Can swimming pool Pebblecrete be painted?

[Lukus84]

Hi, can swimming pool pebblecrete be painted white? It’s outside of the pool water line

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Lukus84,

Pebblecrete can be a bit tricky when it comes to painting due to the epoxy used to bind the pebbles together. Epoxy is essentially a plastic, and paint generally struggles to adhere to plastic surfaces. Even with specially formulated paints designed for outdoor use, achieving a long-lasting finish can be difficult.

One alternative approach you might consider is tiling over the Pebblecrete. This could give you a durable, stylish finish while avoiding the complications of painting. However, to ensure a proper bond with the tile adhesive, the Pebblecrete would likely need to be either removed or ground back to create a smooth, stable surface. Tile adhesive has difficulty adhering to epoxy surfaces, so grinding back the Pebblecrete would be important to ensure a good bond and a lasting result.

You might like to check out this incredible project by @rochester, where they laid tiles over their Pebblcrete.

If tiling isn’t an option, another possibility might be applying a concrete resurfacer after grinding the pebblecrete down, which could provide a new surface for further finishing or painting. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Lukus84]

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for your reply and info, I think tiling would be a no due to the size of the pool. Maybe resurfacing over the pebblecrete might be an option? I was just hoping there could be a way to paint over the pebblecrete

[EricL]

Hi @Lukus84 

As Mitchell has mentioned it is difficult to paint the pebble surface because of its epoxy surface. Another issue would be the type of paint you'll need to use. Swimming pool water contains a great deal of chemicals that ordinary paint can't withstand. If your still keen on painting the pebblecrete, I suggest engaging the services of a professional pool painter. They have the knowledge and experience to paint the pebblecrete near your pool.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric