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.
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.
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: He has seen properly installed EcoFinish surfaces remain serviceable beyond the warranty period and considers it a long-term finish. That is an experience-based observation, not a promise that any particular installation will last for the lifetime of a pool. Substrate condition, preparation, installation, chemistry, maintenance and physical damage can all affect service life.
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 is one of the biggest factors in a successful coating installation. He has inspected poorly prepared installations where air or moisture behind the coating contributed to visible bubbling. His takeaway for homeowners is simple: the finished surface is only as dependable as the substrate and preparation underneath it.
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.
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