Pool finishes contribute greatly to the overall look of a swimming pool as the color of the water can easily be influenced by the pool interior. Polished aggregate pool finishes incorporate the use of fine pieces of colored stones, which include granite, marble and quartz. This kind of finish is quickly becoming more popular than the traditional pool plaster in places like Newmarket, New Hampshire. This guide will help you better understand the properties of polished aggregate pool interiors so that you can make an informed decision about your swimming pool design.

• The aggregate mixture consists of white or colored traditional plaster mixed with a variety of small pieces of stones. They provide a much more luxurious pool surface as compared to traditional pool plasters.
• The aggregate needs to be mixed proportionately to achieve a particular color and then it has to be applied manually by using a trowel. Once the aggregate is applied to the pool shell, the surface is polished to make it smooth and to ensure that the colors of the stones are visible.
• The surface provided by polished aggregate pool finishes is hard and it does not readily react with chemicals. This gives the surface a degree of resistance against stains and aging damage.
• Due to the many different types of stones that can be used, aggregate finishes come with a very large variety of colors and textures. Multiple types of stones can be combined to form a particular shade, giving each pool owner the freedom to choose the exact shade that they need.
• The addition of stone-pieces extends the life of the plaster to about fifteen years. It works well with classic designs of swimming pools due to the effect it has on the color of the water.
• As the surface is polished and smooth, it provides good grip underwater. Since the grip is not compromised, it makes it a safe mixture to be used for pool coping.

With time, plaster aggregates will see the signs of aging with the appearance of cracks and non-uniformity on the surface. Such issues need to be addressed quickly as they might prove to become a safety hazard to you and your family members. Ensure that you use a professional pool renovation or pool repair service as they would be able to repair every aspect of your pool and keep it in a usable condition for a longer period of time.

The pool coping and finish has a huge influence on the design of a swimming pool. A good swimming pool finish would be able to provide good friction under wet conditions, make the swimming pool look great and require low maintenance. Exposed aggregate pool interiors are very low cost and versatile compared to other options like pool tiles, and they also offer better performance than traditional pool plasters. This guide will help you gain more knowledge about exposed aggregate pool interiors if you plan to use it for your pool.

• Exposed aggregate finish involves the use of a concrete base mixed with colored pebbles, stones and even glass beads. The variety you get is mostly because of the innumerable combinations of different colored stones.
• As the pieces of stones and pebbles come to the surface once the concrete sets, the surface would not be very smooth, but it would provide superior grip in wet conditions. Smaller pieces of stones make the walking area more comfortable without compromising on the friction.
• It offers a lifespan of around fifteen to twenty years as the materials in the aggregate do not break down as easily as the ones found in traditional pool plaster. The recent trends of pool owners in Raymond, New Hampshire, choosing to opt for the aggregate pool finish over traditional pool plasters is because of the former’s superior performance.
• You can get a range of textures according to the kind of ingredients used and the approximate size of each piece in the mixture. Either way, they need to be applied and handled by trained professionals as the mixture needs to be spread evenly across the surface, without allowing the formation of air bubbles.
• The colors shown by the surface changes with the depth of water. This can be used to make the the pool look more dramatic as the shallow areas would have a slightly different color than the deep areas.

Once the exposed aggregate mixture is applied around the pool, the surface would need to be power washed with a solution of muriatic acid to reveal the pebbles under the top layer of concrete. For swimming pool renovation, make sure that you use the help of a professional as these processes require a degree of knowledge and skill acquired through experience. Even if there are any repairs that need to be done, a professional would be able to do a clean job without damaging any other part of your swimming pool.

Swimming pool owners around areas like Hampton, New Hampshire are increasingly moving towards choosing stone pool tiles for their swimming pool design. Such pool tiles can have a variety of natural stones as the main source, including marble, granite, onyx, limestone and slate. If you are considering using stone pool tiles for your swimming pool, this guide will help you with your decision.

