Short answer: a pool needs re-lining — not just new grout — when the membrane behind the tiles has failed: tiles letting go in patches, hollow areas across the shell, cracks at the floor-to-wall junction or water loss that returns after every spot repair. Pool shell membrane work costs from IDR 280,000 to 450,000 per m² as a guide, and it is always done before the new tiles go on, never over the old ones.
PU membrane for pools — price per m²
For re-lining an existing pool we use flexible systems that stay bonded under permanent immersion, chlorine or salt water and the daily thermal movement of the shell: a polyurethane (PU) membrane, or a reinforced flexible cementitious membrane where the tile adhesive needs a mineral surface to grip. Rigid coatings crack at the floor-to-wall junction within a few seasons, so we do not use them in pools. The membrane is lapped into every step, bench, skimmer, light housing and inlet, and carried over the overflow channel on infinity pools.
| Service | Guide Price (IDR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pool shell membrane — PU or reinforced cementitious (per m²) | 280,000–450,000 | Includes crack treatment; guide |
| Crystalline treatment for dormant cracks (per m²) | 280,000–420,000 | Negative-side, inside the concrete |
| Active crack injection (per crack) | 650,000–1,200,000 | Polyurethane resin |
| Pool inspection & water-loss check | 1,200,000–2,000,000 | Bucket test, dye and pipe pressure test |
| Full re-lining of a villa pool | by quote | Depends on size, finish and shell condition |
Tiles, tile adhesive and re-tiling labour are quoted with the finish you choose. The price is fixed in writing after we have drained or inspected the shell. All rates are on the waterproofing price list.
When a pool needs re-lining, not just grout
New grout fixes joints; it does not fix water getting behind the tiles. Re-lining is the right call when you see several of these at once: tiles or mosaic sheets letting go in patches rather than one at a time, large hollow-sounding areas when the drained shell is tapped, a crack at the floor-to-wall junction, white efflorescence bleeding through the joints, or a water loss that returns after every local repair. A few loose tiles on a sound shell are a local repair; widespread hollowness means the membrane has failed and patching buys months, not years.
If you are not yet sure the pool is leaking at all, start with a check: float a bucket of pool water on the steps and mark both levels; after 24–48 hours, a pool that has dropped more than the bucket is losing water. Our inspection adds a dye test at suspect points and a pressure test of the pipework, so a plumbing leak is never mistaken for a shell leak before you spend money on re-lining.
Membrane under Sukabumi stone and mosaic
Most Bali villa pools are finished in green Sukabumi stone or glass and ceramic mosaic, and both depend on the layer underneath. Sukabumi is porous and heavy, so it needs a membrane the adhesive can bond to and an immersion-rated adhesive with full coverage; mosaic needs a dead-flat surface, so the membrane coat is followed by levelling before the sheets go on. We coordinate the membrane and the tiling as one scope so the membrane is protected by the finish, not damaged by it — and the pool is refilled and rechecked before handover. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the easiest time to drain and re-line a pool in Bali — plan it so the pool is refilled before the November rains.
How we re-line a pool shell
Check and drain
A water-loss check confirms the shell, not the plumbing, is the problem. The pool is drained and the shell allowed to dry.
Strip and prepare
Failed tiles and membrane come off back to sound concrete; cracks are injected or treated, and the floor-to-wall junction is coved.
Membrane
A PU or reinforced flexible cementitious membrane is applied in coats to the full shell, lapped into steps, fittings and the overflow channel.
Re-tile, refill and recheck
The finish goes back over the cured membrane, the pool is refilled, and the level is rechecked before handover.
Pool waterproofing questions
How much does pool membrane waterproofing cost in Bali?
As a guide, pool shell membrane work — PU or reinforced cementitious, including crack treatment — costs IDR 280,000–450,000 per m². Re-tiling is quoted separately with the finish you choose, and the full price is fixed after an inspection.
Can a pool be re-lined without re-tiling?
Not properly. The membrane has to go onto the concrete shell, so the old tiles come off first. Coating over existing tiles leaves the failed layer underneath and usually fails within a season.
How long does a pool membrane last in Bali?
A correctly specified system applied to a prepared shell lasts 10–15 years in Bali's conditions. Membranes applied over failed layers or onto a damp, dusty shell often fail within a few years.
Do you also find pool leaks?
Yes, as the first step: a bucket test, dye testing at suspect points and a pressure test of the pipework tell us whether you have a shell leak or a plumbing leak before any re-lining is quoted.
Related Services
We also handle roof waterproofing, bathroom membranes and below-ground systems across all our Bali service areas.
Pool Tiles Letting Go? Send Photos.
Send the pool size, a wide photo, close-ups of any cracks, the shell at the waterline, and the finish you want. We reply with the likely scope — local repair or full re-lining — and a guide price.
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