Pool finishes compared: plaster, quartz, pebble and tile

Sarasota Pool Refinishing is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not resurface pools or do any pool work, and we are not taking requests yet. A licensed pool contractor does this work, and we are lining one up.

The main pool finishes are plaster, quartz and pebble, with tile at the waterline. The right one depends on how long you plan to keep the pool, how it feels underfoot and what the old surface needs first. Start with the surface check, then compare the finishes below.

Check your pool surfaceRead the guides

Sarasota Pool Refinishing is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not resurface pools or do any pool work, and we are not taking requests yet. A licensed pool contractor does this work, and we are lining one up.

Last reviewed October 19, 2026.

Updated

Drawn backyard pool seen from the deck, with pale coping, a band of blue waterline tile, aqua water with soft ripples and a palm at the right. Illustration, not a project photo.
Illustration

Services in Sarasota Area

From a rough surface to a written scope

Look at the pool first. The finish choice comes after.

  1. Check the surface. Run your hand over the walls and steps. Look for rough spots, flaking, stains that will not scrub off, cracks and loose stones. The surface check scores what you find.
  2. Find the cause of any water loss. If the pool loses water with no clear reason, ask for a leak check before a new finish. A new surface does not fix a leak.
  3. Check the license. Ask each contractor for a state license number and look it up on the state licensing site. Write down the license type and the date you checked.
  4. Get the scope and price in writing. The scope should name the finish, the prep, the tile and coping work, the refill and start-up plan, and the warranty. Compare scopes line by line, not only the total.

Cities we cover in Sarasota Area

The finishes side by side

  • Plaster or marcite. The smoothest feel and the lowest first cost. It wears out first of the main finishes.
  • Quartz. A plaster-type finish with quartz in the mix. It sits between plaster and pebble on cost and on lifespan.
  • Pebble. Small stones set in the surface. The longest-lasting of the main finishes, with a textured feel and the highest first cost.
  • Tile and coping. The tile band at the waterline and the cap on the pool edge. Often checked in the same drain.

Each finish page shows the national lifespan ranges, with sources and dates. None of them are Florida figures, and water care changes the result.

Pick by your situation

  • You want the lowest first cost. Start with plaster and marcite.
  • You want more years than plaster, with a smooth feel. Ask about quartz.
  • You plan to keep the pool a long time. Look at pebble, and feel a wet sample first.
  • The edge looks worn. Loose or cracked waterline tile and coping are often fixed in the same drain. See tile and coping.

What every finish shares

Each one needs a drained pool, a prepared shell, careful water care after the refill, and a licensed contractor. Ask each contractor for the scope, the warranty and the price in writing before you choose.

Guides

Questions people ask

Which pool finish is best?

We name no winner. The best fit depends on your budget, how long you will keep the pool and the feel you want. Compare the finish pages, and ask contractors about the product they use.

Is marcite the same as plaster?

Yes, in everyday use. Marcite is a common name for a white plaster pool finish. Ask the contractor for the product name so you know exactly what goes on.