To paint a marbelite or cement pool, drain it, repair and clean the shell, etch the surface, apply two even coats of pool paint, then cure fully before refilling. With good preparation it is a manageable do-it-yourself (DIY) job. This step-by-step uses Rhinoluxe Marbelite Pool Paint on marbelite and smooth cement pools — confirm your pool is one of those before you start.
Before you start: is your pool paintable?
Confirm the pool is marbelite or smooth cement (not fibreglass or vinyl) and that the shell is sound, not leaking or crumbling. Marbelite Pool Paint is for cement and marbelite pools; fibreglass and vinyl need different systems. Check for leaks, hollow plaster and structural cracks — these must be repaired first, because paint renews the surface but does not seal a failing shell. If the surface is sound but faded, chalky or stained, it is ready to prepare and paint.
Step 1 — Drain the pool and let it dry
Drain the pool completely and let the shell dry out fully before doing anything else. A cement pool coating must go onto a dry surface, so allow a good run of dry weather after draining. Plan the job for a dry, mild spell — not the rainy season — so the shell dries and the coats can cure. Drain to a legal, sensible point and keep the empty pool covered from rain and debris while you work.
Step 2 — Clean off algae, scale and old paint
Scrub the shell to remove algae, scale, chalk and any loose or flaking old paint, then rinse and let it dry. Use a stiff brush and a suitable pool surface cleaner or acid wash to lift algae and mineral scale. Scrape or sand away flaking old coating back to a sound surface. Any grease, chalk or loose material left behind stops the new paint bonding, so this clean is the foundation of a lasting finish. Rinse thoroughly and let the surface dry.
Step 3 — Repair cracks and defects
Fill hairline surface cracks and small defects, and have any structural cracks or leaks properly repaired before you paint. Fine surface crazing in sound plaster is filled and faired as part of prep. A crack that leaks or hollow, drummy plaster is a structural repair — fix it and let it cure first. Painting over an unrepaired leak hides the problem and wastes the coating. A sound, repaired shell is what the paint needs.
Step 4 — Etch or key the surface
Acid-etch a bare, dense marbelite surface so the coating can grip, then neutralise and rinse. Marbelite is smooth and dense, so a bare surface needs etching — typically an acid etch — to open the surface for the coating to bond. Follow the etch product's safety and neutralising steps, rinse thoroughly, and let the shell dry again. Skipping the etch on bare marbelite is a common reason pool paint peels. A previously painted, sound surface may need keying rather than etching.
Step 5 — Apply the first coat
Apply the first even coat of Marbelite Pool Paint over the dry, prepared surface, working systematically from the deep end. Use a suitable brush or roller and lay an even coat of Marbelite Pool Paint, starting at the deep end and working towards the steps so you finish where you climb out. Keep the coat even — avoid heavy build-up in the floor and thin patches on the walls. Work in mild conditions, out of direct blazing sun where possible.
Step 6 — Let it dry, then apply the second coat
Let the first coat dry to the recoat time, then apply a second even coat for a continuous, durable film. Two coats build the film that survives permanent immersion and pool chemistry; one coat leaves weak spots. Respect the recoat time — too soon and the coats do not bond properly. Apply the second coat the same way, deep end first, keeping it even. Two well-applied coats are the difference between a finish that lasts and one that fails early.
Step 7 — Cure before refilling
Let the final coat cure fully before refilling the pool — this is the step most people rush, and it causes early blistering. The film needs to harden properly before it meets water and chemicals; refilling too soon traps solvent and softness under the surface. Follow the product's cure guidance and keep the empty pool dry and clean during the wait. Patience here is what makes the paint last.
Step 8 — Refill and balance the water
Refill the pool, then balance the water chemistry and brush the new surface in as it settles. Once cured, refill and get the pH, chlorine and other levels balanced, because unbalanced water is the fastest way to damage a fresh finish. Brush the walls and floor gently in the first weeks as the surface settles, and keep up regular cleaning. Good water care from day one gives the new coat its full lifespan.
Where to buy
Shop Rhinoluxe Marbelite Pool Paint in White and Blue with national delivery, or visit our paint shops in Table View, Cape Town and Edenvale, Johannesburg. For advice, call +27 84 985 6141. See the full pool paint guide and the marbelite pool paint guide.
