6 Tips for Choosing an Interior Pool Finish

You’re getting a new backyard pool? Congratulations! You’ve probably put a great deal of thought into the placement, shape, and features of your new pool, as well as finding an experienced and reliable pool contractor to install it. What you may not have considered too carefully, though, is the pool interior finish. After all, one finish is like any other, right? Wrong! If you haven’t thought about your pool’s finish, now is the time to follow our helpful tips for choosing one.

1. Consider the color your want your pool color to appear. Several different things will have an impact on the color of your pool water. It will look differently depending on the time of day and the weather, and the shallow end will look lighter than the deep end. Pool colors come in blue and green shades, from light blue to deep green, with some gray shades as well. If you want your water to appear blue, white, gray, or blue pigment will help you achieve that, while a pool finish with green, tan, brown, gold, or black pigment will give the water a green hue. A dark tone can give a dramatic effect, a warm tone can mimic natural bodies of water, and cool tones can give a sparkling seascape feel to your pool.
2. Think about the look and feel of the surface. Do you want your pool surface to feel smooth, or do you prefer a natural texture like pebbles? Do you want something rustic looking, like stone, or something vivid and colorful, like tile?
3. Do you prefer sparkling water or something a little more subdued? Interior pool finish can be matte or glossy, finished or unfinished, and can even sparkle or mimic the look of jewels. They can look natural or glamourous, and there’s no wrong answer, it just depends on your preference and how much sparkle you want in your pool.
4. Which is more important to you, aesthetics or comfort? A crushed rock, marble, or pebble interior pool finish can give provide a striking look, but can also be rough on feet. Tile is also beautiful, but can also be uncomfortable, and if you use glass tile, you run the risk of broken glass in the pool.
5. How durable does your pool finish need to be? Before you decide on a pool finish, think about how your pool will be used. Will there be a lot of children in the pool, or will it be primarily used by adults swimming laps. The amount of wear your pool’s interior will get should factor into your decision, and you can talk to your pool contractors about the durability of different interior finishes.
6. How much do you want to spend on your pool’s interior finish? If your pool is going to be a showpiece and money is no option, then you can go for the splashiest, most exquisite pool finish that strikes your fancy. If your budget is limited or you’d like to focus on features like a sun shelf or diving board, you might want to go with a more subdued but economical finish. Plaster is the least expensive option, with tile typically the most expensive, and other textures falling in the middle.

The pool finish you choose is up to you, but if you’re looking for someone to care for your new pool, Millennium Pools and Spas can help. With over 30 combined years of experience in the pool industry, we provide a comprehensive range of pool services for both residential and commercial customers in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland. When you hire Millennium Pools and Spas, you get a well-qualified, industry-trained staff, services that are tailored to your needs, and a commitment to 100% customer satisfaction. Contact us for more information.