When it comes to commercial pools, interior finishes are more than an aesthetic choice. Pool pros must consider safety, regulatory compliance and long-term maintenance while monitoring growing trends and evolving materials in the industry.
The importance of color
The color of a pool’s finish is often dictated by local health and safety regulations. In most cases, white or light-colored finishes are preferred for their safety benefits.
However, the guidelines can be up for interpretation, says Phil Greggs, technical director at SGM, a manufacturer of pool, spa and deck finishes in Pompano Beach, Florida.
“Some municipalities are as extreme as only accepting white finishes and others still use the old language of light pastel colors,” Greggs says.
Color for swimming pools is typically measured using one of two methods: the Munsell scale or the CIELAB color space.
With the Munsell scale, lightness is measured from 0 (pure black) to 10 (pure white). The system is based on visual description — a more subjective assessment — and categorizes colors using three attributes: hue (color type), value (lightness) and chroma (saturation). It is often used by designers or architects to create a certain aesthetic or mood.
The scale for the CIELAB color space ranges from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white).
It’s a more objective system that measures color using three components: L* (lightness), a* (position on the green to red axis) and b* (position on the blue to yellow axis). These components make it ideal for manufacturing and ensuring color consistency across materials, which is important for maintaining uniformity for commercial pools.
Shaun Goldberg, plaster operations manager for Burkett’s Pool Plastering & Remodeling in Ripon, California, and the current chair for the National Plasterers Council, explains that environmental health departments typically require light colors to ensure visibility.
“They would like to see if there’s any algae growth,” Goldberg says. “They have to be able to see what condition the plaster is in, and they can’t really do that if there’s a color added to it.”
Though dark finishes can absorb heat and keep the water warm, Greggs says they may be risky because they can obscure the visibility of the pool’s bottom, making it harder to spot a person in distress. Darker colors can also affect depth perception, potentially causing hazards for swimmers jumping into the pool.
Advances in materials
The past few years have brought advancements in the materials used for commercial pool finishes. Manufacturers have been adding materials such as quartz, pozzolans and polymers to enhance the durability and longevity of pool surfaces, Greggs says, ensuring better warranties and longer-lasting finishes.
“A lot of the big architects for commercial jobs started requiring a manufactured plaster — in other words, something that had additives and could give a better warranty,” Goldberg says. “They figure if we spend a little more money upfront, you can delay having to replaster by several years, saving money in the end.”
This shift toward more durable, higher-quality finishes has also been driven by the increasing demand for custom, visually appealing pools. Commercial pool owners, particularly in upscale hotels and resorts, are looking for more elaborate designs that enhance the overall aesthetic of their property. Goldberg says that customers are increasingly treating pools as “works of art,” with a growing demand for finishes that mimic exotic locations, such as Caribbean waters.
“We have so many colors available in different aggregates between pebble, quartz and plaster,” Goldberg says. “What’s driving the decisions nowadays are the hardscapes around the pool and expectations for how they see their [outdoor spaces].”
What’s driving the decisions nowadays are the hardscapes around the pool and expectations for how they see their [outdoor spaces].”
Shaun Goldberg, Burkett’s Pool Plastering & Remodeling
Challenges and innovations
As pool materials evolve, there is a growing industry awareness of environmental concerns. Some materials, such as cement, may face restrictions due to their environmental impact. Although white cement pollution represents a small fraction of overall cement emissions, Goldberg anticipates the industry will need to find greener alternatives and believes organizations like the National Plasterers Council will play a critical role in providing the resources and training to help the industry adapt.
“We’re excited about the future,” he says. “The National Plasterers Council is doing research to establish a baseline because we think this won’t end here. We’ve tried to get our arms around it and understand what it means for our industry. We are moving the goalposts for our education system.”
| Color system: | Developed by: | Structure: | Lightness scale: |
| Munsell system | Albert H. Munsell in 1905 | Hue (type of color), value (lightness) and chroma (color intensity) | 0 (pure black) to 10 (pure white) |
| CIELAB color space | The International Commission on Illumination in 1976 | L* (lightness), a* (green to red axis) and b* (blue to yellow axis) | 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white) |
