Pool Finish Guide · Broward County
Which new pool finish is right for your Fort Lauderdale home?
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For most Fort Lauderdale pools the choice comes down to budget and how long you plan to keep the finish. Plaster costs the least (about $5,000–$10,000) but wears fastest. Quartz (about $6,000–$12,000) adds color choice and durability for a modest premium. Pebble (about $8,000–$16,000) costs the most and typically lasts the longest.
All three are applied the same basic way during inground pool resurfacing: the pool is drained when site conditions allow, the old surface is prepared, the new finish is troweled on, and the pool is refilled and started up. What changes is the material, and that drives the look, feel, price and lifespan.
| Plaster | Quartz | Pebble | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost range | $5,000–$10,000 | $6,000–$12,000 | $8,000–$16,000 |
| Typical lifespan* | 7–12 years | 10–15 years | 15–20+ years |
| Feel underfoot | Smoothest | Smooth, very slight texture | Textured (polished pebble is smoother) |
| Look | Classic white or tinted; bright light-blue water | Wide color range with a subtle sparkle | Natural stone; deeper, richer water color |
| Stain & etch resistance | Lowest | Good | Best |
| Best for | Tighter budgets, selling soon, classic look | Best value for most homeowners | Long-term owners, premium look |
Costs are typical South Florida planning ranges for an average-size residential pool, not quotes. *Lifespans are commonly quoted industry ranges and assume balanced water chemistry and correct startup; actual life varies with use, chemistry and workmanship.
Traditional pool plaster (marcite) is a blend of white cement and marble dust. It is the original pool finish, it gives the familiar bright, light-blue water color, and it is the smoothest surface of the three. It is also the most sensitive to water chemistry: in South Florida heat, plaster can etch, stain or turn rough within a few years if pH and calcium drift.
Quartz finishes mix crushed, colored quartz aggregate into a plaster base. The quartz makes the surface harder and more resistant to staining and etching, and the colored aggregate gives more even color than tinted plaster. For many Broward County homeowners it is the best value: a modest premium over plaster for several more years of life.
Pebble finishes use small, smooth river pebbles set in a cement base, then washed to expose the stone. They are the most durable and stain-resistant of the three and hide minor imperfections well. The trade-off is cost and texture: standard pebble feels noticeably bumpier than plaster, while polished and mini-pebble products are smoother.
Warm water year-round speeds up chemical reactions. Pools in Fort Lauderdale drift out of balance faster than in cooler climates, which is hardest on plaster.
Salt-chlorine generators are common in Broward County. Quartz and pebble generally tolerate them better, but every finish needs balanced pH, alkalinity and calcium.
Heavy rain dilutes pool chemistry, and high groundwater near canals affects when a pool can be drained safely. Both matter for scheduling and startup.
Each city has its own mix of pools. See what to expect in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs and Parkland.
Pebble finishes are generally the most durable of the three. With balanced water chemistry they commonly last 15 to 20 years or more, compared with roughly 10 to 15 years for quartz and 7 to 12 years for standard plaster.
For many Fort Lauderdale homeowners, yes. Quartz typically adds about $1,000 to $2,000 over plaster on a similar pool, resists staining and etching better, holds color more evenly and usually lasts several years longer.
Pebble has a natural, textured feel that is noticeably less smooth than plaster or quartz. Polished or mini-pebble options are smoother. If children use the pool heavily, ask to feel a sample before choosing.
Usually, yes. When a pool is resurfaced, the existing surface is prepared and the new finish is applied over a sound base, so moving from plaster to quartz or pebble is common. The estimate should confirm the condition of the existing shell first.
Quartz and pebble generally tolerate salt-chlorine systems better than standard plaster, which is more prone to etching and roughness when chemistry drifts. Whatever the finish, keeping pH, alkalinity and calcium balanced matters more than the finish type.
We will look at your pool, talk through plaster, quartz and pebble options, and give you a written price for each one you are considering.
Prefer to talk now? Call 954-794-4469