Marbelite

Base white pool plaster, also known as marbelite, is a mixture of fortified white cement, white sand and marble chip/dust and additives, which vary depending on the brand, temperature and other environmental issues. Upgrading to grey or black plaster is becoming more common, keeping with the aesthetic appeal of natural looking gardens, incorporated with rock and water features. Black and grey plaster will enhance the mottled nature of plaster, giving the surface a variegated, cloudy and very natural look. One large advantage is that coloured plaster is much less affected by the staining that requires periodic acid washes and can leave permanent blemishes on white plaster. However, white plaster remains the most common choice due to its clear Caribbean blue water appeal, and classic elegant look. 

You can be assured that our spray-adhered scratch coat and old-school trowel application and plaster floating process will create the best possible bond and finish to your pool shell, ensuring years of enjoyment. Our gas powered plaster mixer is set up right at the pool’s edge, ensuring a good communication between the plasterers, mix crew and the cleaners. Our craftsman approach believes in taking our time on-site to ensure a consistent material quality and thickness, just like it has been done since the 1950s when pool plastering was first introduced. Whether you choose our custom blend or upgrade to a pre-mixed marbelite, all of our materials, techniques and workmanship adhere to the National Plasterers Council Technical Manual. We are proudly the second oldest member of the council in Central Canada, and we strongly recommend using only a member of the NPC to plaster your swimming pool, a swimming pool plastering is a very specialized skill. 

In recent years in Canada, new finishes for concrete pools have started to gain popularity. These include Quartz aggregate plasters, River Pebble aggregate plasters, and even ground glass. While these haven’t been around long in Canada, they are time-proven, premium finishes in places like Australia and Florida, where they were first developed. The idea behind these new materials is that they are denser, and less porous than traditional marble, therefore, more stain repellent and less prone to surface deterioration under aggressive water conditions. The only down side is that they don't tend to have as smooth a finish (or soft) as traditional marble plaster due to a coarser denser aggregate, and are generally not as bright white. These are considered premium finishes and can add 20-50% over the cost of traditional white plaster. Now with new additives which strengthen and reduce stain penetration, the traditional white plaster remains the number one choice. 

Sweet Pool Restorations is offering Diamond Brite (coloured quartz) and River Rock (exposed aggregate) pool finishes, as well as other premium quartz, pebble and glass bead finish options. 

Please visit the NPC website for much more detailed information about pool plastering / marbelite.