I'm getting bids to resurface my 20+ year old pool and am having a tough time selecting a finish. It's a dated 80's pool/spa combo with tan safety brick coping. I'm hoping to go from "dated" to "classic". I'm planning to swithch the coping out to a used brick bullnose and I'd like to upgrade from standard plaster while retaining the light color.(not necessarily white but, the pool is in the hot sun all day dark pools in my neighborhood get really warm) My kids and their tender feet don't like our neighbors' pebble tec/river rok/gemstone pools. So, I'm honing in on DiamondBrite, 3M Colorquartz and PebbleFina. Honestly though, I'm not clear on the difference. It all sounds like marketing fluff... maybe it is. Can someone help me compare/contrast these materials? In particular, abrasiveness, durability, colorfastness, etc. I'm also curious how it stacks up agains plain old plaster.

Has anybody mixed SGC Diamond Brite blue with aqua (50/50) My waterline tile is turquoise but way more blue than green in coloration. I thought mixing the two would look nice. Has any body used Durrazo the tech told me they could also mix Durrazo blue with the aqua. He also recommended Florida Stuccos pre mixed(www.floridastucco.com) Crystal Gulf Bay that has the smooth consistency of SGM's Blue Quarts but consist of a pre-blended 55% blue 45% aqua. I am leaning toward this but am still not sure. Here is a couple of pics... Thanks Image link:

Just to make you more confused, I prefer SGM Diamond Brite. All the exposed aggregates are very similar. 3M makes the color particles and the rest is the same. I quit using Florida Stucco 15 years ago when they would not stand behind a warranty issue.

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.