If you’re considering resurfacing your pool or building a new pool in your backyard, one of the biggest decisions is what product to use for the interior surface. Factors that should play into your decision are your yard’s natural surroundings, how much pool maintenance you’re willing to do, durability and cost. This article discusses 2 popular types of pool surfaces, plaster and Pebble Tec®.
Scottsdale home with plaster pool surface
Plaster
Standard pool plaster is the most well known style of pool surfacing. Most older pools have traditional plaster as an interior finish. The standard marble-based mix has been around since the 1960’s with many improvements over the years.
While plaster is much less expensive compared to Pebble Tec®, it has a few drawbacks to be aware of. It is highly susceptible to discoloring, staining, and harboring bacteria due to the porous nature of the material.
As a result, more chemicals are required to maintain a balanced water chemistry in a plaster pool. However, if a plaster pool is well maintained, then the above concerns will take years to develop into issues.
A plaster pool should be replastered approximately every 5 years.
Scottsdale home with Pebble Tec® pool surface
Pebble Tec®
Pebble Tec® is a newer trend and has become popular in the last couple of decades for good reason. While it is more expensive than plaster, it is the highest quality pool resurfacing material available due to its longevity and ability to hide chemical residue.
In a desert environment, such as the North Scottsdale area, Pebble Tec® matches the natural surroundings much better than plaster. Pebble Tec® comes in multiple color shades ranging from tan to blue/green.
Pebble Tec® is made from specially formulated cement blended with pebble aggregates. The pebbles make up the majority of what you see, and a Pebble Tec® surface actually looks like the bottom of a creek or a riverbed.
It’s a little rougher on your feet than plaster, and if that is a concern, you can check out Pebble Sheen® which is very similar to Pebble Tec® but has a duller surface.
A Pebble Tec® surface should last 20+ years with the proper care and maintenance.
If you’re looking to buy a home with a pool in the Scottsdale area, or would like to read more home improvement related articles, contact the Matheson Team, your Scottsdale real estate experts, for more information.
Don Matheson
Realtor | Founder
The Matheson Team – RE/MAX Fine Properties
21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-405-4228
[email protected]
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