Plaster and marcite pool resurfacing
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.
Plaster, often called marcite, is the smooth classic pool finish. It is the lowest-priced of the main finishes in Swimply's guide 1, and it wears out first: national guides put it at 7-10 years (national guide range)1. Replastering suits a sound shell with a worn surface, not a pool with cracks or a leak.
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 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.
Updated . Sources
When plaster is the right call
Plaster makes sense when the shell is sound and you want the lowest first cost. It gives a smooth feel and a light, even color when new.
It is the wrong place to start if the pool loses water with no clear cause or shows cracks. Find the cause first. A new coat of plaster over a leak or a moving crack does not fix it.
How long it lasts
Swimply's 2026 guide gives plaster 7-10 years (national guide range)1. Bob Vila's older guide says about 10 years (national guide figure)2. Both are national figures.
Pebble Technology International sells a competing finish, and its pages give plaster different ranges. One page says plaster needs resurfacing every 5-10 years (manufacturer claim)3 3. Another page says 5-15 years (manufacturer claim)4 4. Both are manufacturer claims, both are national, and the pages do not agree. We found no Florida figure.
Water care plays a big part. Ask the contractor what water balance their warranty expects, and what voids it.
Signs a plaster pool is due
- The surface feels rough and snags suits or scrapes feet.
- Plaster flakes or peels, often on steps and benches first.
- Stains will not scrub off, or the color turns blotchy.
- Algae keeps coming back in rough patches.
Run the surface check to score what you see.
How a replaster job goes
- Inspect. A licensed contractor looks at the shell, the tile line and any cracks.
- Drain. The pool is drained. State law lists draining a pool for repair or renovation in the pool servicing scope 5.
- Prepare. The old surface is cleaned or removed so the new coat can bond. Ask which method they will use.
- Apply. The new plaster goes on.
- Refill and start up. The pool is refilled and the water is balanced on a schedule. Ask for that schedule in writing. The timing guide sets out the National Plasterers Council start-up card.
What changes the price
Price figures are paused on this site. These are the things that move the price, so ask about each one:
- The size of the pool and the area of steps and benches.
- How much of the old surface must come off.
- Repairs found once the pool is drained.
- Tile and coping work done at the same time.
- The refill water and the start-up chemicals.
License and paperwork
As of October 19, 2026
Florida's contractor law lists interior refinishing in the pool and spa servicing scope 5. Another part of the law lists plastering among trades a local government may not license 6. Whether that reaches pool plaster is not settled, so do not hire on that basis. Ask for a state pool license number and check it.
Get the plaster product, the prep method, the start-up plan, the warranty and the price in writing before work starts. This is general information, not legal advice.
From a rough surface to a written scope
Look at the pool first. The finish choice comes after.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
What we don't handle
This guide does not cover these jobs, and once a licensed provider is named, requests that include them will not be passed on.
- roof work
- retaining walls and seawalls
- pool deck or patio slab repair
- structural shell repair or a cracked pool shell
- pool lighting, bonding and other electrical work
- drain lines, sewer or main-drain replacement
- mold work
- waterproofing of decks or buildings
- elevated decks
- balconies
- building a new pool
- pool piping and plumbing
- public or commercial pools
- fiberglass pool gelcoat work
- vinyl liner replacement
What this guide gives you now
Plain answers about your pool surface, before you call any contractor. We do not do pool work, so nothing here is a sales pitch.
- A surface check you can do at the pool
The Pool Surface Condition Check walks you through what to look and feel for. It tells you whether to watch, plan or ask for an inspection. - Plain notes on each finish
Plaster, quartz, pebble, and the tile and coping at the edge. See how each one wears and what to ask about it on the finishes page. - A license check in a few minutes
Florida's contractor law lists pool interior refinishing in a pool contractor scope. The license guide shows how to look up any contractor on the state site. - A written scope to ask for
Ask any contractor to write down the finish, the prep of the old surface, the tile and coping work, the start-up water care, the warranty and the price. Nothing should start until you agree in writing. - A timing plan for the Sarasota area
Draining a pool and storm season do not mix well. The timing guide lays out the storm calendar and the local watering order. - Water questions to ask
Tap water is treated differently from one utility to the next. Ask your utility for its water report, and ask your contractor how they will balance your fill water after the new finish goes on.
