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Diamond Brite - Blue or Super Blue

12 years ago

I am considering using Diamond Brite on our new pool. However it is very difficult to tell what the different colors look like from just the brochure. Has anyone out there used Diamond Brite and do you like it/ dislike it? And if you have any photos of your pool with the Diamond Brite that would also be helpful. I like the bright to lighter blues ... nothing too dark. There is a guy on this post (thejimbar) who has the most beautiful mixture of green and blue and I LOVE the color of his pool but the idea of mixing makes me too nervous that it wouldn't come out the right color.

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Comments (8)

poolguynj
12 years ago
Super Blue would be too dark then for your tastes.

Diamond Brite has been around a very, very long time. Its a nice u/g from plain plaster with a somewhat longer expected life for not much more money.

Scott
cmanley33
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks scott. I just got an email of some photos of Super Blue and actually I really like it. I don't like the really dark blue (lagoon like). I know I have seen the life expectancy on this site before but could you give them to me again for plain plaster and then the Diamond Brite? Do you have to brush Diamond Brite like you do regular plaster and what about some of the steaking issues I have read about? Is that from poor installation or poor chemical balance?
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Scott, I had my pool put in last year with Tahoe Blue, but the pool builder is replastering it under warranty with Diamond Brite Super Blue. Tahoe Blue is beautiful but subject to white streaks and splotchy uneven fading due to its darker base pigment. If you do a Google search on "Diamond Brite Blue Tahoe white streaks" you will get several hits. I went with the Super Blue since it is a white base with blue aggregate. This gives a look very similar to Tahoe Blue, but with a more even finish. Hats off to my pool builder for stepping up to the plate and replastering. Let me know if you have any questions.
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gohoos...yes, we do have lighter areas that I think were a result of the "creme" that resulted from troweling the plaster finish. As I understand it, after the application of the diamondbrite product, there are a couple ways to remove this "creme". One is to acid wash it before the pool is filled. The other is to perform an acid startup, which entails adding muriatic acid to the pool water and circulating for the first several days to "etch" the plaster. The desired result of both methods is to remove the lighter "creme" patches and expose the aggregate pebbles in the plaster for a more consitent look. We labored over how we wanted to finish the plaster once it was applied. In the end, we opted not to do the acid wash nor the acid startup and just kept the troweled finish as originally applied. We're happy with the finish because it matches the natural look we were after with our pool design, but I could see why our particular look may not be preferred by others who have different tastes and designs tendancies towards a cleaner geometric look. I was also told by the start-up guy, who does all the pool maintenance for the PB, that the smooth troweled finish is better for preventing algae growth and will last a few years longer than the same plaster that was acid washed or acid soaked during start-up. Not sure about this, but it made sense to me. Hope this helps.
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We had our diamondbrite installed 2 weeks ago. I'm sure cool blue and super blue are nice. My pb seemed to like mixing colors, as did at least one other of the pb's that we had interviewed. We ended up using a mix of 8 tahoe blue, 1 midnight blue, and 1 onyx. I had looked at one that our pb did with a similar recipe, but decided we wanted ours a little darker, hence our recipe. I *think* I'm satisfied with our DB. It's not perfect, and has gotten closer to an even finish with brushing. I didn't expect this color to be mottle-free, and it's not. Of course, who knows what it will look a few years down the road? We plan on managing our water chemistry closely using bbb, so hopefully we can maintain it's color/texture. How long before you have to make a decision? Do you have a sample to look at? Steve
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I am in the middle of a pool renovation and will be using diamond brite. Does anyone have photos of the color super blue to share? I don't want a green or dark blue pool -- I like the look of a bright blue. And, what color tiles do you recommend around the pool border? I like the look of glass, but want to choose something that complements the diamond brite. Thank you!
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poolguynj
12 years ago
Plaster 8 - 10 years
Diamond Brite 10 - 14 year
High Aggregates like Pebble Tec or Wet Edge 25+ years

Streaking and mottling can be caused by so many things. The major contributors are mixed batch numbers, overworking during application, different mix times, the amount of time till the plaster is worked, inconsistent chemistry, application thickness, water, and several other factors that are beyond the control of anyone but God.

It's not as big an issue with Diamond Brite or HA finishes but can happen.

Yes, DB gets brushed like regular plaster.

Scott
cmanley33
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Scott. What does it cost to replaster a pool? Do most people say Dimond Brite is easier on the feet than Pebble tech or Pebble Sheen (I know Sheen is the most expensive and most comfortable). I am not crazy about aggregate and would mostly be doing it to change the color of the water.
cmanley33
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Scott. What does it cost to replaster a pool? Do most people say Dimond Brite is easier on the feet than Pebble tech or Pebble Sheen (I know Sheen is the most expensive and most comfortable). I am not crazy about aggregate and would mostly be doing it to change the color of the water.
poolguynj
12 years ago
I doubt your feet would know the difference between PS and DB. Your wallet would when the DB wears out.

Plastering costs vary by market location. Some just get in and get out, others provide added services like initial cure care, etc....

I charge anywhere from $8 to $16 a sq foot for plain plaster to Wet Edge's premium products for a simple resurface. If a chip out is needed, it costs more. But I also take care of the cure in total, brushing, chems.... Is it more than most of my competition? Yes, but I do more too. Most of them prefer to let a homeowner shoot them selves in the foot to relieve them of the warranty claims potential.

Scott
cmanley33
Original Author
12 years ago
So the PT is supposed to last 25 years plus, right? Has it been around long enough to know it will hold up for 25 years? I guess I thought it was a relatively new product or maybe just new to me since I just started my pool build.
poolguynj
12 years ago
Yes, been around over 30

Scott

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