Your post is making me feel much better about my my mini pebble selection. I was torn over all the options, finally chose tropics blue also. I'm sticking with the original mix of colors and adding in 10% light blue glass. Should be installed this week. If it turns out half as good as yours did I will be really happy!
Just beauitful!
I keep coming back and admiring your pool finish. The custom pebble blend and tile choices are perfect! Would it be possible to take a very close up picture of the finish to see just what individual pebble colors are visible in it since you removed the tri-colored mix bags? Your pool colors look so great that I'm considering replicating them exactly in our hoped-for pool. Thank you!
Thank you so much for posting your pics and description of what you did! I just decided to go with tropics blue (job will be done in the next week or two), but I wasn't crazy about the tri-color pebbles. Had no idea those were separate and the idea to change out with glass is brilliant. I'm really excited...I hope I can get my pb to do the same! Thanks againHere are some close ups of the modified tropics blue finish mini pebble. In addition to the abalone bits that are part of the standard recipe mix, I had the PB hand cast some more onto the surface at the end of the plastering process. Also, I did have some 3mm iridescent glass beads hand cast as well though they did not show up as much as I had expected, and don't affect the over all color (water color or surface color). The amount of the jewelscape glass bits added was 20%, which I believe is about 2 bags per each plaster/pebble batch, though not 100% certain. PD said he left out the bags that contain the tri color mix of light blue, green and red pebbles.
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Hope these are helpful.
If you can afford it, have your guy add a few bags of 3mm iridescent glass beads, and bump up to 35% (from 20% in my formula) the amount of the jewelscape glass bits. It will increase the smoothness of the pool surface (and improve depth of that color). I wish I had done that in the spa so the spa benchs would be a bit more comfortable when sitting in the spa for long periods. Doing so for the rest of the pool will be advisable if kids will be spending loads of time in the pool as the pebble surface texture can irritate their tender little feet. In sum, the added glass beads/pebble bits closer approximate a plaster only surface (being generally the smoothest surface texture). But it does get pricey doing this so…..That looks FANTASTIC! Thanks!
That's great advice. We're looking at doing exactly that. I'm not sure if it'll equate to 35% or "more bags" etc, but we definitely want more than a "touch" of glass . From my understanding this contractor prefers to hand cast the glass, instead of batch mix it. I'm going to call NPT and see if I can get someone who has formula knowledge that can answer my questions. I like the idea of the 3mm glass and at this point I'm not too worried about price... the fortune has already been spent. lolIf you can afford it, have your guy add a few bags of 3mm iridescent glass beads, and bump up to 35% (from 20% in my formula) the amount of the jewelscape glass bits. It will increase the smoothness of the pool surface (and improve depth of that color). I wish I had done that in the spa so the spa benchs would be a bit more comfortable when sitting in the spa for long periods. Doing so for the rest of the pool will be advisable if kids will be spending loads of time in the pool as the pebble surface texture can irritate their tender little feet. In sum, the added glass beads/pebble bits closer approximate a plaster only surface (being generally the smoothest surface texture). But it does get pricey doing this so…..
And by all means, be sure your guy shows you his other pools done in Stonescape Tropics Blue mini pebble.