Really, any of the exposed aggregate finishes are just fine. It's paramount the finish is applied to a properly prepped and cleaned surface, temperatures are ideal, the experience of the applicators and the after care immediately after the pool is filled and the filtration system is running.

Proper chemical treatment begins as the pool is filled and then close attention for the following 2 weeks. This includes a regimen of brushing and chemical adjustment.

Record your daily activity and also your chemical readings.

Maintaining proper water care from that point forward is equally important for a lasting finish

We prefer filling pools with trucked in water to fill as quickly as possible. The water is part of the curing process and it's important the finish does dry too quickly.

Finishes, heavy on the glass, I feel, are best for locations where there is no freeze-thaw conditions.

I would see what the plaster contractor applies the most. Generally, they have the most success with those finishes.

Look at finished pools as well as sample swatches clients are usually given, when choosing. Sunlight exposure, depth, shade can alter a finishes look. None of these points are detrimental, they just give a different look, which may be more desirable.

@carolyona PebbleTec offers the best warranty and can only be applied by certified applicators. We exclusively use PebbleTec for all of our interior finishes. There are quite a few generic pebbles out there. Be absolutely certain a genuine PebbleTec product is being installed if you go that route.

Have to say that my PebbleTec finish was poorly applied by one of their certified applicators, leaving me with a choice of completely redoing the entire pool lining or just living with it. Not a happy PebbleTec customer.

Genuine PebbleTec.

Their rep was helpful, but, I am not looking forward to a complete redo of the lining, as you must know this is a large, dirty job with lots of dust, and likely damage to the surrounding tile and landscaping.

Ok...I would assume that if someone is unhappy enough to make a negative comment about a product then they would most definitely be taking advantage of the excellent warranty and having it re-plastered. But (just an observation) if something being dirty and dusty is the reasoning for not having it re-applied with better workmanship then it must not be 'that' bad.

At the end of the day it is obviously a workmanship issue and a builder issue. The product itself is the best on the market and carries the best warranty. I would certainly take advantage of that and have it re-applied. It happens. We've never had to re-plaster a pool in 20 years of using Pebbletec products but there have been a few spotty issues with workmanship that were always resolved in a timely and professional manner to everyones satisfaction. If it were me, I'd have it re-plastered.