Orlando pool resurfacing
A pebble interior is an exposed-aggregate finish: small natural stones in a cement binder, finished so the stones form most of the surface. Manufacturers say it resists cracking, staining and fading better than traditional plaster. The trade-off is texture, so choose the stone size by standing on a sample barefoot.
A pebble finish is an exposed-aggregate interior: small natural stones set in a cement binder, finished so that the tops of the stones, not the cement, form most of the surface the water touches. Stone is far less soluble than cement paste, and that is the reason manufacturers give for pebble interiors resisting cracking, staining and fading better than traditional plaster. The National Plasterers Council also notes that exposed-aggregate finishes show fewer cosmetic irregularities over time than smooth troweled finishes, because small variations in the cement are hidden between the stones.
The trade-off is texture. A pebble floor feels like a smooth riverbed rather than a troweled surface, and the larger the stones, the more you notice it. Some swimmers like the grip on steps and benches; others find it hard on the soles of the feet, especially children who spend all afternoon in the water, or anyone who likes to sit on the floor of the shallow end. Aggregate blends now range from coarse natural pebbles down to very small stones and polished versions that are much gentler. Before choosing, stand barefoot on a real sample board and run a hand over it. If smoothness matters most, a quartz interior is the closer match to plaster.
Pebble blends mix stones of different tones, sometimes with glass beads or crushed shell for sparkle. Dark blends turn the water a deep blue-green; light tan and white blends read as a shallow, beach-like turquoise. Because the stones are natural, no two batches are identical, and a small repair patch years later will never disappear completely into the surrounding floor. That is one reason to fix any cracks in the shell and any loose tile before the new interior goes in, not after.
The groundwork is the same as any replastering job: the pool is drained with the hydrostatic relief valve managed, the old surface is prepared down to sound material, and the new finish goes on in one continuous session. Aggregate finishes follow the manufacturer’s own start-up instructions after the fill, which differ in detail from a plain-plaster start-up. Once the pool is full, walk the steps, benches and swim-outs barefoot and point out any spot where a stone edge feels sharp, while the crew can still deal with it. If the deck around the pool is cracked or stained, deck resurfacing is often scheduled right after, once the interior work and its hoses are out of the way.
What sets the schedule? The size and shape of the pool, surface preparation, the stone blend chosen and its availability, weather on installation day, and the manufacturer’s start-up steps after the fill.
These usually come up in the same drain, and can be quoted from the same visit:
A cement finish built with crushed colored quartz instead of marble sand, smooth underfoot and tougher against etching.
What it involves →Worn, etched or stained plaster chipped back and replaced, with the drain-down managed for Central Florida’s groundwater.
What it involves →Stained, faded or lightly cracked concrete pool decks recoated with spray texture, overlays or pavers.
What it involves →Free estimate
Tell us where the pool is and what you’re seeing. We’ll call back to book a look at the pool and bring finish samples.
We’ll call to set up a time to see the pool. To talk sooner, call (689) 305-2500
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