfaces. Liquid membranes made of silicone and polyurethane are a good place to start.

Make sure your refinished pool has strategically-placed expansion joints. These gaps and spaces between your pool deck and coping allow room for natural expansion and contraction.

Moisture and Humidity

Houston pool owners, take note! High humidity directly causes mold and algae growth on poorly sealed pool tile, grout work and stone. Houston averages 89% humidity due to a “double hit” of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico through Galveston Bay.

In other areas of Texas, torrential heavy rains cause similar issues. San Antonio's low-lying terrain is susceptible to ground moisture and pooled water.

The solution: Moisture-resistant finishes are crucial to refinished pool surfaces. Glass tile and porcelain tile are naturally non-porous, premium material options. 

If you’re using more porous materials, add a waterproof membrane or sealant to combat humidity. Keep an eye on your pool plaster and perform maintenance as needed.

Shifting Soil

The clay soil that we live on top of is rich and fertile, but it’s challenging for stable construction. It swells, settles and shifts depending on moisture content.

These frequent shifts in Texas soil cause cracks and pressure on pool surfaces. While this stress is unavoidable, it is something your contractor can plan for.

The solution: Proper inspections, planning and surface preparation are crucial to the success of your refinished pool. You can’t stop Texas soil from shifting, but you can mitigate ongoing damage with flexible sealants, stable materials and smart use of expansion joints.

3 Expert Tips for Refinished Pool Installation That Lasts

We’ve covered the Texas-specific obstacles between you and the resurfaced pool of your dreams. You know what to ask your pool renovation team about climate, weather and soil issues in your backyard.

Now, let’s talk about actually getting the job done.

Our outdoor living designers and pool refinishing experts collaborated on this list of 5 tips to ensure smart, success pool refinishing. Follow these steps to do it once, do it right, and love it for years.

1. Surface Preparation is Key

Surface prep is crucial — it guarantees your refinished pool surfaces adhere properly and last as long as expected. 

Make sure your pool contractors follow smart protocol for preparing your pool surface for refinishing:

• Drain the pool. “This seems obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many shoddy contractors try to refinish pool walls with half the pool full,” one contractor told us.
• Remove old finish. Chip and hammer old plaster, then remove all old finishes to promote adherence of new materials. Sandblasting or hydroblasting are 2 common options — ask your contractor which they utilize.
• Repair damage. Proper repair of existing cracks and structural damage must happen before any new construction or renovation occurs. All imperfections must be shored up and fixed.
• Clean and etch. All loose debris, dirt and contaminants should be cleaned off the area. Surfaces will be etched to ensure new pool materials adhere well.
• Neutralize and rinse. The acid residue should be neutralized to prevent interference with your new finishes. A final rinse occurs.

2. Material Selection: Durability + Aesthetics

The pool materials you select should offer equal value when it comes to durability and aesthetics. (Beautiful materials aren’t worth much if they fail in 2 years, and nobody wants durable materials that look unattractive.)

Allied Outdoor Solutions regularly evaluates and ranks pool resurfacing materials for longevity, stability and style. We currently design and install with these materials:

• Porcelain tile
• Glass tile
• Blue quartz plaster
• White marcite plaster
• Pebble plaster

Here are 3 specific considerations for selecting a surface material:

1. Color. Choose light colors and blue hues for pool materials. You’ll reflect heat away from pool surfaces and reduce UV damage.
2. Water composition. Are you using a chlorinated or salt water pool? Select materials that pair with the chemical composition or salinity of the water.
3. Durability. Aggregate surfaces (like pebble and blue quartz plaster) are extremely tough against wear, tear and heat.

Want more insight into the best pool refinishing materials? Take a deep dive into our expert rankings of the best materials for pool resurfacing.

3. Professional Installation is the Right Choice

Professional installation is always preferred for pool refinishing — but in Texas, it’s non-negotiable. 

Local humidity affects curing times for concrete and plaster. Our clay soil requires installation expertise that only local contractors possess. 

If you’re investing in premium materials like glass tile and quartz aggregate, place your trust in outdoor contractors with years of experience handling them. You’ll ensure that the performance of your materials is as elevated as their appearance.

