We are sadly remiss in reviewing them because we've been too busy having a blast enjoying it all summer!!! They are well-deserving of their BBB A+ Rating. We wish they performed every service a house could need, inside and out, as they are THE MOST reliable company we have EVER worked with while also being extremely polite, friendly, and helpful throughout the entire process, in every way possible. We highly recommend them!!!
Pool Surface Guide
ecoFINISH vs. Plaster: Which Pool Surface Is Better and Why
Plaster is a porous, cement-based surface that constantly reacts with your water. It stains, roughens, and needs redoing every 7 to 12 years. ecoFINISH® is a pH-neutral polymer coating that does not react with your water, resists staining and algae, stays smooth, and lasts longer. You pay more up front and get a materially better pool.
Over 25 years, the total cost lands in roughly the same place. Here is the full side-by-side so you can see exactly where the two surfaces differ.
Side by Side
ecoFINISH vs. Plaster at a Glance
| Feature | Traditional Plaster | ecoFINISHOur pick |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cement-and-marble-dust surface troweled onto the pool shell | Thermo-polymer powder coating sprayed on and heat-fused into one continuous shell |
| Chemistry / pH | Porous and chemically active; pushes pH up (constant acid correction required) | pH-neutral; does not react with your water |
| Staining | Stains soak into the porous surface | Resists staining |
| Algae | Algae grabs hold as the surface roughens and pits | Resists algae adhesion |
| Feel underfoot | Roughens over time | Soft underfoot; stays smooth |
| Typical lifespan | Redone every 7 to 12 years | Longer-lasting (manufacturer states 15+ years) |
| Warranty | Typically requires documented water-chemistry records | 10-year manufacturer warranty, no water-records catch |
| Startup | Roughly a two-week "hot start" | Balance and Swim: fill, balance, swim |
| Color options | Varies; premium colors cost more | 20 colors, all at the same price |
| Cost picture | About $6,000 to $8,000 every ~10 years | Around $25,000 once; over 25 years the total lands in roughly the same place |
ecoFINISH wins on chemistry, staining, algae resistance, feel, lifespan, warranty terms, startup, and color. Plaster wins on up-front cost. Over 25 years, the total cost lands in roughly the same place.
The Lifecycle Problem
Plaster Is Porous by Design, and That Is Why It Fails.
Plaster is a mix of cement and marble dust troweled onto your pool shell. It is porous and chemically active, which means it constantly reacts with your water and pushes the pH upward. You add muriatic acid to bring it back down. Then it rises again. That tug-of-war runs 24 hours a day, every day, in every plaster pool.
Over years, the plaster loses ground: stains soak in, algae finds footholds in the roughened texture, and the finish wears thin. That is why plaster pools are typically replastered every 7 to 12 years. It is not a sign anything was done wrong, just what plaster does.
The Honest Part
Plaster Is Not a Bad Surface, but It Has a Built-In Failure Curve.
Plaster is a 50-plus-year-old technology and the most economical way to finish a pool. It works, has a track record, and some homeowners will rightly choose replastering, especially if keeping the up-front cost low is the priority. We will tell you that plainly. What plaster cannot do is stop reacting with your water. That chemistry is baked into what it is, and the failure curve follows from it.
See traditional gunite and fiberglass refinishing options
The Polymer Difference
What ecoFINISH Is, and Why It Behaves Differently
ecoFINISH® is a thermo-polymer powder coating for concrete, fiberglass, and metal pool surfaces. We spray it over your existing pool and heat-fuse it into a single, continuous shell. Because it is pH-neutral, it does not react with your water at all. That one difference is the root of every advantage in the comparison table: no staining, no algae adhesion, no roughening, and a surface that stays soft underfoot for the long run.
Startup is different too. Plaster requires roughly a two-week hot start before your pool is swimmable. With ecoFINISH, we use Balance and Swim: fill the pool, balance the water, get in.
- 10-year manufacturer warranty, without the water-chemistry-records catch that most plaster warranties carry
- 20 colors at the same price: Sandy Beach, Sahara Sand, Midnight Blue, Perle Noire, French Grey, Grey Reef, and more
- Available as aquaBRIGHT, PebbleTone, and polyFIBRO. See the full family and all colors on our ecoFINISH page.
The Honest Numbers
What ecoFINISH Actually Costs Over 25 Years
Replastering runs about $6,000 to $8,000, and you do it roughly every 10 years. ecoFINISH typically runs around $25,000, and you do it once. Over 25 years of pool ownership, the total cost lands in roughly the same place. ecoFINISH is not a way to save money over the life of your pool. We want to be clear about that.
Here is where ecoFINISH actually wins: you are not draining your pool two or three separate times. You are not running weekly acid corrections because the surface is pH-neutral. And you get a smoother, cleaner surface that comes back swimmable fast with Balance and Swim, not a two-week hot start.
