PEBBLECRETE / MATERIAL LIBRARY
Pool interior finishes compared: tile, plaster, paint, liners and exposed aggregate
How tile, plaster, paint, vinyl liners, fibreglass and exposed-aggregate finishes differ in appearance, maintenance and repair, and how to choose between them.
The short answer: No single finish suits every pool. The right choice depends on the look you want under water, your budget, how the pool will be used, the local climate and the maintenance you plan to carry out. Exposed-aggregate finishes such as PebbleCrete are a seamless, cement-based option alongside tile, and the two can also be used together in one design.
This guide is published by PEBBLE CRETE CO., LTD., a manufacturer of exposed-aggregate pool finishes in Phuket, Thailand. We aim to describe each option neutrally. Please review any choice with your architect, pool builder or applicator.
The main options
Ceramic or porcelain tile and glass mosaic
- Looks: Modular and crisp. Tile size and joint layout are part of the finished appearance. There is a very wide range of colours, patterns and mosaic pictures, and glass mosaic adds depth and reflection.
- Good for: Precise rectilinear architecture, graphic patterns, waterlines, overflow edges, and designs that emphasise tile size, shape and layout.
- Watch out for: Joints are frequent, especially with mosaic. Over time it is often the grout and bedding that need attention rather than the tile itself. Deposits can collect at the waterline, and individual tiles may occasionally need re-fixing. Curves and freeform shapes need careful cutting. Tile is normally ordered with an allowance for cuts and spares for later repairs.
Standard white plaster (marcite)
- Looks: A smooth, plain white or lightly tinted surface that gives familiar light-blue water.
- Good for: A traditional appearance and a smooth feel on concrete pools.
- Watch out for: Like all cement-based finishes, plaster is sensitive to water chemistry. Poorly balanced water can etch, roughen, mottle or stain the surface, and marks show more easily on plain white. It is usually renewed by replastering.
Painted concrete (epoxy or other pool coatings)
- Looks: A flat, even colour, from matt to a slight sheen.
- Good for: Refreshing a sound existing concrete shell, or changing colour without a full resurface.
- Watch out for: Paint is a thin coating that is recoated from time to time. Its performance depends on surface preparation and water chemistry. Coating systems are not interchangeable, so check compatibility with any existing coating and follow the coating manufacturer’s installation and handover requirements.
Vinyl liner
- Looks: A printed sheet, including tile-effect patterns. How visible the seams and fixings are depends on the system and detailing you select.
- Good for: Panel or framed pool systems, and owners who want a soft feel underfoot.
- Watch out for: Protect the liner from sharp objects. A steady water level and stable ground help it keep its fit. A worn liner may need complete replacement, so confirm repair options with the supplier. Complex shapes and built-in features need careful planning.
Fibreglass shell
- Looks: A smooth, glossy one-piece gelcoat surface.
- Good for: A prefabricated shell where the available shapes and site access suit the project.
- Watch out for: Mould and transport limits set the shape and size. Gelcoat repairs need colour matching. Because the shell is the pool structure, this decision is made at the very start of the project.
Exposed-aggregate finishes (pebble, quartz, glass bead)
- Looks: A continuous, cement-based textured surface with visible stone, quartz or glass particles. Natural variation is part of the look. The colour under water changes with depth, sunlight and surroundings.
- Good for: Concrete pools, including freeform pools, lagoons, steps and beach entries, where a seamless look is wanted. Suitability depends on assessing the substrate, the geometry and the specified system.
- Watch out for: It is cement-based, so it is sensitive to water chemistry in the same way as plaster. Texture alone does not establish slip resistance. Because it is applied by hand, some variation is normal. Judge it against the approved sample and mock-up, and have any pronounced irregularity investigated. It needs trained applicators and a properly prepared substrate, and it is not waterproofing. A later repair may remain visible. Movement joints still need to be designed and maintained.
Comparison at a glance
| Finish | Surface | Look under water | Feel underfoot | Typical maintenance | Repair approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile / glass mosaic | Jointed (spacing depends on tile format) | Crisp and modular; glass mosaic adds sparkle | Depends on tile type and surface | Clean grout and waterline; check joints and bedding | Re-fix or replace individual tiles; regrout; keep matching spares |
| White plaster (marcite) | Seamless | Plain, light and uniform | Smooth | Close attention to water chemistry; regular brushing | Patch, or replaster |
| Painted concrete | Seamless | Flat, uniform colour | Smooth; depends on the coating | Periodic recoating | Professional assessment of coating compatibility and renewal scope |
| Vinyl liner | Seams and fixings, depending on system | Printed pattern | Soft and smooth | Protect from sharp objects; keep the water level steady | Patch small tears; replace the liner when needed |
| Fibreglass shell | Seamless (one-piece) | Glossy and uniform | Smooth | Water chemistry; gentle cleaning | Gelcoat repair with colour matching |
| Exposed aggregate | Seamless; movement joints only where the design requires them | Textured with natural variation; glass adds sparkle; colour changes with depth and light | Textured; check a wet sample | Close attention to water chemistry; regular brushing; maintain movement joints | Local repair by an applicator (may remain visible), or resurfacing |
Tile or aggregate? Neither is better in every case. Tile gives a modular, crisp look in which joints are part of the design. An aggregate finish gives a continuous textured surface that follows the pool’s shape. Many projects combine them, for example a tiled waterline above an aggregate interior, coordinated in colour and detail. Draw the transitions where the materials meet, show how joints continue, and review the edges on a mock-up.
