Signs Your Swimming Pool Needs Refurbishing

A pool in Abu Dhabi works hard. It sits in strong sun most of the year, its chemistry swings with the heat, and it's used most in the months when evaporation is highest. Small problems grow quickly, and a pool that's left too long can end up needing far more than a refresh.

Here are the signs to look for and what a refurbishment usually involves.

Sign 1: Losing More Water Than Evaporation Explains

All pools lose water to evaporation, especially in summer. Losing noticeably more, or seeing damp patches around the pool or in nearby rooms, suggests a leak in the shell, the pipes or the fittings.

A simple bucket test helps. Put a bucket of pool water on the step so its water level matches the pool's, mark both levels and compare them after a day. If the pool drops more than the bucket, the extra loss is likely a leak.

Sign 2: Cracked, Loose or Hollow Tiles

Tiles that sound hollow when tapped, lift at the edges or crack along the waterline mean water has got behind them. Left alone, more tiles follow and the shell beneath can be damaged.

Waterline tiles take the most punishment from sun and chemicals, so they often fail first.

Sign 3: Rough, Stained or Faded Surfaces

Plaster and render finishes wear over time. A surface that feels rough underfoot, stains easily or has faded patchily is near the end of its life, and rough surfaces hold algae more easily.

Sign 4: Old, Noisy or Inefficient Equipment

Pumps, filters and heaters don't last forever. A noisy pump, a filter that can't keep the water clear, or water that stays cloudy however much chemical goes in all point to equipment that needs servicing or replacing.

Modern variable-speed pumps and LED pool lights can cut running costs, and a refurbishment is the natural time to fit them.

Sign 5: A Cracked or Slippery Deck

Cracked coping stones and tired deck tiles are trip hazards, and polished surfaces become slippery when wet. Replacing them with slip-resistant tiling makes the whole area safer.

What a Pool Refurbishment Includes

• Leak detection and repairs to pipes and fittings
• Draining, surface preparation and shell repairs
• New waterproofing where the shell needs it
• Retiling, replastering or a new finish
• New coping and slip-resistant deck tiles
• Pump, filter, lighting and control upgrades

Our swimming pool renovation service covers all of these under one programme.

Add Safety Upgrades While the Pool Is Empty

Abu Dhabi Police have urged families to fence home pools with safe barriers, keep doors to the pool area tightly closed, use non-slip flooring around the water and fit appropriate safety devices (see the source at the end of this article). A refurbishment is the easiest time to add a fence, self-closing gates and better lighting.

Timing and Approvals

The cooler months are the best time to refurbish, so the pool is ready for summer. In managed communities such as Saadiyat Island, pool alterations usually need community approval before work starts.

The same applies on Yas Island, where community rules also set working hours for contractors.

Larger family villas in districts like Al Shamkha often combine pool works with garden, shading and outdoor lighting upgrades in one project.

Frequently Asked Questions