Illustrative 25-year cost comparison
Illustrative only, based on typical Kansas City figures from the brief. Actual costs vary by project. Not a savings guarantee.
The Honest Trade-Off
Is ecoFINISH Worth the Extra Cost?
The real downside of ecoFINISH is the higher up-front cost. It is a premium product, not the cheapest way to refinish your pool. Plaster is proven, widely available, and the lower-up-front-cost option. Some homeowners will rightly choose replastering, and we respect that.
The case for ecoFINISH comes down to what you are buying with that difference. You are not redoing it as often. You are not fighting water chemistry month after month. And the warranty does not carry the water-records catch that most plaster warranties do.
If up-front cost is your priority
Replastering is the proven, lower-up-front-cost option and a legitimate choice for many homeowners.
If a longer-lasting pool is your priority
ecoFINISH is the better surface: fewer drains, lower chemical cost, no records catch on the warranty, and a pool that stays smoother longer.
The Local Difference
Exclusive ecoFINISH® Dealer in the Kansas City Metro
Probuilt Renovations is the only installer in the Kansas City area authorized to apply ecoFINISH products. ecoFINISH is not a product you want to buy from someone who has to drive across the state to service it. When you need a warranty call or a follow-up, you want a team 30 minutes from your driveway.
The nearest other certified dealer is about 2.5 hours away. The finish goes on in a day, but the prep takes a week, and a local team that does the prep right and comes back when you need them is what separates a coating that lasts from one you are calling someone else about a year later.
Exclusive ecoFINISH dealer in the KC metro
We are the only installer in the Kansas City area authorized to apply ecoFINISH products, with local warranty and service support included.
Nearest other dealer is about 2.5 hours away
That distance matters when you need a warranty call or a small service follow-up. We are local, and the next closest option is not.
Showroom in Riverside, MO
Visit our Riverside, MO showroom to see all 20 ecoFINISH finishes in person before you decide.
Backed by 10 years of KC pool experience
Our team has spent the last 10 years on pool work under Probuilt Pool & Patio. This is not a new crew figuring out a new product.
Your Questions, Answered
Common Questions About ecoFINISH vs. Plaster
How long does the installation take?
Most renovations take about a week of active on-site work, with total project time (including prep and curing) typically running two to four weeks depending on scope and weather. Because ecoFINISH uses Balance and Swim rather than a multi-week startup process, you can fill the pool and swim as soon as the water is balanced.
Is ecoFINISH safe for kids and pets?
Yes. ecoFINISH is pH-neutral and much smoother than plaster, which means far less of the surface roughness that causes scraped feet and skin irritation. Once the pool is filled and water is balanced using Balance and Swim, it is ready to use.
Can ecoFINISH be repaired if the surface is damaged?
Speak with your Probuilt rep about the repair process for your specific situation.
Does ecoFINISH work on fiberglass pools?
Yes. ecoFINISH is applied to concrete, fiberglass, and metal pool surfaces. It is heat-fused into a continuous shell over the existing surface, which means fiberglass pools can be resurfaced without a full shell replacement.
How many color options does ecoFINISH offer?
Twenty designer colors, all priced identically. Options include Sandy Beach, Sahara Sand, Midnight Blue, Perle Noire, French Grey, and Grey Reef, among others. Unlike premium plaster colors, none carry an upcharge.
Is ecoFINISH better than plaster for my pool?
For most pools, yes. ecoFINISH is pH-neutral, resists staining and algae, stays smoother longer, and carries a 10-year manufacturer warranty without the water-records catch that most plaster warranties require. Plaster wins on up-front cost. The honest call depends on whether lowest sticker price today or a longer-lasting, lower-maintenance pool over time is the priority.
Who installs ecoFINISH in Kansas City?
Probuilt Renovations is the exclusive ecoFINISH dealer in the Kansas City metro. The nearest other dealer is more than two hours away. Visit our showroom at 4708 NW Gateway Ave, Riverside, MO, or see the full product line, colors, and process on our ecoFINISH pool coatings page.
Ready to See the Finishes? We Are 30 Minutes Away.
Now that you know the difference, come see the ecoFINISH finishes in person and get a quote from the one local team that installs it, with no pressure and no hard close.
Visit our Riverside, MO showroom to see all 20 finishes in person.See the full ecoFINISH product line, colors, and installation process.
Still researching? See everything about ecoFINISH in Kansas City:
See ecoFINISH colors and the full processWhat Kansas City Homeowners Say
Homeowners Who Know the Difference
We are so happy with all of the company's hard work and educating us on all of our equipment! Thank you so much Chris Oswalt, and his whole crew for making our new home edition such a joy for my family!
We could not be happier with the final product. The pool, spa, water features and fire bowls all came out looking really good. Shout out to Dallas who helped us with all these additional features and getting them just right. Highly recommend!
BBB A+ Rating