When a concrete pool’s interior is worn, there are three ways to renew it: paint it, resurface it with a rendered finish such as pebble or quartz, or tile it. They differ in cost, in how long they last and in what they need from the pool underneath. The right one depends on the state of the shell, how long you plan to keep the pool and how you want it to look.
The three options side by side
| Paint | Rendered finish (pebble, quartz, glass bead) | Tiles (glass or porcelain mosaic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | The least | In between | The most |
| Life | About 3–5 years (acrylic or chlorinated rubber), 7–10 (epoxy) | Long | The longest |
| Feel | Smooth | Grippy (pebble) to smooth (quartz) | Smooth |
| Needs | A sound, previously painted surface | Sound render, or repairs first | Sound render, or repairs first |
When paint makes sense
Paint suits a pool that is already painted, whose render is sound, and where the budget matters most. It refreshes the colour and the surface for the least outlay, but it will need doing again sooner than the other options. See pool painting costs.
A freshly painted pool
When a rendered finish makes sense
Pebble, quartz and glass bead suit most pools that need a long-lasting new surface. Pebble is hard-wearing and grippy, quartz is finer and smoother, and glass bead catches the light. A painted pool has to be stripped back to sound render before one of these will bond. See pool resurfacing costs.
When tiles make sense
A fully tiled interior is the most expensive and the longest-lasting surface, with the widest choice of colour and pattern. Many owners tile only the waterline and steps and choose a rendered finish for the rest. See pool tiling costs.
Cutting glass mosaic for a pool interior
Check the shell first
Whichever you choose, the new surface is only as good as what is under it. Cracks, hollow render and leaks are fixed first; a new finish over a problem hides it for a while, then fails with it. If the pool itself no longer suits the house, a remodel may be the better answer.
Getting advice for your pool
Send us a few photos of the pool and we will talk you through the options. More about our pool resurfacing, or see one of our jobs: the waterfront renovation in Church Point.
