Removal of these materials is necessary to access the pool shell exterior and correct any areas which may need parging or waterproofing. A band of tile is now placed at the pool's water line. Thin ceramic or slate tile provides a durable and readily maintainable surface at the water line. Choosing a color must involve consideration of the interior finish, coping and decking materials. A common form of material used for this function is Bluestone flagging, but many other options are available including pre-cast cement material.
Natural stone coping offers the warmth, texture and sturdiness of stone.
Materials ranging from quarried granite, limestone and bluestone to natural fieldstone offer beautiful and long lasting coping solutions. In working with natural stone, it is very important to specify consistent coping thickness for this most visible pool element. Due to cost and maintenance considerations, Scott recommends Marcite, a marble aggregate plaster-like finish troweled on the pool interior. Marcite can be tinted a variety of colors from black to white. The surface is affected by a variety of cosmetic imperfections such as trowel marks, small shrinkage cracks and mottling are considered normal for this application.