Happy to share! Let me know if you’d like additional photos. You prob already know, (I didn’t!) the Cool Blue is an upgrade “designer” color and cost a little more. Cool Blue already has shells and stuff in it. I prob didn’t need to add the luminous blue to it and for the extra cost I’m not sure it made a difference or not. But I’m still glad I added it.
New build
- Thread starter Ellen M
- Start date
I love your light streams set straight. It’s a small adjustment but I think it’s a pool wow.
Thank you everyone for the outstanding support and feedback since our intial construction started back in June of 2021.
Due to a number of circumstances we were blessed with an interior finish redo on our less then 10 month old pool. I swam everyday since pool completion 8/21/21 until 5/31/22. Our pool was renovated 6/1/22 and is swimable today 6/10/22. Well worth 10 days, and of course neighbors allowing me to swim. I did miss a only a few days to watch plaster, acid wash, and lastly start up phases.
I have learned so much and am available to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences in choosing interior finish companies and the pros and cons of the choices if anyone wants to chat (of course this is all IMO, as we are all unique). We switched to Pebble Tec and to prevent all the previous issues. We choose Pebble Sheen Arctic White with 1.5 bags (per batch) of the luminious blue blend glass beads to give it some "bling", as they say here on TFP. If you review my thread or media posts, you will note I went 180° from Midnight Blue mini pebble to Pebble Sheen Arctic White to guarantee an inviting, crisp, clean blue water color weather sun, shade, or evening. I won't miss dark multicolor rocks, dark lagoon/emerald water, iron deposits from the rocks, nor the faded pigment throughout places in the pool.
Here are the pictures that I took today minutes before the start up process. Start up outcome is no blemishes, minimal plaster dust, and chemistry balanced. Some have said the blue color may deepen within the week, as the neighbor's new interior finish of Wet Edge Primera Stone Ivory Mist seemed to darker during the week. Still of course a crisp, icy blue. Our pools look very similar in color. You can review my previous thread (inactive) on midnight blue if interested in multiple details on that finish in our personal experience.
Again thank you to all. This site has been amazing. Ellen M
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Due to a number of circumstances we were blessed with an interior finish redo on our less then 10 month old pool. I swam everyday since pool completion 8/21/21 until 5/31/22. Our pool was renovated 6/1/22 and is swimable today 6/10/22. Well worth 10 days, and of course neighbors allowing me to swim. I did miss a only a few days to watch plaster, acid wash, and lastly start up phases.
I have learned so much and am available to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences in choosing interior finish companies and the pros and cons of the choices if anyone wants to chat (of course this is all IMO, as we are all unique). We switched to Pebble Tec and to prevent all the previous issues. We choose Pebble Sheen Arctic White with 1.5 bags (per batch) of the luminious blue blend glass beads to give it some "bling", as they say here on TFP. If you review my thread or media posts, you will note I went 180° from Midnight Blue mini pebble to Pebble Sheen Arctic White to guarantee an inviting, crisp, clean blue water color weather sun, shade, or evening. I won't miss dark multicolor rocks, dark lagoon/emerald water, iron deposits from the rocks, nor the faded pigment throughout places in the pool.
Here are the pictures that I took today minutes before the start up process. Start up outcome is no blemishes, minimal plaster dust, and chemistry balanced. Some have said the blue color may deepen within the week, as the neighbor's new interior finish of Wet Edge Primera Stone Ivory Mist seemed to darker during the week. Still of course a crisp, icy blue. Our pools look very similar in color. You can review my previous thread (inactive) on midnight blue if interested in multiple details on that finish in our personal experience.
Again thank you to all. This site has been amazing. Ellen M
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Your new pool plaster looks amazing! I'm having issues with mine as well - inconsistency in pebble color (lots of the black pebble in the shallow end and very little in the deep end) and so thin in some spots that it's chipping. Did you get your PB to cover the cost of the new plaster?
Looks like pictures did not post when I reviewed the post. I will attempt again. Ellen M.
Thank you everyone for the outstanding support and feedback. An interior finish redo on a brand new pool was a gift and blessing. I have learned so much and am available to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences in choosing interior finish companies and the pros and cons of the choices if anyone wants to chat (of course this is all IMO, as we are all unique). As you may know, my redo choice was to switch to Pebble Tec and to prevent all the previous issues. We choose Pebble Sheen Arctic White with 1.5 bags (per batch) of the luminious blue blend glass beads to give it some "bling", as they say here on TFP. If you review my thread or media posts, you will note I went 180° from Midnight Blue mini pebble to Pebble Sheen Arctic White to guarantee an inviting, crisp, clean blue water color weather sun, shade, or evening. I won't miss dark multicolor rocks, dark lagoon/emerald water, iron deposits from the rocks, nor the faded pigment throughout places in the pool. Here are the pictures that I took minutes before the start up process. Start up process is still in the works but he reports no blemishes, minimal plaster dust and everything working. Some have said the blue may deepen within the week as the neighbors slightly did. he used Wet Edge Primera Stone Ivory Mist. Our pools look similar in color. 
Thank you. An artist neighbor volunteered to lay it all out as I do not have the artistic eye or patience. But I do notice detail so it worked out well. She also said no red beach shells as it did not go with the color range. I would have never known. There was red ones in my original install and it never bothered me but a few other artist types mentioned it too. It took her a very long time to lay out so I am rewarding her as no one would spend that kind of labor/time dilgence and not deserve to be honored. Thank you again, it is nice to have the validation. There are also no curves in my pool so I did not think it through the first time but knew something was off. Ellen M
Thought you might enjoy seeing the same spa step in a before in wave pattern (Lightstream beach shells in midnight blue with red ones in the mix) and after in straight pattern (Lightstream beach shells in Arctic White with no red). I have lots ot pictures! Ellen M
I would not have even thought of taking the red out or putting it straight like that. You can TELL she moved and redid it until it was JUST RIGHT! WOWZER!!! She needs her own float and adult drink cup at your house!
