Advantages of High Solids Coatings for Pools

A pool coating can look fine on application day and still fail early if it is too thin, applied over an incompatible surface or unable to cope with the pool environment. The advantages of high solids coatings are mainly about putting more usable coating on the surface with each properly applied coat. For a concrete or fibreglass pool being repainted, that can mean better film build and less reliance on repeated coats to achieve the specified coating system.

That does not make high solids a shortcut around preparation. Peeling paint, blistering and patchy wear are usually preparation or compatibility problems first. A high-solids product applied over loose old paint, contamination or the wrong primer will not turn an unsuitable surface into a sound one.

What does high solids mean in a pool coating?

Paint contains solids and volatile components. The solids are the parts left behind to form the dry coating film. The volatile portion evaporates during application and drying. A higher-solids coating leaves a greater proportion of material on the pool shell after the volatile components have left.

In practical terms, a high-solids coating can build a thicker dry film from a given wet application than a lower-solids alternative. This matters in pool repainting because a coating system needs enough dry film thickness to provide the protection and finish intended by its manufacturer.

High solids is a formulation characteristic, not a complete description of whether a product suits your pool. A two-pack epoxy and a chlorinated rubber coating have different chemistry, preparation requirements and compatibility limits. The right choice still starts with the existing pool surface and the coating already on it.

Advantages of high solids coatings for pool repainting

More useful coating stays on the pool shell

The most direct benefit is film build. When more of the applied product remains after drying, it is easier to achieve a substantial, even coating film without simply applying extra product to compensate for solvent loss.

This is particularly relevant on older concrete pools where the surface may be porous or uneven. The coating still needs to be applied at the rate and number of coats specified for that system, but higher solids can help the applicator reach the required build more efficiently. It also helps reduce the temptation to stretch product too far across a large pool.

A thin film is not always obvious when the pool is freshly painted. It may still appear evenly coloured. The issue becomes apparent later when the coating has less material to withstand normal pool exposure or when variations in application leave weak areas around steps, corners, coves and fittings.

Lower solvent content can reduce unnecessary loss

Because a high-solids coating contains less volatile material relative to the solids, less of what you buy is intended to evaporate away. That is often one reason these systems are considered where a more substantial protective coating is needed.

For Australian DIY work, this should not be mistaken for a reason to ignore ventilation, personal protective equipment or label directions. Pool coatings must be applied only under suitable conditions and exactly as stated in the product information. Temperature, humidity, surface dryness and mixing procedures still affect the result.

Better control of coating thickness

A sound pool coating system is not just about the number of coats. It is about achieving a consistent coating film across the entire pool. High-solids products can assist with this because each correctly applied coat contributes more dry material.

That is useful for professional painters and careful DIY owners alike, especially where a pool has broad walls, long floors or textured concrete that can consume more product than expected. It does not remove the need to maintain a wet edge, mix two-pack materials accurately or avoid overworking the paint as it begins to tack off.

Potentially fewer coats in the correct system

Some high-solids systems can achieve the required film build in fewer coats than a lower-solids system. The key word is some. Never decide coat numbers based on the phrase high solids alone.

Use the application instructions for the exact BG Coatings pool paint and primer system selected. Product chemistry, substrate condition and the previous coating all determine whether a primer is needed, how many finish coats are required and the correct recoat window. Applying one heavy coat when the system calls for two controlled coats can create its own problems, including uneven drying and poor appearance.

Why high solids will not fix peeling pool paint

When old paint is peeling, the failure point is normally below the new topcoat. The old coating may have lost adhesion to concrete, a previous painter may have coated over chalky material, or incompatible paints may have been layered over time.

High-solids paint can only adhere as well as the surface beneath it. If you apply it over unsound paint, the new coating is attached to the same failing layer. The result can be another peel-off job, this time with more material and more cost to remove.

Before choosing any coating, establish whether the pool is concrete or fibreglass and identify the existing coating if possible. Epoxy should not be selected simply because it is a premium two-pack option, and chlorinated rubber should not be used as a universal overcoat. Compatibility comes first.

If the existing paint is loose, flaking or extensively degraded, remove all unsound material and prepare the remaining surface as required by the selected system. If there is uncertainty about the existing coating, check the product guidance before ordering. Guessing is one of the most expensive mistakes in a pool repaint.

Choosing the right coating system

A high-solids benefit only counts when the coating is suitable for the pool. Start with four practical checks:

• Confirm the pool substrate: concrete and fibreglass need different assessment and preparation.
• Identify the existing coating, or treat an unknown coating as a compatibility question that needs resolving before purchase.
• Check whether the surface is bare, sound but weathered, previously painted, or affected by peeling and blistering.
• Confirm the required primer and finish-coat system from the official product information.

For a pool suited to a two-pack epoxy system, epoxy pool paint may be the appropriate choice where its compatibility and preparation requirements are met. Epoxy systems are often selected when a high-performance coating build is required, but accurate mixing and careful application are essential.

Chlorinated rubber pool paint remains a practical choice for suitable previously coated pools, particularly where compatibility points to a chlorinated rubber system. It is not interchangeable with epoxy. Applying the wrong chemistry can lead to softening, lifting, wrinkling or later adhesion failure.

For fibreglass pools, surface condition deserves extra attention. A glossy, contaminated or poorly prepared fibreglass surface can prevent adhesion regardless of a coating’s solids content. Follow the specified abrasion, cleaning and primer steps for the coating system being used.

Preparation determines whether the benefits last

High solids can provide a better coating build, but preparation determines whether that build stays attached. The pool must be empty, dry and ready for coating. Loose paint, surface contaminants and incompatible layers must be dealt with before painting begins.

Concrete needs to be sound and suitably prepared so the coating can bond correctly. Fibreglass needs the right surface profile and compatible primer where specified. Do not apply primer because it seems like extra insurance, and do not skip it because the surface looks acceptable. Both decisions should be based on the product system and the pool’s actual condition.

Pay particular attention to repaired-looking patches, stair edges, waterline areas and places where old coating has lifted. These are not just cosmetic issues. They indicate areas that need closer assessment before a new coating goes over the top.

Calculate quantity before ordering

Higher solids does not mean you can ignore coverage rates. The quantity required depends on pool dimensions, surface profile, the coating’s stated coverage, number of coats and whether primer is required. Rough estimates often leave customers short halfway through the job or with far more product than planned.

Use the Pool Paint Calculator to work out the pool’s paintable area and the estimated amount of finish coat and primer required. Then check the result against the coverage and application instructions for the exact product you intend to use. If the surface is rough concrete or needs additional preparation, allow for the real condition of the pool rather than assuming it is a smooth new shell.

When you are ready to buy, select the epoxy or chlorinated rubber pool paint system that matches the existing surface and coating, then add the compatible primer only where the product guidance calls for it. If the existing coating is unknown or failing, resolve that question before placing the order.

The best result is not achieved by choosing the coating with the most impressive description. It comes from matching the product to the pool, preparing every square metre properly and applying enough of the correct system to do the job once.