It can get pretty tough when deciding on a pool finish for your newly constructed pool. A common dilemma you may come across is choosing between quartz vs. pebble pool finish.
There is no superior choice, to be honest.
Here, I will go through a bit of comparison and all the differences between these two pools finishes. This may help you find the one that suits your needs the best.
Let’s get going then.
Differences Between Quartz And Pebble Pool Finish
Well, choosing a pool finish will always be a matter of personal preference. What you want your pool to look and feel like will dictate the finish you go with.
So, let’s check out the differences these pool finishes may have on the result of your pool.
- Materials Of The Finishes
Let’s start with the very basic factor, materials. You essentially get a blend of quartz, cement, and some specific admix that give it a unique look in a quartz pool finish.
Apart from some drawbacks of Quartz pool finish, the blending makes quartz pool finish popular because of all the quality and features it gets from them.
In a pebble pool finish, you will mostly get a blend of cement and pebble aggregates that are tumbled.
The cement used in the formation of this finish is specially formulated in most cases, making it unique from the other types of pool finish.
The complete blend ends up being one of the highest of quality as a pool finish overall.
- Durability
The durability both these pool finishes get is quite impressive in itself. They both get that because of the materials used in making them.
With a quartz pool finish, you will usually get a life of 10 to 12 years with ease. Typically, the manufacturers give you ten years of warranty on the materials.
So, you get quite a good durability from the quartz pool finish.
When it comes to durability, I think nothing beats pebble pool finish in that aspect. Because of its material, you end up with 18 to 20 years of durability or even more.
Even the manufacturers’ warranty is more than 18 years, so you can never go wrong with pebble pool finish if you consider durability.
- Look At The Pool
Now, this is an entirely personal preference for you. Some people will like the look of a quartz pool finish, and some will like the pebble pool finish.
In a quartz pool finish, you will be looking at a much smoother and more refined-looking surface. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns that you can choose from.
Under good lighting at night, you will enjoy the look of your pool the best with this kind of pool finish.
With a pebble pool finish, the picture is a bit different. It doesn’t have the smoothest finishing look, but that’s what makes it unique.
You will end up with a finish with those little pebbles a bit popped out. It also feels a bit different when you step on this finish which is the true essence of this finish.
There is no clear choice to go for here. You can choose the one that you like more. You get a lot of options for both these pool finishes in terms of looks, colors, and designs.
- Cost
There is a significant difference between both quartz and pebble pool finishes in terms of pricing. Quartz pool finishes are much cheaper than any pebble pool finish.
Now, there are a lot of reasons here for the price difference.
First of all, pebble pool finishes last way longer than quartz pool finishes. Also, they have the highest quality in terms of pool material resurfacing.
The installation also is a bit tricky with pebble pool finishes. So, it’s only natural that pebble pool finish will cost you more than quartz pool finish.
Well, these are the differences that you can see in the two types of the pool finish. You can go for either of them depending on which suits your needs the most.
But if you are still having trouble, then here are some ways to decide on one of them for your pool finish.
How To Choose One Pool Finish?
If you are having some difficulty choosing one of the pool finishes, then here’s how you should look at it.
First, you have to consider the cost and budget you can afford for your pool finish. But if it’s not a concern of yours, then you can move on to the next step.
Here, you have to think about whether you want it for the long term or a short term. If your target is more than 15 years, then go for pebble finish, and if it’s not, go for quartz.
In terms of looks, you get a lot of options for both of them. And when you consider the feel, you will get a very rough feel with the pebbles that won’t be suitable for children that much.
So, if you have children at your home who will use the pool, it’s better to go for quartz.
Going about this way should help you choose one of the pool finishes pretty quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions regarding pool finishes you might want to check out-
Yes, the quartz pool finish is a bit rough and has a hard surface. This makes it great for stain resistance, and you also get slip resistance in the pool finish.
Typically, quartz pool finish lasts for about 10 to 12 years with a manufacturer warranty of 10 years.
Because of the material blend, they use in pebble pool finish; it becomes much more expensive. Pebble pool finish comes with the highest quality and durability you can get from any pool finish.
Conclusion
In short, now you know how to choose between quartz vs. pebble pool finish. It’s pretty easy if you are considering the cost.
And if you are planning to get a long-term solution, then pebble pool finish is always a better choice than anything else.
I looked up the warranty on Pebble Tec and they state 5 yrs.
I am researching doing a resurfacing of my cooncrete pool which I had sandblasted 20 yrs. then used a material they use for sealing basements from Radon gas. After that I did my own epoxy resin coat (I am a longtime surfboard manufacturer of epoxy & polyester surfboards).
It seems as though the quartz offers a lot of bang for the buck. The 5 year warranty didn’t wow me, and if I can get 12 yrs.+ out of quartz, I’m leaning that way. I got a pretty high quote for P.T. Your thoughts?
I currently have a 3M color quartz plaster pool which is no longer in the pool business so that’s not available anymore. I met with a PB remolding person today. They are pushing Pebble Tech and only offer white marble plaster as an alternative obviously to push people towards going with Pebble Tech. Their sample had tiny pebbles, but when I placed the sample on the pool stairs and stepped on it, it very uncomfortable to stand on and I am tender footed so choice is out and beside my neighbor did the Pebble Tech and I saw his pool is empty and falling apart not sure what happened but apparently something went wrong and he wasn’t will to fix it so it’s ruined now. I’m also concerned that todays marble plaster is not the quality it used to be as in less marble in the mix so won’t last as long or so that is the story anyway. If Quartz is smooth to the touch and durable and you have color choices too, game end! I should mention my pool’s plaster is 22 years old and I do now have a couple of cracks from I think over watering ajacent plants in the landscaping. They don’t appear to be leaking I will test with dye and maybe patch temporarily until I am sure I have the enough knowledge to make the right decissions before I jump in.