When an exposed-aggregate finish may suit
- You want a seamless surface. In a domestic pool, PebbleCrete forms a continuous layer with a nominal thickness of about 10 mm that follows the shape of the pool.
- You prefer few, deliberate joints. Movement joints are used only where the design requires them, usually as a sawn joint filled with PU or as a spacer, as the designer specifies. There is no grout, but movement joints and the surface still need routine care.
- You like a visible, textured surface. Depending on the line and colour, the surface shows natural aggregate, glass crystals, glass beads or a mix of these.
- You want colour confirmed for your project. Colour is batched to order from the current range, and custom blends are available only by prior agreement. A current physical sample is supplied on request.
- The pool has curves, steps or beach entries. An applied finish follows shaped geometry, and there is nothing to cut on site. The material arrives as a dry blend in sealed bags. Order against the measured finish area (floors, walls and steps), not the water-surface area, and agree any project allowance with your applicator.
- You would rather choose by appearance than by grade. The three lines differ in character, not grade:
- PebbleCrete Classic: natural aggregate, glass crystals or both, with glass-bead accents in specified blends, for a quieter mineral look.
- PebbleCrete Supreme: blend-specific combinations of natural aggregate, glass beads and glass crystals, for more contrast and sparkle.
- PebbleCrete Glass: glass beads as the aggregate, for a pronounced response to light. Compare it on samples.
PebbleCrete is not a do-it-yourself product. PebbleCrete supplies the material (the aggregate blend, modifier and UV-stable pigment) and technical support, and white Portland cement is bought locally. Trained professional applicators install it. Unless PebbleCrete has agreed otherwise in writing, the owner and their applicator are responsible for the application, the mock-up and the finished result.
How to choose
- Look at a physical sample dry, wet and under water. A screen cannot show how a finish looks in water. View samples in sun and shade, in surroundings similar to the planned pool.
- Think about depth and light. Colour under water changes with depth, sunlight, viewing angle, reflections and pool lighting. A shallow step can look noticeably lighter than the deep floor. If possible, visit installed pools of similar depth and setting.
- Ask for a trial area. Whatever finish you choose, ask for an on-site mock-up and approve it before work starts. Keep the approved mock-up and sample on record, and judge the finished pool against both.
- Check the substrate and waterproofing. An exposed-aggregate finish such as PebbleCrete is decorative. It does not replace structural repair or the specified waterproofing system. Agree who is responsible for the shell, render, waterproofing, water testing and acceptance. For a renovation, find out what can stay and what must be removed.
- Plan water and start-up early. Every finish depends on correct water care. For cement-based finishes, agree the water supply, filling, start-up and ongoing water parameters with your applicator before the application visit.
- Compare complete scopes. Compare like for like: the same measured area, preparation, joints, transitions and responsibilities. Ask how a later repair would be carried out and whether it is likely to show.
About the supplier
PEBBLE CRETE CO., LTD. was registered in December 2003 and has made PebbleCrete pool finishes in Phuket, Thailand, since 2012. It supplies pool builders, architects and distribution partners across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and Europe. Completed projects include pools in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates.
Compare the three lines in the Materials guide, browse colours in Colours and samples, or contact us to request a physical sample for your project.
Frequently asked questions
Is an aggregate finish slippery?
The surface is textured, but texture alone does not establish slip resistance. How it feels depends on the selected blend and the quality of workmanship. This guide states no slip-resistance rating. Where one is required, ask for test evidence for the specific finish. Feel a wet sample and review the mock-up with the pool’s intended use in mind, especially on steps and in shallow areas. Agree contrasting step markers and tread and riser details in advance.
Does it replace waterproofing?
No. PebbleCrete is a decorative finish, not waterproofing or structural repair. The substrate, render and waterproofing must be specified, built and accepted separately before the finish is applied.
How long does it last?
As a planning figure, an exposed-aggregate pool finish is generally expected to serve for 15–20 years. This is an industry estimate, not a warranty term. Where an individual pool falls within or outside that range depends on substrate preparation, application quality, water chemistry and routine maintenance.
Photographs and screen colours are illustrations. Confirm colour and texture with a current physical sample viewed wet and an approved on-site mock-up.