Added bonus: Experienced pool renovators have relationships with local suppliers and material providers to help offset the cost of refinishing your pool.

Pro Maintenance Tips for Your Refinished Pool

Our expert outdoor renovation team just prepped and installed the refinished pool you’ve craved for years.

Now, let’s set you up for future success with a smart maintenance plan for your swimming pool.

Learn what to add to your regular pool cleaning routine, how to balance your water chemistry to prevent damage, and how to winterize your pool (yes, even in Texas!).

Establish a Regular Cleaning Schedule

A proactive approach to pool cleaning is needed in hot Texas climates. Our elevated heat and humidity levels lead to increased debris and chemical imbalances in our swimming pools.

Add these simple tasks to your regular swimming pool cleaning list:

• Daily skimming. If your pool’s open, skim it quickly once per day. You’ll remove leaves, debris, insects and pollen before they sink to the bottom of your pool.
• Bi-weekly brushing. Brush your pool walls and floor twice per week to disrupt algae growth, especially if you have grout or stone. Support these efforts and use an algaecide to inhibit algae growth from July through August.
• Filter checks. Replace cartridge and sand filters every 4 weeks for peak performance in hot weather. If your pool’s pressure gauge reads 8+ psi, clean your filters right away.
• Pool pump checks. Check your pool pump regularly — hot temperatures causes added strain and overheating.

Pool pump pro tip! Run your pool pump during cooler parts of the day to increase its efficiency. Avoid mid-day use to keep your pump from overheating.

Balance Your Water Chemistry

Imbalanced water chemistry has a sneaky negative impact on your resurfaced pool materials — no matter whether your chemicals are too strong or too weak.

If your pool chemicals are too strong, they can cause material corrosion, surface damage and equipment degradation.

If they’re too weak, you can experience surface staining, algae growth and a breeding ground for bacteria.

Here are some simple tips to maintain balanced water chemistry:

• Test pH and chlorine levels at least once per week. Look for an ideal pH level between 7.4 and 7.6, and a chlorine range of 1-3 parts per million (ppm).
• Shock your pool immediately after testing pH and chlorine levels. Shock your pool in the evening, as direct sunlight can degrade chlorine.
• Test other water chemistry levels every other week. The most important “other” test in Texas is for total alkalinity, as we tend to have highly alkaline water. Look for an ideal total alkalinity (TA) range between 80-120 ppm.

Winterize Your Pool (Yes, Even in Texas!)

Winterizing your pool requires a slightly different approach in Texas than other parts of the country. Our freezing events are quite brief compared to other regions of America.

The primary focus on winterizing a Texas pool is protecting equipment and maintaining proper water chemistry. While your pool surfaces aren’t at high direct risk, they can be damaged by imbalanced pool chemicals and malfunctioning equipment.

Here’s a quick checklist for winterizing your Texas inground pool:

1. Clean: Brush, skim and vacuum the pool. Clean skimmer baskets of debris.
2. Balance: Test and balance pH, alkalinity, water hardness and chlorine.
3. Algaecide: Add a quality algaecide to prevent algae growth over the winter.
4. Reduce: Lower your pool’s water level a few inches below the skimmer.
5. Drain: Drain all water from chlorinators, pumps, filters and heaters. Open valves and remove drain plugs to complete the process.
6. Blow out: Blow out your swimming pool’s plumbing lines with an air compressor to provide extra protection.
7. Cover: Install your pool cover to keep out debris and minimize evaporation.

Take Your Swimming Pool From Drab to Fabulous

Your swimming pool is an investment in fun, relaxation and entertainment. But a worn-down, stressed-out pool can be a real bummer.

Allied Outdoor Solutions has transformed thousands of Texas pools from drab to fabulous with professional refinishing and resurfacing services. We combine local climate and soil expertise, premium surface materials and expert installation for jaw-dropping designs that last.

We’d love to help you rediscover poolside bliss in your own backyard. Tell our Texas outdoor living designers what you need — we’ll turn that old pool into a brand new paradise.

‍