Swimming Pool Coating vs New Tiling — Which is the Best Choice?
For most operators of an older swimming pool, a moment arises where one of two choices becomes inevitable: new tiling or a renovation with a professional coating. The difference between these two options will determine the appearance, hygiene, operating costs, and liability profile of your pool for the next 20–30 years.
On this page, we compare both options across six objective criteria — no marketing, just the figures — so you can make an informed decision.
Criterion 1 — Initial Investment
New tiling in public pools costs € 120–€ 250 per m² including demolition, mortar bed, bonding, and grouting. An ACRATON® renovation typically costs € 80–€ 130 per m² as a one-off investment. For an 800 m² pool, this equates to a difference of € 40.000 to € 100.000 in initial costs.
Criterion 2 — Lead Time and Downtime
Re-tiling requires 6 to 10 weeks lead time, including demolition of existing tile work. A coating renovation takes 2 to 4 weeks. For commercial pools (holiday parks, hotels), this means 30 to 50 % less loss of occupancy.
Criterion 3 — Lifespan and Maintenance
New tiled surfaces reintroduce all familiar tiling issues: grout renovation every 5–7 years, localised tile repairs, colour discrepancies. An ACRATON® Dolphin coating offers 20–30 years without grout maintenance in our reference projects.
Criterion 4 — Appearance and Flexibility
Tiles offer great design freedom (mosaic, patterns) but are permanent: a colour change requires re-demolition. A coating is limited to 8 official colours but can be relatively easily 'refreshed' in a different colour after 10–15 years if trends change.
Criterion 5 — Safety
Tiles develop sharp edges over time. A coating has no edges or grout lines. This virtually eliminates the risk of cuts and is favourable for insurance premiums.
Criterion 6 — TCO over 20 Years
Summing up over 20 years (initial + annual maintenance + localised repair work), the TCO of a coating renovation is typically 50–70 % below that of a renewed tiled floor. PoolFIX can provide a detailed calculation for your specific pool.
Calculate volume for your pool
Litres, pails and price estimate in seconds — pallet discount included.
Prices exclude VAT and shipping. Based on €40/L and the theoretical coverage from the datasheet (2.7 m²/L at 300 µm DFT).
Frequently asked questions
When should I still choose new tiling?
Is combining possible?
Which supplier is responsible?
What does the Tendering Officer say?
What about circularity?
Is a test area possible to compare both?
Slight deviations between sample and final result may occur. No rights can be derived from this overview.
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