This site is free to read. It sells no pool work and takes no payment. Any work is agreed in writing between you and the licensed contractor who does it. If you see cracks in the pool shell, a licensed contractor should inspect it before anyone talks about a new finish.
Pool Surface Condition Check
Look at the pool on a bright day with the pump off, then answer each question. The result shows a stage and the answers that counted most. It is a starting point, not a price and not a diagnosis.
Start the Pool Surface Condition CheckSarasota 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.
Plaster and marcite resurfacing in Sarasota Area: cities
Other services
Illustration Quartz pool finishes
A plaster-type finish with quartz in the mix. It sits between plaster and pebble on lifespan.
Illustration Pebble pool finishes
Small stones set in the surface. The longest-lasting of the main finishes, with a textured feel.
Illustration Pool tile and coping
The tile band at the waterline and the cap along the pool edge, often redone in the same drain.
Guides
Evidence: the facts and sources behind this page
Plaster and marcite resurfacing: facts behind this page
As of October 18, 2026
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Swimply's 2026 guide gives plaster (marcite) pool finishes a typical life of 7 to 10 years.A national guide range, not a Florida or Sarasota figure. Water care and use change how long a finish lasts. | 7-10 years (national guide range) | [1] February 9, 2026 |
| Bob Vila's pool resurfacing guide says a plaster finish lasts about 10 years.An older national guide (2022), not a Florida figure. | about 10 years (national guide figure) | [2] July 26, 2022 |
| On the same page, Pebble Technology International says plaster needs resurfacing every 5 to 10 years (vendor, a pebble maker describing a competing finish).A manufacturer's claim about a competing finish, not an independent or Florida-specific figure. | 5-10 years (manufacturer claim) | [3] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026) |
| Pebble Technology International's plaster-versus-pebble page gives plaster a 'relatively short lifespan' of 5 to 15 years and pebble 20-plus years with proper chemistry and maintenance (vendor). It gives no lifespan for quartz.A manufacturer's claim, not an independent or Florida-specific figure. | 5-15 years (manufacturer claim) | [4] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026) |
| Florida s. 489.105(3)(l) defines the Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing Contractor scope to include interior refinishing and substantially or completely draining a pool for repair or renovation. | interior refinishing is in the servicing scope | [5] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition) |
| Under s. 489.105(3)(j) (commercial) and (k) (residential) pool/spa contractors may build, repair and service pools, including installing interior finishes, and everything in the servicing scope. Direct sanitary-sewer and potable-water connections are excluded. | resurfacing is within scope of all three pool categories | [5] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition) |
| Section 489.117(4)(a)1 lists 'plastering' among job scopes a local government may not license, while 489.105(3)(l) names pool interior refinishing as a licensed pool scope. | possible overlap: plastering vs pool interior refinishing | [6] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition) |
| Section 489.103(7) lets an owner act as own contractor on a one- or two-family home for the owner's own use, with a one-year sale presumption. The subsection does not mention pools; whether it covers interior pool refinishing is not stated. | no explicit pool language | [7] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition) |
| The National Plasterers Council start-up card says to test fill water for pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and metals, and to fill to the middle of the skimmer without interruption, as rapidly as possible, with clean potable water to help prevent a bowl ring and shrinkage cracking. It says to put a cloth on the hose end in the deepest area, keep other water out and keep people and pets out during the fill, and start the filtration system as soon as the pool is full.Industry-body recommendation, not a rule. Your installer's written start-up sheet comes first. | fill without interruption; start filtration when full text (industry-body procedure) | [8] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org) |
| The NPC start-up card says to brush the whole plaster surface thoroughly at least twice daily on days 1 to 3 (and repeat the brushing and continuous pump running each day through day 7), run the pump and filter continuously for seven days or until the dust is gone (at least 72 hours), and keep wheeled cleaners out for 28 days. After day 7, once the dust is removed, brushing can be limited to visible debris or when chemicals are added. | brush at least twice daily; pump continuous 7 days text (industry-body procedure) | [8] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org) |
