White plaster, quartz and pebble follow the same sequence; only the materials change. Most residential pools return to use about a week after draining, with chemistry balanced and startup restrictions still in effect.
1. Drain
Draining a typical 20,000-gallon pool typically takes about 8–12 hours. We pump to an approved discharge point, never into a storm drain without dechlorinating, and check the shell as the water drops.
Day 1. We walk the pool with you, protect the deck and landscaping, shut off and label equipment and start the pump. In areas with a high water table or after heavy rain, we may open the hydrostatic relief valve so the shell doesn't lift.
What you do: confirm gate access, move patio furniture and pets, and tell us about sprinkler lines near the pool.
2. Prep and repair
Prep typically takes 1–2 days, and it's the stage that decides how long the new finish lasts. We sound every square foot of the old surface for hollow spots, then chip out or bond-coat.
Days 2–3. Loose and delaminated plaster comes off. Structural cracks get stapled or epoxied, fittings and lights are masked, and the shell is pressure-washed and acid-etched so the new finish bonds. Waterline tile and coping are repaired or replaced now, while the pool is empty.
What you do: nothing, unless we find a repair not in the quote. We call before doing any extra work, with photos and a unit price.
3. Plaster
The finish goes on in one day, by hand, start to finish, so there are no cold joints. On a typical residential pool, an experienced local plastering crew needs about 6–8 hours.
Day 3 or 4. The mix is pumped or carried in, troweled onto walls and floor and finished smooth. For pebble, the top layer of cement is washed off to expose the stone.
Weather rules: we plaster only when the forecast holds about 50°F or warmer through the first nights of cure. We also reschedule for rain, high wind or extreme heat, which can make plaster set too fast. In a Denver spring that sometimes means moving the date by a day or two.
What you do: keep people and pets off the fresh surface.
4. Fill
Filling starts the same day we finish plastering and must not stop until the water reaches the middle of the tile, usually 24–36 hours. Stopping partway leaves a visible ring.
We set the hose on a soft pad so it doesn't mark the floor. Water from a home hose may carry metals; we add a sequestrant if needed to prevent staining. A typical pool takes about 20,000 gallons.
What you do: leave the hose running overnight, keep everyone out of the pool and call us if the water stops.
5. Startup (28 days)
New plaster cures in the water for about 28 days, and those weeks matter as much as the trowel work. Most early plaster problems, from blotchy color to roughness, trace back to startup.
| Days | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | We balance alkalinity, pH and calcium. Brush the whole pool twice a day. Chemicals follow the finish maker's startup method. |
| 4–7 | Brush daily. Run the filter 24 hours. Chlorine goes in once pH is stable. |
| 8–14 | Brush daily. No heater, no robotic cleaner, no diving or toys. |
| 15–28 | Keep water balanced. Hold off on adding salt to salt systems until day 28. |
We check in during the first week to test and adjust water, and the startup schedule and visits are written into your estimate. Following the startup schedule is a condition of the written workmanship warranty.
What you do: brush on schedule, keep the pump running and text us a test-strip photo if anything looks off.
Typical timeline at a glance
- Day 1: walkthrough, protection and drain
- Days 2–3: sound, chip out, crack repair, tile and coping
- Day 3 or 4: plaster
- Days 4–5: fill, then startup chemistry begins
- Days 5–28: brushing and water balance, with our check-ins
Want to know what your pool would cost? See our Denver cost guide, compare finishes on plaster vs quartz vs pebble, or send photos for a free estimate.