Ask Matt

How do I know when my pool needs resurfacing?

Matt’s field answer: Start with the waterline tile and the existing finish. He looks for discoloration, deterioration and visible signs that a finish may be separating from the underlying surface. Delamination can be difficult to fully diagnose with water in the pool, so some conditions only become clear after draining. Significant unexplained water loss is another reason to investigate.

Do I have to remove all of the old plaster before resurfacing?

Matt’s field answer: Not in every ecoFINISH project. Aqua Pool Finishes identifies hollow, loose, cracked, delaminated or otherwise unsound areas, repairs those areas and prepares the sound remaining substrate. For another cementitious finish, Matt may prefer more extensive old-plaster removal depending on the pool.

Can ecoFINISH go over the original plaster the first time I resurface?

Matt’s field answer: Often, yes, if the substrate is suitable. You do not need to wait until a pool has already been replastered multiple times. A rough or discolored original plaster surface can be evaluated, repaired where needed, prepared and coated with ecoFINISH when appropriate.

Can ecoFINISH actually be cheaper than replastering once prep is included?

Matt’s field answer: Sometimes. ecoFINISH is a premium surface, but if another finish would require whole-pool hydro-prep while the ecoFINISH project can retain the sound plaster after localized repairs and proper prep, avoiding complete removal can potentially save thousands of dollars.

Should I acid wash my pool or resurface it?

Matt’s field answer: It depends on what is causing the appearance problem and how old/weak the plaster already is. He has seen acid washing improve some younger stained surfaces, but he is cautious with older deteriorated plaster because acid can make a cementitious surface rougher. An acid wash is not a substitute for resurfacing when the finish itself is failing.

What’s the best pool finish?

Matt’s field answer: The answer depends on budget and priorities. Standard marcite plaster is generally the lower-upfront-cost option. Quartz adds aggregate and durability. Pebble provides a durable aggregate surface with a more noticeable texture. EcoFinish® is a different, thermoplastic coating system and is Matt’s preferred option when the homeowner prioritizes smooth texture, maintenance characteristics and long-term performance and the budget allows for it.

What is the smoothest pool finish?

Matt’s field answer: ecoFINISH is his first recommendation when smoothness is the priority. Hydrazzo and other polished aggregates can be polished extremely smooth, but they are still cementitious surfaces. Matt describes ecoFINISH as having a subtle orange-peel-like texture that still feels remarkably smooth underfoot.

Which finish is best if I have kids who roughhouse in the pool?

Matt’s field answer: He puts a lot of weight on smoothness for families who really play in their pools. Kids—and dads throwing kids around—are constantly pushing off the floor, landing on steps and dragging feet across the surface. Matt prefers ecoFINISH for that reason because he finds it exceptionally smooth and comfortable.

Is the most expensive pool finish always the best?

Matt’s field answer: No. If you are fixing the pool up to sell the house and simply need a fresh interior, marcite may be the smartest use of money. If you are staying longer and want a traditional cementitious upgrade, quartz may make sense. Matt only recommends the premium option when the homeowner’s goals justify it.

When would Matt choose Hydrazzo instead of ecoFINISH?

Matt’s field answer: If you specifically want the look of polished aggregate with abalone sparkle, Hydrazzo offers something ecoFINISH does not. If sparkle is not important and smoothness/durability are the main goals, Matt would choose ecoFINISH.

When would Matt choose pebble instead of ecoFINISH?

Matt’s field answer: When the homeowner loves the natural pebble appearance. Pebble is durable and beautiful, but it is textured. If durability is the main reason you are considering pebble and you do not specifically want the pebble look, Matt generally recommends ecoFINISH instead.

What did Matt's first EcoFinish pool look like seven years later?

Matt's field answer: The 2019 Blue Lagoon pool in Liberty City still looked very good overall in September 2026, with no obvious widespread fading on the steps and no widespread delamination. A few localized spa-area maintenance items were documented honestly.

See the 7-year revisit →

Does EcoFinish® only last 10 years?

Manufacturer fact: ecoFINISH® offers a 10-year limited residential product warranty for aquaBRIGHT™ and polyFIBRO®. That warranty period is not an expiration date for the coating.

Matt’s field experience: Matt began applying ecoFINISH himself in 2019, so he does not claim 15 or 20 years of history from his own installations. He has, however, personally inspected ecoFINISH pools installed by other contractors as far back as 2008 that still looked good when he saw them. That observation is not a warranty or guaranteed lifespan.

What is hydroblasting, and why can surface preparation matter?

Matt’s field answer: Hydroblasting uses high-pressure water to remove old plaster and expose/prepare the underlying pool shell. Matt prefers preparation that creates a sound surface for the new finish rather than simply assuming the existing plaster is a suitable base. The correct method depends on the pool and the finish being installed.

Can EcoFinish® be used on fiberglass pools?

Manufacturer fact: ecoFINISH® markets polyFIBRO® specifically as its coating system for fiberglass pools and other suitable fiberglass surfaces. Surface preparation differs from concrete installations.

Matt’s field view: He considers the EcoFinish system a strong resurfacing option for aging fiberglass pools when the existing shell is a suitable candidate.

