Which Coating to Use

Selection of the correct coating for your pool depends on: (1) whether your
existing surface is bare concrete, plaster or fiberglass, and (2) if
currently coated, with what?

For Uncoated Pools Previously Coated Pools
If your pool is concrete:
You may choose any of the fine Olympic Pool Coatings: acrylic enamel (2 - 3 years service), synthetic rubber or chlorinated rubber (2 - 3 years service), or epoxy (5 - 8 years service). Each has its unique advantages, although epoxies offer the longest life.
If you have bare plaster or marcite:
Again, any of the Olympic products may be used, with epoxies offering the best amortized value. If the existing surface is rough, prime first with Gunzite. If smooth, prime first with POXOPRIME II before application of POXOLON or ZERON finish coat.
If you have a fiberglass pool:
The epoxy system is your choice. Over GUNZITE PRIMER, apply either two coats of POXOLON or one coat of ZERON.
For steel or aluminum:

Again, epoxy is your choice. Both of these surfaces require a special primer before the application of the finish coat.

Before coating any surface, see the "preparation" section on page 6 of this guide for your particular surface.

If your pool is sandblasted:

On your sandblasted surface (concrete or plaster) you may choose the Olympic system that best fits your service and application requirements. Remember, although more attention must be given during application, epoxies offer the longer life. Steel, aluminum and fiberglass all require the epoxy system.

Olympic recommends using the same type coating to recoat a previously finished pool. This assures the best possible adhesion between old and new.
How to Determine What Coating is on Your Pool
When the type of the old coating is not known, send a 1" x 1" chip to us for analysis. If time does not permit our analysis, immerse a small chip in denatured alcohol. If it dissolves, it is a water-based acrylic. If not, immerse a small chip of the existing coating into a solvent blend of 75% mineral spirits and 25% Olympic No. 1108 SOLVENT or Xylol. Wait 30 seconds and rub the chip between your thumb and forefinger. If the chip dissolves, it is a synthetic rubber-base coating. If the chip does not dissolve, then immerse the chip in 100% Olympic No. 1108 SOLVENT, or Xylol. If the chip then dissolves, it is a chlorinated rubber coating. If it does not, it is an epoxy. Use the same type finish for refinishing. REMEMBER that a synthetic rubber base coating can be applied over a chlorinated rubber coating but a chlorinated rubber coating cannot be applied over a synthetic rubber. However, you may convert old rubber-base to epoxy by first applying FUSION PLUS Conversion Coating.
Send us a chip for analysis!
Kelley Technical Coatings P. O. Box 3726 1445 South 15th Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40210-3726

Which System to Use - on New or Unsurfaced Pools

Surface Type System Primer Coating (# of coats)
*Smooth Concrete
*Smooth Concrete
Smooth Concrete
Smooth Concrete
Smooth Concrete
Epoxy
Epoxy
Chlorinated Rubber
Synthetic Rubber
Acrylic
Poxoprime II
Poxoprime II
None
None
None
Zeron (1)
Poxolon (2)
Paralon 2 (2)
Optilon (2)
Hydrolon (2)
 
*Plaster
*Plaster
Plaster
Plaster
Plaster
Epoxy
Epoxy
Chlorinated Rubber
Synthetic Rubber
Acrylic
Poxoprime II
Poxoprime II
None
None
None
Zeron (1)
Poxolon (2)
Paralon 2 (2)
Optilon (2)
Hydrolon (2)
*Use Gunzite on all rough plaster and concrete and on sandblasted surfaces.
 
Gunite
Epoxy
Gunzite
Zeron (1)
 
Aluminum
Aluminum
Epoxy
Epoxy
Bonderite
Bonderite
Zeron (1)
Poxolon (2)
 
Steel
Galvanized Steel
Epoxy
Epoxy
#219 Steel Primer
#220 Steel Primer
Zeron (1)
Poxolon (2)
Olympic Pool Products are not recommended for stainless steel.
 
Fiberglass
Fiberglass
Epoxy
Epoxy
Gunzite
Gunzite
Zeron (1)
Poxolon (2)
 
One coat of Zeron may replace two coats of Poxolon in all cases where epoxy is used.

 

 
1445 South 15th Street P.O. Box 3726
Louisville, Kentucky 40201-3726
(502) 636-2561 (800) 458-2842 Fax (502) 635-5170