Pool tile replacement in Vero Beach, FL

The band of tile that frames your pool

The row of tile at your waterline does a real job. It protects the top of the pool wall where water splashes and evaporates, and it's much easier to clean than plaster would be in that spot. Over time, though, tile cracks, grout washes out, and calcium builds up in white crusty lines. In Vero Beach, where pools are open nearly all year, that wear adds up.

When to replace tile

• Tiles are cracked, chipped, loose or missing.
• Grout is crumbling or has gaps.
• Calcium scale won't come off even with professional cleaning.
• The tile looks dated or clashes with a new finish color.

If the tile is solid and you like it, ask about professional calcium removal first. Bead blasting can often clean tile without replacing it.

Tile options

• Porcelain is tough, affordable and comes in endless colors and patterns.
• Glass tile catches the light beautifully and is popular in upscale beachside homes, but needs a skilled installer.
• Hand-painted and decorative tile can give a pool a Mediterranean or Old Florida feel.
• Stone-look tile pairs naturally with travertine or shell-stone coping.

Some homeowners also add accent tile on step edges for visibility and safety, or a few decorative inserts on the pool floor.

How it's done

The water level is lowered, or the pool is fully drained if tile work is part of a resurfacing. The old tile is removed and the wall behind it is cleaned and repaired. New tile is set in a waterproof setting material, grouted, and allowed to cure before the water goes back up.

Best done with resurfacing

Replacing tile is easiest and most economical when the pool is already empty for a new interior finish. It also lets you match the tile to your new quartz or pebble color. If your coping is worn too, consider coping replacement at the same time, since the two meet at the top of the wall.

Call (772) 356-3733 to describe your tile and set up a free estimate with a Vero Beach contractor.