• Stone pool tiles are best used when you want the swimming pool to blend in perfectly with its natural surroundings. The designs which are created by stone pool tiles complement a modern architecture. The natural look that stone gives to the pool make it look more like a pond, and the dark colors accents the depth of the water.
• Stone pool tiles are very long lasting and they require little maintenance. There is no question of rust or any such reactions due to constant contact with water and they are able to withstand all weather conditions perfectly.
• During installation of stone pool tiles, make sure that they are treated so that they do not absorb water, as some materials have a tendency to hold water. The tiles would need to be retreated once every few years so that your pool remains functional.
• The textures provided by stone tiles also come in a large variety. You may have smooth surfaces or slightly rugged surfaces to suit your design. Either way, ensure that the tiles are not slippery when they come in contact with water.
• Stone tiles are much heavier than most other options of pool coping, so you might need to consider the total weight of installing such tiles in your entire pool especially if you have an indoor pool.
• The tiles are very strong and they can withstand a great deal of pressure. However, there are still chances of tiles chipping or cracking due to overuse as they age.

In the case of any problems related to stone pool tiles, make sure that you call a pool repair professional as they would have the necessary tools and knowledge to deal with these issues. Proper installation and maintenance of stone tiles would be able to give you many years of service before you face any problem with it. While choosing a stone tile design, ensure that it goes well with the design of the area surrounding the pool as you would be unlikely to make any changes to the pool design for a very long time.

Swimming pools around Exeter, New Hampshire are seeing a new trend of owners choosing to use glass pool tiles for the interior of their pool. Glass pool tiles are very attractive and they come in a very large variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. The touch of elegance it adds to the swimming pool makes it stand out more as a work of art. If you are considering choosing glass pool tiles for your swimming pool, this guide will help you better understand what to consider.

• There are many different kinds of glass pool tiles which are available in the market. You can have opaque glass to completely clear and transparent glass tiles, and designs which have varying degrees of translucence. You would need to pick out the color and transparency according to what kind of effect you would want in your swimming pool. More transparent glass tiles keep the pool looking brighter while opaque glasses makes the pool look deeper and more natural.
• Even the shape and size of glass tiles are different. Some glass tiles have a high degree of consistency, which tends to give a clean, formal look to your swimming pool while some glass pool tiles are arranged haphazardly. Large glass pool tiles with clean lines would suit more spacious pools as it gives the swimming pool a touch of elegance while the tiles which have a handmade, rugged texture would go best with smaller swimming pools.
• Due to the large variety of material, size, color and design, glass pool tiles come in a very wide price range. They are generally priced higher than the traditional plaster finish, but there are many affordable ones which may suit your designing requirements. While choosing a glass pool tile, make sure that you take the time to see the different types which are available so that you would find the best fit.
• The installation and repair costs of glass tiles are higher than traditional pool finishes as it requires much more skill. However, glass tiles are also very durable and they do not react easily with pool chemicals. This gives them a long lifespan.

Sometimes, glass tiles may get cracked or broken due to the changes in temperature or due to water pressure. If this is the case, make sure that you call a professional who specializes swimming pool repair. Glass tiles require special skill as the tiles are smooth so creating an underwater bond which works perfectly is essential.

The interior of a pool has a huge effect on the look and feel of the swimming pool. Whether you plan to construct an in-ground pool or renovate an existing pool, a good interior finish will not only provide comfort to the swimmer’s feet, but would also be stylish and durable. There are many different pool finishes available in Derry, which gives you a great variety of options while you are deciding the design of your swimming pool. Pool tiles are one of the most expensive types of pool finishes, but it provides the most durable and long lasting service. This guide will help you decide the pool tile finishes which will best fit to your needs.

The advantages

Pool tiles offer a wide variety of colorful design options. There are also many different shapes and sizes that you can choose from and the material of the pool tile will decide its cost, durability and aesthetic. Most of the tiles have a glossy finish, which augments the water’s reflective properties making the pool look very glamorous. The many different combinations that are possible with type of material, shape and color of the tile, you can be assured that the design of your pool would be truly unique. Also, it is the most durable finish available. If applied properly and maintained, they would never need replacement.

