Today we are headed to Phoenix to remove calcium from a 20-year-old Pebble Tec pool.  Dick called asking for our help because he was putting his house on the market and wanted the waterline cleaned up.  The build up was about 15 years old and actually protruded out a half inch from the pebble surface. I told Dick this type of build up is considered extreme and we will do our best.  Calcium removal from Pebble Tec pools can be tricky.  With all the nooks and crannies it is difficult to get perfect results.  I explained that after the process there will be a very faint line where the calcium line used to be.  We call this a ghost line.  Its barely visible when it’s dry but will disappear once the water returns to it’s original level.  Two hours later, with a few touch-ups,  the calcium removal process was complete and Dick was amazed at the results — so were we, that was a tough one.  His pool was now a great-looking focal point in his backyard.  Dick thanked us for the job well done and we have his new pool in the books for next week.

The History of Pebble Tec

In Australia during the early 1960s, a tradesmen creatively applied small exposed aggregate finishes to driveways as a decorative solution to ordinary concrete. Because of its aesthetic appeal and anti-slip qualities, the tradesman’s material quickly became a popular option for patios and pool decks. In 1969, they began experimenting with this aggregate by applying it as a pool interior finish. By 1974, the process had been proven and a patent was issued in Australia, the United States and Canada. At this point, they began the process of approving and licensing applicators to ensure the installations were of the utmost quality.

This new exposed aggregate pool finish became an overnight success and a popular substitute to plaster because it eliminated the staining issue that was so prevalent with this finish. In the mid-1980s, an American businessman purchased the PebbleTec patent for the United States and Canada. Under his leadership, the application process was greatly improved, and new resources were found for superior quality pebbles. In 1987, the brand name PebbleTec® was established, and an Arizona-based corporation was started. Two years later, Australian investors purchased PTI and they remain the owners today. Pebble Tec uses pebbles, glass beads and seashells imported from around the world to create four beautiful and distinctive product lines found in PebbleTec®, PebbleSheen®, PebbleFina®, PebbleBrilliance®, and BeadCrete® branded pool finishes.