How to Choose Between Pool Finishes for Your Concrete Pool

With a fiberglass pool, you are limited to the standard gel coat finish and a choice of several colors. By contrast, with a custom concrete pool, your choices of pool finishes can be almost overwhelming. The pool finish you choose will inform the look and feel of your pool.

You may want a lagoon feel, or you may want an elegant feel. In this blog, we will highlight the 3 main types of pool finishes: plaster, pebble finish, and tile. Let’s dive in.

1. Pool Plaster

Pool plaster is the traditional finish for a concrete/gunite pool. It’s also the least expensive option. Pool plaster is a mixture of water, Portland cement, and silica sand. We can add pigment or dye to the plaster to give dimension to the pool, depending on the look you want. You should plan on refinishing your pool after 5-7 years before any chipping appears.

2. Pebble Pool Finish

Pebble pool finishes are growing in popularity, especially if you want a lagoon-type feel to your pool. . We are authorized applicators for PebbleTec®, an industry leader in aggregate pool finishes. You choose the texture you want, and you choose the color, and we apply the finish as one of the last steps before you start swimming in your new custom pool. 

A pebble pool finish is more expensive than pool plaster, but it is also more durable. With proper maintenance, it can last 20 years.

Related Reading: See Our Award-Winning Inground Pool Installation

3. Pool Tile

Pool tile is commonly used at the waterline or on the stairs or floor of high-end concrete pools. But you can also use tile to finish the entirety of your pool’s interior. Tile is the most expensive of the pool finishes, but it is also the most durable. And it is easy to replace one or more tiles. 

There are several different types of pool tile, including:

• Ceramic tile
• Porcelain tile
• Glass tile
• Stone tile

In addition to your choice of material, tile pool finishes are also available in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, enabling you to create a truly elegant custom design.

Which of the 3 main pool finishes you choose for your concrete pool will depend on your aesthetics and your budget. With a plaster pool finish, you have more money in your budget for some pool extras, but you will also need to plan on pool renovations sooner than you would with a pebble finish or tile finish.  

Make It Exceptional. Make It Woodfield.

At Woodfield Outdoors, we are dedicated to providing you with an exceptional pool installation experience. We work closely with you, listen to your ideas, and develop a custom pool design and outdoor living area you will love for years to come. We help you make informed decisions on every last detail, including the pool finish.

You deserve the best. We can deliver. We work with homeowners throughout the Baltimore area, including Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Harford County, and Howard County. Schedule a call today.