Plaster, quartz or pebble
The three mainstream interior finishes compared on cost, lifespan, feel and repairability, with the cost-per-year figure that reorders the ranking.
Most resurfacing decisions come down to these three. They are usually presented as a good, better, best ladder priced accordingly, which is accurate on upfront cost and misleading on everything else.
Side by side
| Plaster or marcite | Quartz plaster | Pebble | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $6 to $8 | $7 to $10 | $7 to $15 |
| Published lifespan | 7 to 12 years | 10 to 15 years | 15 to 20+ years |
| Cost per year, best case | $0.50 | $0.47 | $0.35 |
| Cost per year, worst case | $1.14 | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Feel underfoot | Smoothest when new | Slightly textured | Most textured |
| Stain resistance | Lowest | Better | Best |
Cost and lifespan as published. Cost per year is our own arithmetic on those two figures.
Source: HomeGuide, Pool Resurfacing Cost, 2026
Plaster
Plaster is the traditional finish and the cheapest of the three to install. It gives the smoothest surface when new and the widest choice of contractor, since every pool company works with it.
Its weaknesses are all downstream. It is the most vulnerable to staining and etching from unbalanced water, it erodes to a rough texture as it ages, and it has the shortest life of the three. On a per-year basis it is the most expensive of the three at its worst case.
Quartz plaster
Quartz plaster adds quartz aggregate to the plaster mix. The quartz is harder than the cement matrix around it, which improves stain resistance and durability without changing the installation process much.
It sits between the other two on cost, lifespan, texture and price per year. If you want a meaningful upgrade on plaster without the texture of pebble, this is the finish that exists to do that job.
Pebble
Pebble finishes suspend small stones in the surface. They are the most durable and the most stain resistant of the three, and by a distance the longest lasting.
The trade-off is texture. A pebble surface is noticeably rougher underfoot than plaster, which some people dislike and which matters more in a pool used heavily by children. Finer pebble products reduce this at additional cost.
On the numbers, pebble is the best value per year of service of the three. That does not make it the right answer for everyone, but it does mean the usual framing of pebble as an indulgence and plaster as the sensible choice has it backwards.
One thing to check before you decide
Ask the contractor which specific product they use within the category and what warranty comes with it. Category names like pebble and quartz cover a wide range of products at a wide range of prices, and the warranty is a far better signal of what you are buying than the category label.