Kim
Kim
You bet! I am unbelieveably grateful. I was just talking about it and she said I would be glad to do it, I am needing an art project! She actually offered to be able for hire. I watched her do some and I knew I could not help when she started chatting about angels, shapes, sizes, colors..and then said she'd work on it and I did not need to stay! I was relieved after watching for over an hour and not being able to contribute even when I tried. But I have always humbly admitted I do not have an artists eye. My older sister is an artist and often assisted in ideas. She also told me at the beginning of pool building to go white! I thought she was so wrong. She laughed and accepted when I apologized 9 months later with an Arctic White pool! Thanks again. Here is her layout for install day. Ellen M.I would not have even thought of taking the red out or putting it straight like that. You can TELL she moved and redid it until it was JUST RIGHT! WOWZER!!! She needs her own float and adult drink cup at your house!
Kim
Oona
Well-known member
Thank you for your support through this and your enjoyment of the end result. I am so glad that NPT no longer had the Zanzibar white mini rock because the Pebble Sheen Arctic White is smoother than the NPT rocks. The PT installers made a comment as well and said the glass beads are always a joy to see in pool. I have a great appreciation for the glass beads. I had Cobalt blue glass added to the Midnight Blue mini pebble on first install. However, given mostly black and dark rocks, it did not add any true benefit. The blue blend luminous has some irridesent beads so they sparkle. It is an ideal replacement for abalone as I did not want to take any risk with abalone and also was not in love with it as most people. The clear glass beads reflect so it has the same look as abalone in full sun. Many but not all of the teal blue beads also glisten. I had considered the PT Glacier Bay which is the white rock with 50% glass beads but was reminded that the glass beads in that mix are not irridesent and would likely be unhappy; which is correct, I just didn't know. Trivia piece of information, I learned that NPT Puerto Rico blend glass beads and the PT luminous blue blend beads are the same concept. In the end, my pool build turned out exactly as it was meant to be. I have an honorable, honest, and down to earth pool builder who believes in full customer service. It is rare to find such a contractor these days. Thanks again. Ellen M
- Sep 3, 2018
- 1,330
- Pool Size
- 17000
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Oona
Well-known member
I can say that my mini pebble is quite rough in places (good for exfoliating the feet though) and my son has scraped his toes and legs up pretty good on it occasionally-wish I had gone with the white quartz finish instead since it is identical in color
I am so sorry that happened for you. The PebbleTec does appear to be somewhat soother in my opinion. I am glad otherwise your son has been enjoying his swim and feet get exfoliating! Ellen M
LoneWolfArcher
Bronze Supporter
Thank you so much. Short of buying a house & putting 2 kids through private colleges, the pool build/yard has been the most expensive project we've ever taken on; hence we have so gratitude to an ethical pool builder as well as learned from the first go around. Although the darker colors are pretty, I recently learned I couldn't get blue (despite previously told I could). Now that I went 180°, I do find the "icy blue" color more inviting, crisp, clean, and appreciate seeing the details of the finish. I now also have an appreciation for glass beads, yet still have mini white pebble along with it. The glass beads in my previous midnight blue did not add anything (in hindsight). Both of teal and the clear iridescent beads add a nice sparkle in full sun, which is why I was recommended to choose this finish over Pebble Brillance, as those beads are not iridescent. I now enjoy the pool in both shade and sun. With the midnight blue the shade turned it lagoon looking and was disappointing. I will change my TFP profile picture soon, but leave it there are a visual reminder of what I saw most of every day.
I can't heat the pool for another 10 days. Soon as I can, we'll use the solar pool heating and ease it up slowly as recommended. It has been particular nice this week to reach 72° so the pool is 84° by 1 pm. A rashguard under a 2 mm wetsuit has worked for my old bones. I could not wait for the heat, so made my own. I see how long we can use that system without needing to use our AcquCal heat pump which runs off our other solor panels. It works as long as the air is 52°. Thanks again for your feedback. Ellen M
LoneWolfArcher
Bronze Supporter
I think it is amazing. A perfect pool for the space. I think it is going to be very enjoyable for years to come. I know it was a costly investment, but in San Diego I have to believe a pool adds a lot of value to your property. Here in Michigan, not so much. I've even heard that here in the north pools hurt the value of your house. Probably because of having to close and open them.
Practice TFP methods, get a good robot pool vacuum, and your maintenance will be a snap!
Thank you for the details on the light stream. I had wondered if the plaster company installed or a tile company. I’d also wondered how that plaster/tile guy got it to look that great. Your neighbor did a wonderful layout for them. It looks like modern geometric art.
Love the replaster. The glass beads looks so great too.
Love the replaster. The glass beads looks so great too.
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Thank you. Yes, our water tile installer is an amazing gentleman and was kind enough to lay out the Lighstreams with high level diligence. He even came by to see the plastering being done just because he too was excited! Ellen M
Hi. New here. I’ve been trying to find photos of pools finished with StoneScapes Kenai Grey micro pebbles? My pool is 9ft deep and I’m concerned it might be too dark in the deep end. Debating between Kenai or French grey. Thank you
Curious what you went with as I myself can’t decide between Kenai grey and French grey.