Can EcoFinish® be a selling point when I sell my home?

Matt’s field experience: He has seen an existing EcoFinish surface become a positive talking point for buyers because it can distinguish the pool from one with an aging traditional finish. Buyers may need the difference explained because EcoFinish is less familiar than plaster in Texas. This is Matt’s experience in the field—not a guarantee that EcoFinish will increase a home’s appraised value, sale price or marketability.

How can I tell whether the pool in a home I just bought has EcoFinish®?

Matt’s field answer: Many homeowners inherit a pool without knowing what finish is on it. EcoFinish often feels smoother than cement-based finishes and can have a subtle orange-peel-like texture. Texture alone is not a definitive identification, so if you are unsure, have an experienced pool professional inspect the surface before choosing cleaning, repair or resurfacing methods.

Why is preparation so important with EcoFinish®?

Matt’s field experience: Preparation and timing are two of the biggest factors in a successful coating installation. Aqua Pool Finishes had a later installation develop bubbling on part of a wall. Matt’s field diagnosis was that the epoxy in that area had progressed too far before the coating was applied. Sun, shade and temperature affected the working window, so the crew changed its sequencing afterward. The affected area was removed, prepared again and recoated rather than resurfacing the whole pool.

Can ecoFINISH crack?

Matt’s field answer: ecoFINISH is a flexible polymer coating, so it can tolerate minor movement differently from a rigid cementitious finish. But it does not repair a structurally cracked pool. If the shell or substrate moves enough, the underlying problem still has to be diagnosed and repaired.

Does ecoFINISH fade in the Texas sun?

Manufacturer information: ecoFINISH markets aquaBRIGHT as UV/fade resistant and publishes 3,000-hour accelerated QUV testing with no visually detectable color or gloss change in the tested sample. The manufacturer also says those laboratory hours cannot be translated directly into a set number of real-world years.

Matt’s field view: UV resistance is especially important to him in DFW because pools sit under intense Texas sun for months at a time.

Can you repair just one area of ecoFINISH?

Matt’s field answer: Often, yes. Localized damaged or failed areas can sometimes be removed, prepared and recoated without redoing the entire pool. Matt has found that repairs can blend very closely, although no contractor should promise every repair will be completely invisible.

How deep should a residential pool be?

Matt's field answer: Depth should be designed around how the pool will actually be used. He often prefers a usable 5-foot area over a 6-foot “dead zone,” and for homeowners who truly want a diving area, his standard recommendation is around 8 feet with the rest of the diving geometry designed appropriately.

Read the full pool-depth guide →

What can a $50,000–$75,000 pool budget buy?

Matt's field answer: Usually a small basic pool, a spool, or an owner-builder approach — depending heavily on site access, materials, equipment and features.

Read the budget guide →

Why does pool design experience matter when you are only resurfacing?

Matt’s field answer: A pool is a system, not just a finish. His background in design and construction helps him look beyond surface color to the pool’s structure, fittings, tile, use, maintenance and the way renovation decisions will function over time.

What is the difference between EcoFinish® and plaster-based pool finishes?

Matt’s field answer: Traditional plaster, quartz and pebble finishes use a cement-based matrix, while EcoFinish® uses a polymer coating system. In Matt’s field experience, the EcoFinish surface is less absorbent and easier to clean than an aged cement-based finish. He also finds that water chemistry tends to require less correction once a properly installed coating is in service. Those are field observations; exact chemistry and maintenance needs still depend on the pool and operating conditions.

Important: We avoid describing any pool coating as an absolute waterproofing guarantee. The pool shell, penetrations, cracks, substrate, preparation and application all affect water performance.

Does algae stick to EcoFinish®?

Matt’s field answer: Matt’s experience is that algae is generally easier to brush from EcoFinish than from rough or porous cement-based surfaces. He describes the coating as easier to keep clean, but no pool finish eliminates the need for proper sanitation, circulation, brushing and balanced water chemistry.

Can EcoFinish® be repaired without resurfacing the entire pool?

Matt’s field answer: Often, yes. On a current Fort Worth repair job, Aqua Pool Finishes is evaluating localized areas of an existing EcoFinish coating that were installed by another contractor. Matt’s plan is to repair only the affected areas if the substrate and surrounding coating allow it. He has found that EcoFinish repairs can often be blended very closely into the surrounding coating. The exact repair depends on what is found after the pool is drained and inspected.

With aged plaster, quartz or pebble surfaces, a fresh localized patch can remain more visually noticeable than the surrounding older finish.

How do you repair a localized EcoFinish® coating failure?

Matt’s field answer: The repair plan is job-specific. On a current Fort Worth job, Aqua Pool Finishes plans to drain the pool, remove coating that has separated, evaluate the exposed surface, prepare the affected areas, reapply epoxy where the substrate and system require it, and thermally apply new EcoFinish to the repaired areas. The entire pool does not necessarily need to be recoated.

We will document the final cause and exact repair steps after the pool is drained and the affected areas can be properly evaluated.

