What Type of Finish Should I Select for My New Concrete Swimming Pool?

We receive many questions about the different types of concrete pool finishes.  This blog entry will provide information on the different types of pool finishes.

Over the past months we have talked about pool safety, how to keep your pool clean including the benefits of salt systems over traditional chlorine systems as well as the latest applications and equipment to make caring for your pool quick and easy.  We have discussed the pros and cons of concrete versus vinyl liner pools and posted a video about the Hilltop family.

  This week we are covering the different types of surfaces that can be applied to concrete pools.  Surface applications on pools have come a long way since the first pool in Mohenjo-Daro (the “Great Bath”) built in the 3^rd millennium.  That pool was lined with brick and covered with a tar-based sealant.  Today the pool owner has a variety of interior products to choose from.

For years the concrete shell of a swimming pool was covered with a standard white plaster.  But first let’s get a better understanding of what plaster is made from.  The National Plasterers Council defines plaster in their Seventh Edition Technical Manual as:

1.      A combination of cement, aggregate, and water, with or without other admixtures that when mixed thoroughly, placed properly and finished accordingly, form a desired decorative aesthetic that is maintainable and a watertight finish applied over the shell of the swimming pool. 

2.      A mixture consisting essentially of a cementitious material or materials, fine aggregate and water that forms a plastic mass.  When applied to a surface the mixture adheres to it and subsequently hardens.

Beyond classic white plaster is colored plaster; the coloring is achieved by mixing the plaster with additives called pigments to create various colors.  Something to consider when choosing colored plaster is that the characteristics of the hand troweled plaster will be more pronounced.  Keep in mind that some colors may tend to fade in time.  Also, despite that fact that you may see more color unevenness, streaks, check crack or crazing, these are not considered defects in the pool surface.

To create more interesting pools, surface applicators added quartz sand to the mixture.  Quartz is rock formed from cooling magna or molten rock.  The quartz is mixed with marble sand and pozzolans and polymers that help strengthen the mixture.  Quartz is a harder, skid resistant, textured surface.  Priced slightly higher than white/colored plaster, quartz offers a more durable surface.

Many people prefer a more natural looking pool, to achieve this plasterers use a product that has been infused with small pebbles.  These pebbles are mined all over the world and come in several sizes ranging from 1/2cm to 1/8cm and a variety of colors.  Pricing on a pebble finish is based on the size of the pebbles, the smaller the pebble the higher the price.  Also, certain pebbles are more difficult to find (bright blues, reds, blacks), so a darker color pebble will also increase the price.  Many client's are selecting the pebble application because of the longer warranties.

After shooting the plaster, mixed with the pebbles, the applicators then hand trowel the surface working it into a smooth finish.  As they apply pressure the tiny pebbles are compacted and pushed into the plaster mix.  At first the pebbles are not visible; this is because as they are troweling the mix, the water in the mixture is coming to the surface.  The water appears to be a milky color.  This is called the cream.   Once the walls are sufficiently worked they are rinsed with clear water and the pebbles become more visible. 

There’s one additional step in this application to bring out the brilliance of the pebble finish.  The day following the application, a diluted solution of Muriatic Acid is washed over the entire surface which brings out the natural color of the pebbles.   You can begin filling your swimming pool with water.

The photo below show how the pebbles appear in a pool with water.  The one below, with the umbrella sleeve almost appears to be a sandy beach.

 Another choice that homeowners have is something offered by Pebble Technology, Inc.  Bead Crete® is a product where solid, static; glass spheres have been mixed with the plaster to create a 3-dimensional effect.    The beads look great in natural and artificial light as the beads reflect  light  adding a shimmering effect to the water as if bringing it to life.  This is one way to get a little sparkle into your pool.

Because these pebble finishes are skid resistant, some people do not like they way they feel when sitting in a spa.  Wet Edge Technologies® has a solution for that.   They have developed a process where they use one product in the pool and then Primera Stone in the spa.  Primera Stone still gives the natural look that homeowners desire but it has been polished to a smooth finish.

Regardless of the type of finish you select for your concrete pool, remember that to keep your pool looking great and working properly it is VERY important for you to maintain proper water chemistry.   Check out our prior blogs for more information about water chemistry by clicking: http://hilltoppools.blogspot.com/2012/05/balancing-guidlines.html.

Have a Great Monday!

The Staff of Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.