We’re starting on pool construction this month and need to make a decision about the waterline tile. I’d really like to be able to use a long horizontal tile instead of the standard 6”x6” or smaller mosaics, ideally either a 6” x 12”, 6” x 18”, or maybe three courses of 2” x 12” in a brick pattern. The distributor we’re using doesn’t carry anything like that and says I can’t just use “non pool spec” porcelain tile, which I can find in those sizes.

• is he correct? Or will any quality porcelain tile work?
• is there any reason not to use these longer lengths for waterline tile? If we had a pool with curves, I could see the need for smaller sizes, but ours has no curves.

Thanks so much for any input.