When an Orlando-area pool is ready for resurfacing, the first real decision is the finish. Most quotes come down to three families: plaster (often called marcite), quartz and pebble aggregate. They differ in look, in price and in how they are applied, and each is installed by a pool contractor under the same Florida license rules. This guide compares them using only sourced figures, and says plainly where the sources disagree.
The three finish families
Plaster or marcite
White plaster, also called marcite, is the lowest-cost finish on the price ladder below. Colored plaster is another option in the same family.
Quartz
Quartz finishes are plaster blended with quartz aggregate, sometimes called quartz plaster. They come in a range of colors and sit one step up the price ladder from plain plaster.
Pebble aggregate
Pebble finishes use small stones in the surface mix, in sizes from mini-pebble to full pebble, and some lines add polished or glass-bead blends. Homeowners often call pebble finishes by brand names, and brand-name pebble products sit at the top of the price range. When a quote names a specific product, ask for the product name in writing so you can compare it with other quotes.
Fiberglass pools are a different case. They are refinished rather than replastered, so see fiberglass pool refinishing if that is your pool type.
The price ladder
These are typical national ranges from HomeGuide (2026), HomeAdvisor (2026), Angi (2026) and Fixr — estimates, not quotes.
| Finish | Typical range |
|---|---|
| White plaster / marcite | $6–$8 per sq ft (about $6,000–$8,000 per 1,000 sq ft) |
| Quartz finish | $7–$10 per sq ft (about $7,000–$10,000) |
| Pebble aggregate finish | $7–$15 per sq ft (about $7,000–$15,000); premium brand-name pebble $10–$20 per sq ft |
| Full tile interior (for comparison) | $20,000–$30,000 |
The ranges overlap. A high-end quartz job can cost as much as an entry-level pebble job, so compare quotes on the same measured square footage and the same product. The Orlando cost guide covers what else goes into the total, such as tile, coping, draining and refill water.
How long does each finish last?
This is the question most owners ask first, and the honest answer is that the published figures conflict. For plaster, the cost-guide figures we reviewed, including Fixr’s, range from 5–10 years to 15–20 years, and they cannot all be right. We did not find a source we could rely on for quartz or pebble lifespans, so we do not publish one.
What that means in practice:
- Treat any single lifespan number with caution, including one in a sales pitch.
- Ask each contractor what lifespan they expect for the finish they quote on your pool, and what written warranty, if any, comes with it.
- Ask what water care the finish needs in its first weeks and over the long run, since care affects how a surface ages.
Orlando water and heat
Two local conditions are worth raising with any contractor before you pick a finish.
Hard water
Orlando Utilities Commission reports that “the average hardness of OUC water is 129 ppm or 7 gpg (grains per gallon).” OUC also says it does not use chloramines. Hardness matters because the fill water for a new finish starts with that mineral content. We did not find a plaster-industry source on start-up chemistry, so rather than give a rule, we suggest asking the contractor how they handle start-up and balance on your water. If your water comes from another utility, ask that utility for its own figures. Our post on Orlando hard water and a new pool finish goes further.
Heat
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport show 109.9 days a year at or above 90 °F. Pool water stays warm much of the year, so a finish here is in steady use rather than resting through a long winter. Ask how each finish holds up under year-round use, and whether the contractor recommends timing the job for the drier October–May window, when one-inch rain days are less common than in June through September.
How to choose
Set a budget range
Use the price ladder to see which finishes fit, remembering that tile, coping and deck work are priced separately.
Look at real samples
Colors look different under water and in Florida sun. Ask to see samples or finished pools, ideally under water, and take note of how each surface feels.
Match the finish to the rest of the pool
If waterline tile or coping is being replaced, choose them together. See tile and coping replacement.
Check your HOA
Interior pool finish changes are often not visible from the street, but decks, pavers, coping and screen enclosures often are. Check your declaration and get ARC approval where it applies.
Compare like for like
Get written quotes that name the same product, the same square footage and the same prep, start-up and warranty terms.
Who applies the finish
In Florida, pool resurfacing is licensed pool contracting. All three state pool/spa license classes list “interior finishes” or “interior refinishing” in their scope (Fla. Stat. §489.105(3)(j)–(l)). Plaster crews may hold a voluntary Finishes specialty license under Rule 61G4-15.032, but they must work under contract to a licensed pool contractor. Ask for the contractor’s state license number (it must appear in their ads and contracts, §489.119(5)(b)) and check it on MyFloridaLicense.com. A county business tax receipt is not a license. A resurface is also a natural time to ask about replacing an old main drain cover with one that meets the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act standard.
Getting finish quotes
We connect Orlando-area homeowners with independent local pool contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose quotes, contracts and does the work. Read more on pebble and quartz finishes or plaster resurfacing, then request a free quote and ask for each finish you are weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Is pebble more expensive than quartz or plaster?
Usually. National cost guides put white plaster or marcite at $6 to $8 per square foot, quartz at $7 to $10 and pebble aggregate at $7 to $15, with premium brand-name pebble at $10 to $20. The ranges overlap, so a high-end quartz quote can match an entry-level pebble quote. Compare written quotes on the same square footage and product.
Which pool finish lasts longest in Florida?
Published lifespan figures conflict. Cost-guide figures for plaster, including Fixr’s, range from 5 to 10 years to 15 to 20 years, and we found no reliable source for quartz or pebble lifespans. Ask each contractor what lifespan they expect for the finish on your pool, what care it needs, and what written warranty, if any, they offer.
Does Orlando's hard water affect a new pool finish?
Orlando Utilities Commission reports average hardness of 129 ppm, or about 7 grains per gallon, and that is the water a new finish is filled with. We did not find a plaster-industry source on start-up chemistry, so ask the contractor how they handle start-up and water balance on your water. Other utilities can give you their own figures.