Beadcrete vs Tiles - Which Is Better? Definitive Guide

Beadcrete and tile are both more premium choices for finishing off the interior surface of your swimming pool. These choices offer some of the best that the industry has to offer in terms of luxurious atmosphere and elegance, but which one of them makes the best choice?

In this article, we will cover the benefits of both beadcrete and tiled interiors while providing comparisons between the two. We will also include an overall verdict for which pool surface makes the best choice in your situation.

Pros Of Beadcrete

Beadcrete Is Cheaper

One benefit of beadcrete is that it is cheaper than a fully tiled pool. Fully tiled pools are incredibly labour intensive, and although beadcrete is not exactly a budget-friendly option, it tends to be much more affordable than tiles.

This is especially true when compared to tiling your pool with porcelain tiles, which are the tiles with the highest cost, elegance, and structural integrity.

Beadcrete Can Be Installed Faster

Similarly, beadcrete takes less time to install than a fully-tiled pool interior. When beadcrete is applied, a mixture of cement and glass beads is applied to the outer shell of your pool and then left to dry.

After this mixture has cured for 24-48 hours in ideal weather conditions, it can be sanded down into one smooth surface. Typically, having a beadcrete interior installed takes less than a week.

Tiling is much more labour intensive than beadcrete due to the detail-oriented nature of the work.

Because this process is undertaken piece by piece, it tends to take at least one week depending on the size of your pool, the size of the tiles being used, and the complexity of your chosen designs.

Beadcrete Lasts Longer

The jury is still out on this one, but many people have indicated that beadcrete lasts longer than tiles, provided you don’t get some of the more common beadcrete problems like glass beads delaminating and falling into your pool.

Pros Of Tiles

Tiles Are More Customisable

One benefit of tiles is that they are more customisable than beadcrete. Although glass beads are available in a plethora of colour palettes, this surface is consistent in colour throughout the pool.

Tiles, on the other hand, can be used to create mosaic designs and other inlaid patterns, giving your pool a less monotonous feel and allowing for much more personalization.

Tiles are also incredibly customizable in terms of colour, and glass, ceramic, and porcelain tiles can typically be specially manufactured to fit any colour scheme you’d like. Fully-tiled pools also make a great location for underwater murals or monograms.

Tiles Are More Stylish

Tiles are simply more luxurious and elegant than beadcrete. While beadcrete may be more popular among those seeking a modern appearance in their pool, tiles are a design choice that has stood the test of time.

By choosing tiles, you are opting for a style choice that is more than a passing trend.

Tiles Are Easier To Repair And Replace

Fully tiled pool surfaces are easier to fix and make simple repairs to than beadcrete pools. If one or two tiles in a tiled pool crack, these can easily be removed or replaced.

On the other hand, beadcrete will slowly become delaminated once an area of it forms cracks, eventually falling apart until it requires full resurfacing.

Which Is Better: Beadcrete Vs Tiles

Beadcrete is best for those who have less money to invest in a new pool interior.

Because beadcrete is cheaper to install than a fully-tiled interior and also tends to last longer, beadcrete makes the best premium pool interior for those with either budget or installation time constraints.

Tiled pool interiors are our recommended choice for those looking for the most stylish pool experience. Although these surfaces are not as long-lasting as beadcrete, they are highly customisable and are more DIY friendly when it comes to repairs.

Both of these pool surfaces have smooth interiors that prevent the buildup of algae and other debris.

In some instances, swimmers have complained that the texture of some tile types is too smooth, and therefore does not provide enough traction when it is needed.

In contrast, beadcrete has just enough texture to where you can still stand up comfortably on the floor of your pool without slipping around.

Conclusion

Beadcrete and fully tiled pool interiors are both highly luxurious options for finishing the surface of your swimming pool. Between these, beadcrete tends to be cheaper and more long-lasting than fully tiled pool surfaces, but tiled pools are more easily repaired.

Either way, both surfaces can make a great choice depending on the look you are going for.