What Kind of Pool Plaster Should We Use in Our Renovated Swimming Pool

What Kind of Pool Plaster Should We Use in Our Renovated Swimming Pool

Surface Finishes

Pool and hot tub owners have many reliable and beautiful swimming pool finish options available to them from Affordable Pools when remodeling a pool. From the straight forward simplicity of standard white plaster to the rainbow of multi-colored quartz and pebble finishes, the choices can be exciting. In many cases these changes are not just purely cosmetic, in other more extreme situations; some surfaces might start to deteriorate.  The decision you make in the planning stages of the pool installation or renovation process will have a significant impact on how well your pool surface maintains its appearance over time. With so many finish options offered, it is logical that pool owners should want to explore the specific benefits inherent in the various surface products.

Affordable Pools’ array of plaster options means you can select the color and quality of materials we use when we work on your pool. Our pool plastering service has provided clients in the New England area a high quality finish for their pool or spa while keeping costs down.

Pool Plaster

Standard white plaster is the original pool surface finish.  White plaster has been around as long as people have been building swimming pools and it remains a popular choice in spite of the myriad of choices that have come into the market in recent years. It is simply a combination of white cement, white marble aggregate and water and that makes for an economical choice that will give you that classic swimming pool look. Many prefer this finish because when filled with water, pools surfaced in white plaster create a brilliant, clean, light blue appearance that is very smooth to the touch due to the affordability of it as it remains the most affordable pool finish product on the market today.  Standard white plaster is a reliable product when installed by a quality contractor and properly maintained. However, it's important to know that white plaster is susceptible to all water conditions especially from attacks of improperly maintained chemical conditions.  Therefore, it is only reasonable to expect that during the life of the product, it will change in appearance.  These changes may be subtle or minor, perhaps slight shading or scaling, or far more dramatic in the form of pronounced staining, etching, cracking, or delaminating in extreme cases.

By its nature, colored plaster will accentuate all of the characteristics normally found in white plaster.  Mottling, for example, can be more pronounced in colored plaster than in white.  Colored plaster may also exhibit pigment stains, streaks, unevenness of color and more noticeable checking and crazing.  Also, variations of shade will exist between color sample chips and mixed plaster.  Over time, the color may fade completely or grow gradually lighter and will often not be the precise shade that was anticipated. This is why colored or dyed white plaster is rarely used anymore. It's important to note that none of these conditions are considered a deficiency of the product.

Because many customers want the economy of standard plaster surfaces, but would also like to avoid some of the problems associated with traditional plaster, material suppliers have developed highly innovated chemical additives that can be used in the mixing and application of plaster.  These products alter the physical and chemical composition of the plaster surface increasing its strength and durability - without sacrificing beauty or the smooth texture. These products contain chemicals known as "pozzalans" that essentially take the weakest element in plaster (calcium hydroxide) and make it stronger – making it less susceptible to chemical attacks.  Pozzolan-based products have been proven to reduce etching, cracking, mottling and other problems. If plaster is your surface of choice, be sure to ask your pool professional about adding a pozzolanic additive. Affordable Pools uses a great pozzolan additive that provides a more dense product with a more uniform and consistent color. We’ve also found that EZ Spred will also improve the pumpability and workability of white plaster pools while maintaining excellent set time consistency and improved hardened properties of the pool finish. 

Aggregate Effects

Another highly innovative addition to the palette of surface options has been the use of special colored ceramic aggregate products. These aggregates are basically a very specialized form of ceramic-coated sand that comes in a variety of pre-mixed plaster products. When combined with white or colored plaster, aggregates afford a broad range of colors, from vivid blues and reds, to more subtle hues such as beige or soft greens as well.  It also has the advantage of creating, a much more durable surface than standard plaster, and one that is harder and far more resistant to fluctuating chemical conditions. A great option to consider for your pool surface is Diamond Brite from Southern Grouts and Mortars . The Diamond Brite pool finish is a premium blend of crushed quartz, white cement and color tints. When you choose Diamond brite by SGM pool finish, your pool will be completely unique: the patterns of texture and color, the specific hue of your chosen color, and the way the color becomes richer over time. All this, in addition to striking beauty and long-lasting durability, is a reason we recommended Diamond Brite as an aggregate option for your pool surface.

Aggregates can also offer the look of a myriad of pebbles worked into a concrete surface. Over the past decade, pebble surfaces have increased dramatically in popularity and come in a broad range of colors and color combinations. The appearance of the aggregate varies greatly based on the color of the concrete and the types of pebbles used. One of the most popular reasons for this type of pool finish is the slight texture that makes for a slip-proof surface. It is also a relatively low maintenance pool finish, although a sealant may need to be reapplied periodically to help it retain its appearance. Pebble surfaces are beautiful, extremely natural in appearance, come in a wide range of colors and they are the most durable surface available.  Because the stone material that comprises river pebbles is “chemically inert", it is unlikely to react with swimming pool or spa water and is therefore less impervious to attack or alterations in appearance. We highly recommend River Rok from SGM to give your pool or spa the naturally beautiful look of a pebble-bottomed stream. River Rok combines artistry with durability, comfort and safety to create a perfect finish for a remodeled pool, BBQ Islands, or other outdoor amenities.

If you are looking for a smoother alternative to a pebble finish, you may want to consider the look of colorful glass beads for your pool finish. We would recommend that you check out Affordable Pools line of Pebble Finish with glass beads, which combines the beauty of smooth, colorful glass beads with the highest quality pigments and aggregates for a finish that’s beyond compare. They are available in a range of local designer colors and this remarkable pool plaster aggregate enhances the visual effect that contemporary architecture demands.

Any of the products and surface options listed here can provide years of reliable performance and dazzling beauty in a well-made and well-maintained swimming pool.  The key to enjoying that success, and avoiding unexpected frustration, is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each, and to choose wisely. What is important to note is that in our research of pool surface innovation, we’ve identified that many of the surface treatments on the market use pigments to provide color in their interior pool finishes that were never intended to be used in a swimming pool at all. They are not resistant to UV and are soluble. However when you trust your pool finish to one of Affordable Pools Plaster products listed above, you can be sure that you will get the most inorganic product available; which is insoluble, highly UV resistant, resistant to acid environments and more durable and stable in an aqueous environment.