jillyjack, SGM produces/sells Diamond Brite and Diamond Quartz. The 3M product is called Colorquartz Crystals. NPT sells a product that is called QuartzScapes. NPT is a distributor and most likely purchases 3M or SGM product. Diamond Brite is an exposed aggragate finish and the quartz products are additives. So many similar and competitive products make it difficult for PB's and customers. The applicator(plaster contractor) is usually the one that picks which product thay are going to offer in consultation with the PB. Limitations include franchise agreements, inventory considerations, training, and distribution outlet locations. In some areas it isn't practical to offer a large inventory of product. Unhappy customers are usually the result of poor application or poor start-up procedures. All of these products look good when done properly. Problems occur when applicators are asked to use a product that they may not be familiar with. Happens more than you might think when customers want something different than everybody else.

It takes a long time to recover the money invested for LED lights. If they are color changing LEDS, I urge people to get them because they are so darn fun! It has a side benefit of saving on electricity and lasting longer. A typical 500w light will last about 5,000 hours vs. almost 30,000 hours for an LED. On the plaster, there are choices besides Diamond Brite that are less expensive. Quartzscapes is a less expensive product, but be aware that it is mixed on site and not premixed. That can cause more spottiness when applied. A well cared for White Marble plaster pool can last many years... 10 - 15 ... if you keep the pH & alkalinity correct and brush your pool. The variable speed pumps are ABSOLUTELY worth it!

Our previous pool had Pebble Tec (Tahoe Blue). It was nice. It was a good fit for the more natural look of the pool. After about 6-7 years, it was starting to show some bald spots. I didn't mind the rough feel, but the kids did end up with bloody feet on occasion. The one thing I always noticed was a bit of green in the color, so I felt the name was a bit misleading. In the new pool, with almost insistence by our PB, we went with Diamond Brite (Midnight Blue). After seeing it in another pool, I knew that was what we were going with. Once again, the name of the color is a bit misleading. It is far from "midnight" and really more of a sky blue. It looks amazing in full sun, and not too dark in the shade/dark. Having lived with it since March, I'm 100% satisfied with the choice. Despite the DB aggregate not being fully exposed yet, I love it. There are some splotchy areas, and the install was not done to my level of expectation, but we're still very happy. We plan to do an acid bath once the temps drop and hopefully that will even things out a bit. Only time will tell how the DB holds up, but I see little to no blue plaster when backwashing compared to the Pebble in the previous pool. It is much less rough than the Pebble tec and in our case, I feel it goes with the look we were trying to achieve. Midnight Blue Diamondbrite is a very unique color and I had a hard time finding many people who have gone with that choice. We get a LOT of compliments about the color of our pool and every day when I look at it, it makes me smile. I am a big fan of the color, but understand it may not be for everyone. I need to update pics, but there are quite a few at various stages of our pool build: http://theaustindude.blogspot.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: Our Pool Build Blog

I have a number of pools in my service area that have had the fiberglass coating. They all blister and start to delaminate within 4 or 5 years. The material for the repairs never cost the homeowner but the the labor and the the water to refill the pool certainly do. It's almost as bad as painting. Invariably,the homeowner reaches a point where he has suffered enough aggravation and replasters. There are lots of choices in materials and colors with which to replaster. Plain white plaster is usually the least costly and has a expected life of 15 years in my area. Longer if it's well cared for, less if its often subjected to improper care. It can be colored. Aggregate mixes such as Diamond Brite and River Rok will last longer normally because they have added materials that are more resistant to abuse. They also offer a number color variations, textures, and patterns not found in solid color plasters. Expect an additional 5 to 10 years of life over plain plaster. Pebble finishes are, for now, the top end and are usually the most durable. They come in many colors and textures. They are also the most expensive. Some brands are available to all finishers, some have exclusive deals with particular finishers in a given region. Scott