The first weeks after a resurface matter most. Brush the surface gently as directed, keep the water balanced (pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness), hold off on automatic cleaners and chemical shock until the start-up period is over, and follow the finish manufacturer’s start-up instructions to the letter. Do that and the new surface gets the best possible start.
This is general guidance. Each finish has its own start-up instructions, and we take you through the ones for your pool at handover. If you’re still deciding what to put in, our pool resurfacing page covers the whole job.
Why the first weeks matter
A new cement-based surface is still curing when the pool is filled. In that early period it’s at its most sensitive to the water it sits in. Water that is too acidic can etch it, and water that is too hard or too alkaline can leave scale behind. Mistakes made now can show up as rough patches, mottled colour or staining that are hard to undo.
Most early problems we hear about trace back to start-up chemistry, not the finish. It’s the cheapest part of the job to get right and the most expensive to get wrong.
Start-up: the first period
Brushing
Gentle brushing in the early period helps stop loose material settling on the surface and leaving marks. Use the soft brush and technique recommended for your finish, and don’t scrub hard. Your start-up instructions say how often and for how long.
Keep the water balanced
In plain terms, you’re watching three things:
- pH. How acidic or basic the water is. Too low and it can etch the surface. Too high and it can cause scale.
- Total alkalinity. The water’s buffer. It keeps pH from swinging around.
- Calcium hardness. How much calcium is in the water. Too little, and the water starts to draw it from the surface. Too much, and it can deposit as scale.
Your start-up instructions give the target ranges for your finish. Test often, adjust in small steps and don’t chase numbers with big doses.
What to avoid early on
- Automatic pool cleaners. They can scuff a surface that is still hardening. Hold off until you’re told it’s safe.
- Dumping chemicals in one spot. Concentrated product on fresh surface can bleach or etch it. Dilute and distribute as the instructions say.
- Heavy shock dosing. Unless your start-up plan calls for it, don’t.
- Letting water go unchecked. A few days of neglect early on can undo careful work.
- Leaving debris to sit. Leaves and other organic material can stain a new surface, especially under big trees.
Long-term habits that make a surface last
Once the start-up period is done, the habits are simple, and they’re what really sets how long the finish lasts:
- Test the water regularly and keep pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness in range.
- Keep the sanitiser steady so algae doesn’t take hold.
- Brush the walls and steps from time to time, and skim leaves off the surface.
- Clean the waterline before scale builds up.
- Keep an eye on the surface. Early roughness or staining is a cue to check your chemistry.
Sydney conditions add a few extras. Heavy leaf litter from big trees can stain if left to sit. Coastal salt air and wind-blown debris add to the load on pools near the water. Hot western summers mean heavier use and more chemistry to manage. A routine that suits your backyard is better than a generic one.
Finish-specific notes
Different finishes behave a little differently. A pebble finish has more texture, so brushing and cleaning take a bit more care. A quartz finish is smoother and a little easier to keep clean. A fully tiled pool (see pool tiling) needs the grout kept in good order. We’ll give you notes for the finish you choose.
Follow the manufacturer: the start-up instructions for your finish are the ones to follow. Where this page and the manufacturer differ, the manufacturer wins. We’ll walk you through them at handover.
If something looks off
A little roughness, a patch of discolouration or a surface that feels different in one spot can usually be traced to the water. Test it, correct it and watch. If the problem stays, get in touch. You can also read the signs a pool needs resurfacing to see what is normal wear and what isn’t, or see how long a resurface takes for how start-up fits into the schedule.
