This isn't a cost. It's an investment.
The figures on this page are real and we don't hide them — that's how AE operates. Treat them as planning ranges, not a site-specific quote. Your actual scope and price depend on design, site conditions, materials, and the work each written proposal includes.
When you compare proposals, compare what each includes — the scope, the materials, the exclusions, the warranty terms, and how changes are handled — not just the price tag. A lower total can reflect different scope, so ask each builder to clarify the differences.
PebbleTec pool finishes in Arizona, the finish that outlives plaster by 15 years.
PebbleTec is the finish AE recommends on almost every Arizona pool build and remodel — because plaster does not survive AZ hard water and UV for long. This page covers every tier (PebbleTec, PebbleSheen, PebbleFina, PebbleBrilliance, Beadcrete), color palettes that actually work in AZ light, cost upgrade over plaster, and the 28-day start-up program that determines how long any finish lasts.
- AZ ROC 211530 · 347738 · 341002 · 340966
- Arizona-built since 2005
- President, Southwest Hardscapes Association
PebbleTec tiers — pick by feel and aesthetic
- PebbleTec (original): larger pebble, textured, most durable — classic look.
- PebbleSheen: smaller pebble, smoother touch, refined — the popular pick.
- PebbleFina: micro-pebble, smooth like plaster, high-end.
- PebbleBrilliance: glass-bead accent for reflective color depth.
- Beadcrete: full glass-bead, most reflective, premium tier.
Glass beads — what they are and when they're worth it
Glass beads are small, pre-fired glass spheres broadcast or blended into a pebble finish while it's being troweled. They're inert (never break down in chlorine, salt, or AZ water), highly reflective (they refract light like tiny prisms — the water reads deeper and more luminous), and available as an accent (PebbleBrilliance-style) or as the entire aggregate (Beadcrete). Common bead palettes: iridescent white / mother-of-pearl for subtle sparkle in beach and white bases; aqua and caribbean blue to deepen the perceived water color in blue-pebble bases; emerald and jade for green/lagoon looks; cobalt and sapphire for dramatic sparkle in dark bases; amber and topaz for warm tan/brown bases; black diamond glitter in Midnight Blue and Onyx. Best use-cases: dark-bottom pools where you want the water to shimmer instead of read as a flat black hole, water features and spas with LED wash, homeowners who want a signature finish that reads different at dawn, noon, and dusk. Benefits: outlast the pebble matrix around them, add roughly $2,000–$5,500 in aggregate cost on a typical 12x25 (less as an accent, more for full Beadcrete), and require zero extra maintenance beyond the normal pebble chemistry program.
Want a number for your own property?
Tell us the space and we'll come back with a real range for your site — no pressure, no "call for pricing."
Glow beads — night-swim aesthetic without more pool lights
Glow beads are photoluminescent aggregate — small stones (or glass) that absorb UV and visible light during the day and re-emit a soft green, blue, or aqua glow after dark. They're broadcast into the top layer of a pebble or quartz finish the same way glass beads are, then acid-washed flush with the rest of the aggregate. Color options: aqua-green (brightest, longest afterglow, roughly 4–8 hours from a full sun charge — the pick for AZ); sky-blue (softer, ~3–6 hours); sun-yellow/white (short, ~1–3 hours, works best when pool LEDs assist the charge). Best use-cases: entertainers who swim after dark, pools with dark bases where standard white pool lights wash out the finish color, water features where you want a subtle glow along a spillway or bench without adding another light fixture, kids' pools where a soft ambient glow is safer than fully dark water. Benefits: no wiring, no fixture to fail, no ongoing electric cost, and a look you can't get from any lighting product. Honest tradeoffs: glow beads dim over 5–10 years as the photoluminescent grains slowly degrade, they're not a replacement for pool lights (you still need code-compliant lighting for depth perception), and the aggregate itself runs $1,500–$4,000 more than a plain pebble finish depending on density and pool size.
AZ color palettes that hold up
- French Gray, Blue Granite — calm neutrals for modern architecture.
- Aqua Blue, Blue Surf — classic Arizona blue water.
- Beach Entrance, Tropics Blue — Caribbean look with light aggregate.
- Onyx, Midnight Blue — deep, reflective, dramatic against travertine.
- Sea Glass, Emerald Bay — green tones for natural/lagoon aesthetics.
Upgrade cost over plaster (12x25 pool)
- PebbleTec / PebbleSheen: +$5,000–$9,000.
- PebbleFina: +$9,000–$15,000.
- PebbleBrilliance: +$10,000–$16,000.
- Beadcrete / full glass-bead: +$12,000–$20,000.
The 28-day start-up program (why finish life doubles)
Day 1: fill continuously, no stopping — starving fill lines cause fill-line rings. Day 1–3: brush 3x/day, keep pump running 24/7. Day 4–28: brush 2x/day, monitor pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness daily, add chemistry in small doses. No salt for 30 days. No swimmers first 7 days. No cover first 14 days. This program is manufacturer-mandated and AE hands it to every homeowner in writing at fill.
