Replastering that starts with the shell

When plaster is done

Plaster lasts 10 to 20 years depending on water chemistry and how the pool was started up. You know yours is finished when it feels like sandpaper, shows gray gunite through thin spots, stains faster than you can clean it, or sounds hollow when tapped. A lot of Madison and Flowood pools built in the 90s and 2000s are hitting this point right now, and much of Jackson’s older stock passed it years ago.

Finish options

• White plaster (marcite). The classic finish, brightest water, lowest cost. Expect 8 to 12 years in this market.
• Quartz blends. Plaster with quartz aggregate. More stain resistance, more color options, usually 12 to 15 years.
• Pebble finishes. The toughest surface and the longest life, 15 to 20 plus years, with a textured look. Costs the most and feels different underfoot.

How the job runs

1. Drain and inspect the bare shell. This is where hidden cracks and hollow spots show up, and where we fix them.
2. Chip out or bond-prep the old finish so the new one grips.
3. Reset the waterline tile if it is popping, and repair coping and mastic while the pool is empty. Doing it now saves a second mobilization later.
4. Apply the new finish in one continuous pour, weather permitting.
5. Refill immediately and run a supervised startup: brushing schedule, chemistry checks, and a written curing plan for the first 28 days.

The startup is not a courtesy call, it decides how the finish ages. New plaster cured in unbalanced water stains early and fails early. The CDC’s healthy swimming guidance covers why balanced water matters for swimmers; it matters just as much for the surface they swim on.

What it costs

Shell repairs found during inspection are priced separately and approved by you before we touch them. The cost guide breaks down what moves each number.