The disadvantages

The cost of this finish is the main deterrent, as it is more expensive than aggregate and plaster finishes. Even the time which is required to install pool tiles is much longer as compared to other interior finishes. Although pool tiles are very strong and durable, any cracks or breakage created with age would mean that the tile must be replaced. The repair and replacement procedure is complicated and time consuming, and it is best left to professionals.

The signs of damage

Pool tiles may be cracked, lose or they may come off altogether. This can happen due to the changing temperatures that the pool sees which causes expansion and contraction of the tiles. This problem can be mitigated by using fillers which adapt to the changes in temperature. If your pool tiles need repair, ensure that you call a professional as the procedure needs to be done carefully in order to not damage the rest of the pool. Also, make sure that you get the damaged tile repaired as soon as possible to reduce the risk of accidents.

Traditional pool plasters are a mixture of cement and marble. It is white in color and smooth to touch, and it has been in use since more than half a century. Most swimming pools throughout the US, including the ones in Londonderry, use the traditional pool plaster which has a light, shimmering blue color, but pool owners see many problems with these plasters.

Traditional pool plasters are porous and they react with harsh pool chemicals. They are more susceptible to permanent stains and etching marks which can occur with time. Traditional pool plasters may require lesser investment at the beginning, but the amount of care and maintenance required to preserve this material has made it unpopular amongst pool owners in recent times.

The advent of higher quality pool resurfacing material

Despite being almost twice as costly compared to traditional surfaces, pool pebble plaster is one of the most popular choices of modern pool surfaces that pool owners use. The material used by this pool plaster includes a specially crafted cement formula infused with pebble aggregates. Compared to traditional marble-based plasters, the pool pebble plasters are much more resistant to stains and scratches. These plasters come in a very wide variety and are differentiated in terms of smoothness of the surface and color.

Better endurance and safety

Pool pebble plasters do not react readily with harsh pool chemicals, which dramatically reduce the cost of maintenance. The life span is much greater compared to traditional plasters. The surface of pebble plasters may be different depending upon the amount and type of ingredients used. Standard pool pebble plasters tend to have a slightly rough feel, giving it a superior grip in wet conditions. This improves the safety of pool users, but might trouble sensitive feet. Specially polished pebble plasters can be used if any of your family members have sensitive feet.

Variety of colors

Manufacturers can create a myriad of colors by adding aggregates of specific pebbles or sea shells to the mixture. Swimming pools, especially the ones which have gradual changes in depth tend to look much more beautiful when they use pebble plasters. The colors that these plasters give with shallow water tend to be quite different than the ones they exhibit in deeper water. This happens due to the different colors of pebbles used in the mixture. The colors are impervious to fading and this plaster stands the test of time, making it the most durable type of pool plaster available.

Pool plasters not only provide a good surface for the interior of the swimming pool, but they also have a dramatic effect on the look and design of the pool. The traditional swimming pool plasters are created by a mixture of cement and powdered marble. Such plasters have a white surface which is smooth to touch and it gives the water a shimmering color of blue. But traditional marble based pool plasters are porous, which means that they have a tendency to harbor bacteria and show stains.

Modern, durable plasters

Pool diamond brite plaster is a very popular choice amongst people as it gives one of the best interior finishes to the swimming pool. It has natural quartz as a primary ingredient, which gives it excellent durability. Unlike marble based pool plasters, pool chemicals do not readily react with diamond brite plasters. They are, therefore, resistant to permanent stains and remain unaffected by most of the harshest pool chemicals.

Better safety and more comfort

Pool plasters need to be comfortable to the feet. An extremely smooth surface might get slippery which would become a safety hazard to pool users. Pool diamond brite plaster was crafted to be slip resistant under wet conditions. It is also very comfortable to the pool users, which helps them stay in the water for longer times, extending the hours of entertainment and leisure that they gain from the swimming pool.

Maintenance

Maintaining traditional marble-based swimming pool plasters is a difficult task considering the reaction it has to harsh pool water chemicals. Pool diamond brite plasters are resistant to the etching and stains which can be caused when pool water is treated by harsh chemicals. The plaster can also be drained and cleaned without seeing any damage on the surface. The amount of effort that pool owners need to put in for the maintenance of such plasters is therefore, reduced.

Apart from all these advantages, pool diamond brite plasters come in a variety of different colors, each of which gives the swimming pool water a distinct look. As natural quartz comes in many different colors, it is possible for manufacturers to create mixtures which give the pool water a specific shade, dramatically increasing the amount of customization of your swimming pool. Even though it costs more than traditional plaster, many spas, public swimming pools and private pool owners across Windham have begun using diamond brite plasters for their decorative and practical purposes.

You might have heard of your pool maintenance guy ask you about shock treatments for your pool. Shocking a pool, as it is known, does not involve electricity in any way, it does, however, involve a lot of chemicals ‘shocking’ your pool and cleaning it before it recovers. It is an important part of pool repair. The main ingredient to the shocking process is chlorine.

Super-chlorination as it is also called is the adding of large doses of chlorine directly into the pool’s water, it can be from 5 to 10 times the normal amount used in pools. The main reason behind super-chlorination is to get the pool to maintain a positive level of free chlorine. It is achieved when the excess amounts of the chemical breaks down all the combined chlorine, clearing contamination and destroying organic waste. The process will be repeated till the water can hold free chlorine for a few hours after the treatment.

When to shock a pool

Shocking a pool should be done at the first sign of algae. If you feel a slippery slime like layer over the floor and walls of the pool, or see floating colonies, it has to be done. It is a good idea to go for this treatment right after the year’s rains as well. If there has been a period of heavy usage with a lot of people continually over a few days, or if the water starts to look muddled and dirty, shocking can be done.

As for the frequency of shocking, it depends on the temperature of the region and how often the water is used. If you live in a cool or cold region, once a month is a good idea, pools in warm and hot regions will have to be shocked twice a month, minimum.

One of the biggest advantages to shocking your pool periodically is that you can prevent the development of resistant microorganisms in the water, which is unpleasant and will eventually hike the cost of pool repairs in the future.

Note that it may not be safe to use the pool right after shocking it as chlorine is highly toxic and swimming or ingesting water from pools that have been super-chlorinated is dangerous. Have the maintenance crew check and test the water, wait for their clearance before jumping into it. The safe levels are below 3 ppm, this can take, depending on a number of variables, between 3 and 12 hours.

Do you want to add a few bells and whistles to your poolscape so it is more than just your basic pool? Well, here are some pool renovation ideas that you can use.

Resurfacing

If your pool looks beaten and worn out, a resurfacing drill can make it look brand new. You can choose from many materials for the resurfacing project, during which the current pool interiors are lined with a new material. Fiberglass and plaster are commonly used for the purpose. Experts can also have a good look at the pool walls to look for any signs of damage when the original liner is removed, to see if it needs any patch up.

Pool deck

Pool decks can alter the look of your poolscape entirely. Given the vast number of choices such as tile, stone and concrete pool decks today, it should not be difficult to find one that goes with your patio or backyard. If you are not looking at redoing the pool deck completely, you can look at pool coatings. This may also be a good time to look at renovating the pool coping.

LED lights

Before you rule out LED lights due to their inherent high installation costs, you may want to consider the savings that they make in the long run. LED lights use energy far more efficiently than your usual flood lights, which in turn translate to savings in energy bills. Also, they can instantly glam up your pool while allowing you to enjoy your pool safely once the sun goes down.

Pool sanitizer

Salt-chlorine sanitizer systems are installed in most pools today. You will not have to handle and add chlorine into the pool water each time, when you have these systems. There are multiple purifiers and sanitizers that are available in the market today, which use hydrolysis to keep your pool clean. They are also easier to maintain when compared to pools that are manually sanitized with chlorine.

Pool technology

Technology has not fallen behind when it comes to pool renovation and remodeling. If you are ready to spend a few extra bucks you can get anything from an automated pool cover to a pool cleaner that can make managing and maintaining the pool easier. The good thing is that these pool gadgets are even compatible with older pool models, and can easily be back-fitted onto them.