Why choose a PebbleTec Elite builder in the Hill Country?
Water across Comal, Kendall and Bexar counties is hard. It leaves calcium at the waterline, stains plaster in patches and wears a soft finish faster than in most of the country. A pebble aggregate finish stands up to that water better than plaster does, holds its color longer and hides the minor mineral marks that would show on white plaster.
As a PebbleTec Elite builder, we install PebbleTec finishes on every custom gunite pool we build and on most of our resurfacing work in New Braunfels, San Antonio and Boerne. The same crew that shoots the shell handles the finish and the startup, so the interior is applied and cured the way the manufacturer specifies.
Which PebbleTec finish is right for your pool?
Each line uses a different aggregate size, which changes texture, look and feel underfoot. Color is chosen from physical samples, wet, in your backyard light.
Pebble Tec
The original pebble finish. The largest aggregate, the most natural texture and the most durable surface in the line.
Pebble Sheen
Smaller pebbles for a smoother feel and a more refined look. The most common choice for family pools with young swimmers.
Pebble Fina
The finest aggregate and the smoothest pebble finish, closest to the feel of plaster with the durability of pebble.
Pebble Brilliance
Pebble blended with glass beads that catch the sun. A brighter, shimmering interior for pools that get full afternoon light.
Do you install PebbleTec on new pools and existing pools?
New custom pools
Every custom gunite pool we build is finished in PebbleTec. The finish is selected during design alongside tile and coping, so the interior color works with the stone, the deck and the water depth. See new pool construction.
Resurfacing an existing pool
We chip the old plaster out to sound gunite, repair the shell and apply new PebbleTec over structure, never over the old layer. A PebbleTec resurface generally runs $12K to $20K. See pool resurfacing and replaster.
How do you protect a new PebbleTec finish?
A pebble finish cures under water. The first 28 days decide how it looks for the next twenty years, so we manage the startup: an immediate fill, a brushing schedule and careful water balancing to keep the surface from clouding or scaling.
After startup, the biggest factor is chemistry. Balanced pH and calcium protect the finish in hard Hill Country water. Pairing PebbleTec with the right pump, filtration and automation keeps that balance steady with less work.
Questions we get asked.
What does PebbleTec Elite builder mean?+
The Elite designation is PebbleTec recognition for builders who install its finishes to the manufacturer standard. J. Oliver Pools is a PebbleTec Elite builder and is listed in the PebbleTec builder locator.
Is PebbleTec better than plaster?+
In the Hill Country, usually. Pebble finishes hold their color, hide the mineral staining common in hard local water, and last several years longer than plaster. Plaster is still the right call on a tighter budget or a pool being prepared for sale. See our full PebbleTec vs. plaster comparison.
How long does a PebbleTec finish last?+
A premium pebble finish typically lasts 15 to 20 years or more, depending on water chemistry and use. Balanced water extends it; hard water and heavy chlorine use shorten it.
How much does a PebbleTec resurface cost?+
A PebbleTec resurface on an existing pool generally runs $12K to $20K, depending on interior surface area, the finish selected and how much substrate repair the shell needs. On new construction, PebbleTec is included in our custom gunite pools.
Is PebbleTec rough on feet?+
Original Pebble Tec has the most texture. Pebble Sheen is smoother, and Pebble Fina is the smoothest of the pebble finishes. We bring samples so you can feel each one before you choose.
Do you install PebbleTec in San Antonio and Boerne?+
Yes. We install PebbleTec on new pools and resurfacing projects across San Antonio, Boerne, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Fair Oaks Ranch, Seguin, Schertz, Cibolo, San Marcos and Wimberley.
Related guides.
PebbleTec versus plaster, compared
Read →Pool resurfacing and replaster
Read →Pentair, Hayward and Jandy equipment
Read →Workmanship and manufacturer warranties
Read →Serving New Braunfels, San Antonio, Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Seguin and the surrounding Hill Country. See every neighborhood we build in.
Get a PebbleTec quote.
Tell us whether this is a new pool or a resurface. We bring physical PebbleTec samples to the consultation so you choose color in daylight, not from a screen.
- —Google Guaranteed and BBB accredited, firefighter owned and family operated
- —PebbleTec Elite builder, with one local crew on your site from start to finish
- —We handle city and county permits and your HOA paperwork
Prefer to talk now? Call (830) 244‑7665 or text (830) 358‑2499.
Choose the color you will swim in.
We bring wet samples to your backyard so you see each finish in your light, against your coping and stone.