What kills PebbleTec finishes early
- Skipped start-up chemistry.
- Aggressive water balance (pH below 7.2, low calcium hardness).
- Salt added before day 30.
- Neglected weekly chemistry — calcium and scale buildup.
- Metal contamination (well water, copper algaecide).
PebbleTec on resurfacing jobs
AE resurfaces old plaster pools with PebbleTec/PebbleSheen/PebbleFina routinely. Old finish stripped, shell prepped, bond coat applied, new finish troweled or shot, 28-day start-up program run. Typical cost $9,000–$18,000 depending on pool size and finish tier. Adds 15–25 years of finish life.
Common questions.
Pick your PebbleTec finish.
Bring your deck material sample; we'll set up an on-site finish comparison in your actual light. Line-itemed proposal in 10 business days.
Start My Project PlanWhy this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."
Plan your investment with a designer.
Five minutes, a real range, and no sales pressure. Or vet any Arizona contractor (us included) before you spend a dollar.
Colors gallery
Glass bead and glow bead colors, with the finish variations they come in.
Swatches are approximations for planning — every bead reads differently against your specific pebble base, deck material, and light. Always confirm on an on-site sample in your actual sun angle before committing.
Glass beads
Subtle sparkle in Beach & White bases
Best over Beach Entrance, White, or French Gray pebbles. Strongest sparkle in direct AZ midday sun; soft shimmer at dawn and dusk. Avoid pairing with very dark bases where it can disappear.
Deepens blue-pebble water color
Best over Aqua Blue, Blue Surf, or Tropics Blue. Pops under bright daylight and LED spa lighting; makes the water read deeper and more Caribbean after dark.
Classic Arizona blue sparkle
Best over Blue Granite, Aqua Blue, or Midnight Blue. High contrast against light decks; shows its full depth when the pool is lit from the side at sunset or with color-changing LEDs.
Dramatic depth in dark bases
Best over Midnight Blue, Onyx, or dark grey pebble. Needs strong light to read; looks flat in shade but electric under midday sun and white pool lights.
Pairs with dark grey & green bases
Best over Emerald Bay, Sea Glass, or dark grey-green pebbles. Rich under natural daylight and warm deck lighting; can look muddy against brown/tan bases.
Soft green for lagoon aesthetics
Best over Sea Glass, Emerald Bay, or light green pebble. Softest under diffused morning light and underwater LEDs; ideal for naturalistic lagoon looks.
Warm sparkle in tan & brown bases
Best over Beach Entrance, Tropics Blue, or tan/brown aggregate. Warm sparkle at golden hour and under warm deck lights; use sparingly with cool blue bases to avoid color clash.
Warm blush against travertine
Best over light neutrals, French Gray, or white pebble with warm travertine decks. Reads pink at sunset and soft blush under warm lighting; can look washed out against dark bases.
Dark glitter in Midnight Blue & Onyx
Best over Midnight Blue, Onyx, or black pebble. Creates a star-field effect under pool lights and moonlight; needs light to reveal the sparkle or it reads as solid black.
Glow beads
Colors shown daytime. Swatches carry a soft glow to hint at the after-dark effect — actual afterglow depends on daytime sun exposure, water clarity, and bead density.
Brightest, 4–8 hrs afterglow (AZ pick)
Best over dark bases: Onyx, Midnight Blue, or dark grey pebble. Needs direct sun on the pool surface for a full charge; glow is brightest the first 2 hours after dusk and visible up to 8 hours. The safest pick for pools used after dark.
Softer glow, 3–6 hrs afterglow
Best over Midnight Blue, Blue Granite, or dark blue pebble. Softer and more ethereal than aqua-green; pairs well with white pool lights to extend the visible glow. Best viewed from the deck, not underwater.
Short glow 1–3 hrs; use w/ pool LEDs
Best as a waterline or step accent against dark bases. Very short afterglow, so rely on pool LEDs to keep it bright after dark. Best for entertaining, not for safety lighting.
Specialty color; short cool glow
Best as a small accent in Onyx or dark grey finishes. Short glow life; most effective near pool lights that can refresh the charge. Use as a signature detail, not a full-pool treatment.
Finish variations
Beads blended lightly into a standard pebble matrix. Sparkle catches the eye without overwhelming the base color. Best when you want a signature pool that still reads as pebble.
Bead-only aggregate — no pebble underneath. Most reflective, smoothest touch, premium tier. Best for modern architecture and dark-bottom pools where the water should shimmer, not read flat.
Photoluminescent beads seeded into the top layer of a pebble or quartz finish, then acid-washed flush. Density is dialed up or down — a light scatter for subtle points of light, a heavier seed for a continuous soft wash after dark.
Beads (glass or glow) applied only at the waterline, tanning ledge, or step edges instead of the entire pool. Cuts the aggregate cost significantly while still adding a signature detail.
Related reading
More finish questions?
Every pool finish question we get lives in the Pool section of the Homeowner FAQ.