What does it mean when installers say EcoFinish® is thermally applied or 'torched on'?

Matt’s field answer: The EcoFinish material begins as polymer powder. Specialized application equipment uses compressed air to deliver the material through a controlled thermal process. Heat melts the polymer as it is applied to the prepared surface. This is professional application equipment and not a homeowner torch-on repair process.

How important is the experience of the EcoFinish applicator?

Matt’s field answer: Very. EcoFinish is a specialized coating system, and Matt says experience matters most when something does not go exactly as planned. Prep, epoxy timing, temperature, sun and shade all affect the work. With high-turnover crews, a newer applicator can end up training the next new person before either has seen enough real-world problems to know how to diagnose and correct them. Matt’s view is that the difference is not whether an experienced applicator will ever encounter a problem—it is whether they know why it happened, how to fix it and how to keep it from happening again.

Does the EcoFinish warranty require years of pool-chemistry records?

Manufacturer-document answer: The published 10-year limited residential product warranty we reviewed does not list years of homeowner chemistry logs among the stated claim-submission requirements. Proper maintenance still matters, and improper maintenance can affect coverage. The warranty covers qualifying manufactured-material defects, not every installation, substrate or maintenance problem.

Why does pool plaster get rough?

Matt’s field answer: Roughness can develop for more than one reason, including age, surface deterioration, scale and water-chemistry conditions. The right fix depends on whether material has built up on top of the finish or the finish itself has been etched or deteriorated.

Can an empty pool pop out of the ground?

Matt’s field answer: Yes. When groundwater pressure beneath an empty or partially empty pool becomes high enough, hydrostatic uplift can damage or lift the shell. Matt has personally demolished and rebuilt a commercial Houston-area pool that floated during Hurricane Harvey after it had been partially drained before the storm.

Why is my pool finish turning white?

Matt’s field answer: Whitening can come from different causes, including mineral scale, chemical imbalance, surface deterioration or changes within a cementitious finish. Matt does not diagnose it from color alone; he first wants to know whether material has deposited on the surface or the finish itself is deteriorating.

How can I tell whether a pool crack is structural?

Matt’s field answer: Location, movement, water loss and what is happening in the shell all matter. A small surface crack can be very different from a crack that goes through the structure. Resurfacing is not a substitute for diagnosing a structural or leaking crack.

Can I safely drain my own pool?

Matt’s field answer: He does not recommend treating full draining as a casual DIY task. Groundwater and hydrostatic pressure can lift or damage an empty pool, especially after heavy rain or in saturated soil. A professional should evaluate the conditions and pressure-relief approach before draining.

Why do pools crack in North Texas?

Matt’s field answer: Cracks can have many causes, including shell construction, structural design, soil movement, drainage and tree roots. Expansive clay soils common in parts of North Texas can shrink and swell as moisture changes, which is one reason site conditions and drainage matter.

Does North Texas clay really cause pool cracks?

Matt’s field answer: Expansive clay is one factor, not the only cause. Clay-rich soils in parts of DFW swell when wet and shrink when dry. Matt has seen more structural movement problems in Dallas clay than in sandier soils, but drainage, engineering, shell construction, roots and site conditions all matter.

How do Texas hard freezes affect pools and pool finishes?

Matt’s field experience: During the 2021 Texas freeze he saw water under coping freeze and expand, popping coping loose, and saw waterline tile break. He does not consider the ecoFINISH coating itself the primary freeze concern; his bigger concern is movement or freeze damage involving the structure, tile, coping or substrate beneath it. He does not call ecoFINISH freeze-proof.

Can calcium build up on EcoFinish®?

Matt’s field experience: Matt has not personally encountered calcium-scale buildup on an EcoFinish surface. That is a field observation, not a claim that calcium can never precipitate from improperly balanced pool water. Proper chemistry still matters.

Is EcoFinish® good for saltwater pools?

Matt’s field experience: He has seen salt-related deterioration involving metals, stone and cement-based materials, but has not personally seen salt deteriorate an EcoFinish surface. Other pool components can still be affected by salt and poor chemistry.

Is a saltwater pool chlorine-free?

Matt’s field answer: No. A salt chlorine generator uses salt in the water to produce chlorine. It is still a chlorinated pool.

Does saltwater damage pool finishes or equipment?

Matt’s field experience: He has personally seen salt-related deterioration involving metals, stone and cement-based materials. He has not personally seen salt deteriorate an ecoFINISH surface. That does not make the rest of a saltwater pool corrosion-proof.

How long does pool equipment last?

Matt’s field answer: There is no single replacement schedule. Age, runtime, water chemistry, sun exposure, maintenance and equipment quality all matter. Matt’s field estimates for pumps, filters, lights, valves and cleaners will be covered in a dedicated guide so they are not presented as manufacturer guarantees.

What should I ask a pool resurfacing contractor before I hire them?

Matt’s field answer: Ask how long they have been doing this work, exactly what material is being quoted, what prep is included, why they recommend that finish, what the warranty covers, how they handle stains or failures, and what they realistically expect the finish to look like as it ages. Most importantly, compare bids with the same scope—not just the bottom-line price.