| The NPC start-up card sets day 1 alkalinity at 80-100 ppm and pH at 7.2-7.6, steps calcium hardness up from 80-100 ppm on day 1 to 100-150 ppm on day 2 and at least 200 ppm by days 4-7, adds chlorine to 1.5-3.0 ppm on day 3 (none for the first 48 hours) and begins cyanuric acid at 30-50 ppm on days 4-7. It says not to run the pool heater until the water is balanced and no plaster dust remains. | no chlorine for 48 hours; CH at least 200 ppm by day 4-7 text (industry-body procedure) | [8] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org) |
| The NPC start-up card says new plaster is especially prone to staining, scaling and discoloration in its first 28 days, and that salt-water pools should not add salt within the first 30 days. After the start-up it keeps the Langelier index between 0.0 and +0.3, with free chlorine 1-3 ppm, calcium hardness 200-400 ppm, cyanuric acid 30-50 ppm and pH 7.2-7.6. | 28 days sensitive; no salt for 30 days; LSI 0.0 to +0.3 text (industry-body procedure) | [8] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org) |
| DBPR's 'Understanding DBPR Codes' page lists CPC as Certified Pool/Spa Contractor (occupation code 0607) and RP as Registered Pool/Spa Contractor (0621), each with classes A (Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor), B (Residential Pool/Spa Contractor) and C (Pool/Spa Contractor Service). It does not explain what 'certified' and 'registered' mean for a license. | CPC (certified) and RP (registered); classes A, B, C | [9] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| DBPR's code list also shows certified specialty contractor (0612) classes PFC (Swimming Pool Finishes Specialty Contractor), PLL (Plaster and Lath Specialty Contractor), RPS (Residential Pool/Spa Servicing Contractor), PPC (piping), PSC (structural), PTC (trim), PDC (decking), PEC (excavation) and PLC (layout). | PFC = pool finishes specialty; RPS = residential pool/spa servicing | [9] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| In the 2026 Florida Statutes, s. 489.105(3)(j) (commercial) and (k) (residential) pool/spa contractors cover building, repairing and servicing pools and installing interior finishes; (l) the swimming pool/spa servicing contractor covers repair and servicing, names 'interior refinishing' and substantially or completely draining a pool for repair or renovation, and excludes direct sanitary-sewer and potable-water connections. Installing or replacing permanently attached water treatment or cleaning equipment needs a license; chemical-only water treatment and cleaning that does not affect structural integrity do not. | (j),(k) interior finishes; (l) interior refinishing and draining | [5] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)As of October 19, 2026 |
| DBPR's online license search at www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp lets anyone search by name, license number, city or county, or license type. | search by name, number, city/county or type | [10] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
Sources
- Swimply Host Blog, How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Pool? 2026 Guide, February 9, 2026
- Pool Resurfacing Cost: Project Budgeting Guide - Bob Vila, July 26, 2022
- How long does a pebble pool finish last? (Pebble Technology International), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
- Plaster vs pebble swimming pool finishes (Pebble Technology International), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
- Florida Statutes, section 489.105 (definitions, pool and spa contractor scopes), Online Sunshine, 2026
- Florida Statutes, section 489.117 (registration; specialty contractors), Online Sunshine, 2026
- Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 489.103, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
- NPC Recommended Start-up Procedures card (National Plasterers Council), 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org)
- Understanding DBPR Codes (Florida DBPR MyFloridaLicense.com), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
- Verify a License (Florida DBPR Licensing Portal), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
Questions people ask
Can new plaster go over old plaster?
Sometimes, after the old surface is prepared. It depends on how sound the old coat is. Ask the contractor what they will remove and why, and get it in the written scope.
Why does new plaster need special water care?
A fresh finish is still settling when the pool is refilled. Contractors follow a start-up routine for the water. Ask for theirs in writing, and ask what it means for your warranty.