Regular white plaster has a long-standing history, offering both timeless appeal and affordability. Once the pool is filled, it bestows a captivating sky-blue hue to the water. White plaster produces a phenomenal, pristine surface that feels smooth to the touch.
White plaster, in its capacity as a pool finish, offers unique clarity, making it exceptionally adept at revealing any irregularities in the water. For this very reason, some argue that it enhances safety for swimmers; you are able to see anything that is submerged.
Composed of: cement, sand, and water.
Texture: Smooth.
Typical Lifespan: 5-10 years; more, with proper care. We've seen people get 15+ years out of their regular plaster.
This type of plaster is similar to regular white plaster, but with added pigments to give the plaster a specific color. Colors can vary from light gray to dark blue or black! As such, the water color of the pool can greatly vary!
Composed of: cement, sand, pigment, and water.
Texture: Smooth.
Typical Lifespan: 5-10 years; more, with proper care. We've seen people get 15+ years out of their regular plaster.
Quartz aggregate is smaller than pebble and finishes are readily available in a variety of colors. Although it is more expensive than regular plaster, it offers a bit more resilience to external forces!
Composed of: Quartz base, cement, water, and sometimes pigment.
Texture: Smooth without exposure & grippy/tactile when exposed.
Typical Lifespan: 7-15 years; more, with proper care.
Finishing your pool with pebble may be more expensive, but offers a more durable, stain-resistant, natural-looking surface than regular plaster. You may see a spectrum of colors as the sunlight plays off the water! This is an exposed finish so it may be somewhat abrasive.
Composed of: Stones, cement, water, and sometimes pigment.
Texture: Tactile; remember it's tiny rocks!
Typical Lifespan: 10-20 years; more, with proper care.
There are many factors that can affect the way your pool water color looks:
•Pool design, including its shape and depth
•Sun position and time of day
•Sky conditions: sunny, stormy, or overcast
•Geographic location
•Water chemistry
•Surrounding landscaping, including trees, bushes, and foliage
•Exterior colors of your home
Consider Water Color at a Distance vs. Close-Up. You'll need to decide what matters more to you: the color of the water when viewed from afar or the appearance of the pool finish up close. For example, some of the most striking water colors are achieved by adding grey pigment to the cement. While this can create a breathtaking blue hue when seen from a distance, the grey finish on the steps and in the shallow end might not appeal to everyone when observed from the pool's edge.
In addition to color, the texture of your pool finish should be considered.
Your pool finish may be:
•Smooth
•Super smooth (polished)
•Gritty
•Natural/Rugged
Choose wisely!
When plastering your pool, it is important to consider the durability of available pool finishes.
From Weakest to Strongest:
1. Regular plaster
2. Quartz finishes
3. Pebble finishes
With proper maintenance and care all pool finishes can see a longer life.
The darker your pool finish, the darker your pool water will be; affecting it's temperature. With darker finishes, you can see increases of a few degrees in the water temperature.
