Owning a pool is a wonderful luxury but also requires a good amount of effort to maintain the pools finish, plumbing and everyday care. One important aspect of pool maintenance is the finish of the pool be it white plaster or something more specialized like Hydrazzo, Diamond Brite, Sunstone, Traditional White Plaster, Quartz Aggregate and Pebble Surface plasters. When researching plaster finishes for your pool you will come to realize that white is the most affordable therefore the most common finish for commercial and residential inground pools.
Plaster is the most common material and the least expensive finish for inground pools. It is likely that if your home has an inground pool or if you are installing one that the shell of the pool is made out of concrete, or as known in the pool industry a material called gunite. The pool plaster is laid over the gunite shell and smoothed to perfection.
Pricing on different types of plaster finishes can vary a great deal depending on the color, style of the plaster chosen and the region in which you are from. When looking at companies to finish or refinish your pool make sure to check references and ensure that you are looking at what each company offers and their references. Some companies will take shortcuts that can make the plaster job cheaper however will reduce the length of time the finish will hold up costing you more in the long run.
Below is a brief overview on the different options in plaster finishes you can choose from for your pool finish.
White Pool Plastering: As mentioned above, this is the most affordable and most common plaster finish. It is created using a combination of marble aggregate, water and cement. White plaster is often used in commercial pools as it is standard code. The one disadvantage of white plaster over other options is that is tends to be softer and therefore lasts only about five to seven years before the first signs of erosion are seen. Keeping the chemistry of your pools water will increase the longevity of your white plaster finish.
Colored Pool Plaster: The difference between white plaster and colored plaster is, you guessed it, the color. A dye is mixed in with the aggregate, water and cement to create a tint. This is one way to add interest to the finish while keeping the costs reasonable. The one disadvantage is that overtime the coloring will start to fade.
Crushed Quartz Additives In Plaster: Diamond Brite and Hydrazzo are brands that add luster and shine to the pools plaster finish along with increasing the life time of the finish. Using quartz additives can increase the life of the finish for up to twenty years. Just be careful as the quartz adds a slip resistant surface which is durable but can be rough on feet.
As with every purchase around your home you need to weight the benefits, cost and time you will be living in the house. If you intend to stay in your home, therefore utilizing the pool for a long period of time it is a safe bet to go with a quartz finish as it will save you the hassle of finishing the pool every five to seven years!