How to Refinish a Fiberglass Swimming Pool Diving Board
Fiberglass swimming pool diving boards tend to endure a large amount of duress, and over time the finish can begin to fade in the place where jumping feet meet the board. You can rejuvenate the appearance of your diving board by applying a fresh coat of paint.
However, because the surface will be exposed to chlorine, you have to refinish it with a paint formulated to resist the chemical's corrosive effects.
Things You Will Need
- Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
- Metal putty knife
- 120-grit sandpaper
- 400-grit sandpaper
- 4-inch latex paintbrush
- Aqua Luster acrylic pool paint
- Shop vacuum or broom and dust pan
- Step ladder
Tip
Aqua Luster is recommended for fiberglass swimming pool diving boards because it is highly resistant to chlorine and it bonds well without the requirement of a base primer. Whatever brand you choose to refinish the board, read the label to ensure that it is specifically intended for swimming pools. If you are having trouble accessing your diving board, use a step ladder to access it from inside the drained pool.
Warning
Follow the safety instructions printed on the side of your step ladder to avoid injury.
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Drain the water from the swimming pool, and lay fabric drop cloths beneath the diving board.
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Remove any loose, peeling paint by scraping it free with a metallic putty knife.
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Smooth any chipping paint by sanding it with 120-grit sandpaper.
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Abrade the surface of the diving board to encourage paint adhesion by sanding it with 400-grit sandpaper.
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Collect paint chips with a vacuum or a broom and dust pan.
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Apply Aqua Luster pool paint using a latex brush. Apply a thin coat. Do not attempt to cover the fiberglass diving board in one coat as this will lead to unattractive brush strokes in the finish.
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Allow the surface to dry for three hours, and then apply another light coat. Allow the surface to dry for three hours, and then apply additional coats as necessary.
The Drip Cap
- Fiberglass swimming pool diving boards tend to endure a large amount of duress, and over time the finish can begin to fade in the place where jumping feet meet the board.
- Abrade the surface of the diving board to encourage paint adhesion by sanding it with 400-grit sandpaper.
- Allow the surface to dry for three hours, and then apply another light coat.
Writer Bio
Ryan Lawrence is a freelance writer based in Boulder, Colorado. He has been writing professionally since 1999. He has 10 years of experience as a professional painting contractor. Lawrence writes for High Class Blogs and Yodle. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations with a minor in history from the University of Oklahoma.
Photo Credits
- colorful pool toy floating in a summer pool image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
- colorful pool toy floating in a summer pool image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
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