Your Guide to Easy Maintenance Pool Tiles
Choosing the right pool tiles sets the right tone for your long-term pool maintenance journey. This guide looks at how to choose the perfect pool tiles.
Did you know that more than 10 million homes in the United States have pools? With so many pools, understanding how to maintain pool tiles is crucial. But how many types of pool tiles are there, and how do they affect pool maintenance?
If you're looking into installing or refurbishing your pool, we're here to help. Read on for a quick guide on how to pick the best pool tiles for your new project.
Pool Style
One of the first steps to deciding on what style of pool tiles you want to use is knowing what pool style you have.
Pools come in many shapes and sizes. Commercial and residential swimming pools are similar in form but different in use. Because of this, they may require different amounts of maintenance.
Outdoor and indoor swimming pools also have many differences. Maintenance will differ based on traffic, environment, and many other factors.
Another difference is above-ground and in-ground pools. These differences can have a radical effect on your tile choice.
Consider deciding what style of pool you want before picking your tiles. Once you've reached this decision, you can pick tiles that are easier to maintain.
Types of Pool Tiles
When looking into easy-maintenance pool tiles, understanding your options is crucial. Here are some of the most common pool tiles that you may find.
As a note, this is not an exhaustive list! While these are the most common types of pool tiles, there are many other types that you can find and utilize.
Porcelain
Porcelain is one of the most popular options for pool tiles. People prefer porcelain for several qualities, particularly the affordable price.
Preferable for swimming pools, porcelain tiles are highly durable and water resistant. Glazed tiles are great for water absorption and chemical resistance.
Additionally, porcelain tiles stand up well against the elements. Changes in temperature, weather, and more are all generally resisted by porcelain.
Finally, porcelain is also easy to clean. The smooth surface and few gaps make cleaning and maintaining porcelain easier than most kinds. For this reason, it comes highly recommended as an easy-maintenance pool tile.
Mosaic
Mosaic pool tiles are popular from an aesthetical point of view. Many modern homes use mosaic tiles for their appearance.
Mosaic tiles will also raise the value of a pool. For this reason, many homeowners install mosaic tiling before selling a home to increase the price.
However, mosaic tiles are sometimes difficult to clean. Keeping them clean helps the mosaic pattern shine, making maintenance frequent and crucial.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are often considered the best for pool tiling. Generally tied with porcelain, ceramic tiling has many of the same benefits.
Ceramic pool tiles are easy to clean and maintain. When properly installed and given good care, they can withstand moisture and chemical for many years. With proper care, ceramic tiling can last up to a decade without needing replacement.
Ceramic tiling is also often cheaper than porcelain, though the prices are generally close. Ceramic products are also highly customizable, which helps open your options when it comes time to design.
Factors in Maintenance
Now that we know some strong contenders for the easiest-to-maintain pool tile, what goes into maintenance? Here are some of the factors you should consider when looking into how much maintenance your tiles will need.
Climate
One of the most important factors affecting your tile maintenance is the climate you live in. Many tiles will struggle with intense weathering or climate, increasing maintenance.
For example, if you live somewhere with snow or ice in the winter, your tiles can suffer. When the tile is poorly installed, water can slip between cracks and gaps. Tiles near the pool waterline are especially vulnerable to these changes in moisture.
As the temperature drops, this water will freeze and expand, causing frost weathering or ice wedging. Expanding water can crack or dislodge tiles, causing the problems to worsen.
There are many other factors that the climate can have. Excess heat can dry out tile coatings, for example. Heavy rains can cause mold or algae growth.
Consider what weather your tiles will need to endure. Doing so can help you choose a tile material that can withstand the elements.
Budget
Another important factor is what budget you have for maintenance. Performing maintenance requires materials and tools that are often costly.
Understanding how much you'll spend to maintain your pool tile is crucial. If you install tiles that require high maintenance, you'll spend more money on maintenance.
Because of this, many first-time homeowners install tiles that they can't afford to maintain. Ensure that you don't get yourself in over your head with tiles that you can't afford.
Time
Finally, it's important to consider how much time you'll spend working on your tiles. How many hours per week can you dedicate to maintaining your tiles? Are you prepared to spend several days a month on maintenance?
Knowing how much free time you have for these tasks is vital to your choice. If you pick tiles that you don't have the time to maintain, they'll deteriorate quickly.
Some issues, like algae growth, can add an aesthetical issue. If you let mold or algae grow over your pool tiles, this can quickly become a visual and health issue.
In many cases, people choose to hire professionals that regularly come to help maintain your tiles. While this adds to the cost, it can help you enjoy tiles without needing to maintain them.
Maintaining Pool Tiles
Installing pool tiles is one of the biggest steps of building or renovating a home. Consider your budget and spare time before choosing your pool style. Understand what level of pool maintenance you'll need for different types of pool tiles to help inform your choice.
For more information on pool maintenance, be sure to browse LayorCare Pool & Patio site! You can also contact us to learn more!
