Pool Tile Cleaning & Calcium/Scale Removal
Restore your pool tiles to like-new condition with professional cleaning and scale removal.
Why Pool Tiles Get Dirty and Stained
Your pool tiles look beautiful when they are clean. But over time, a white or gray crust builds up along the waterline. That crusty buildup is calcium scale, and it happens in almost every Miami Gardens pool eventually. Our hard water contains dissolved minerals that leave deposits when water evaporates.
Every time water splashes onto your tiles and dries, it leaves behind a tiny amount of calcium. Day after day, month after month, those deposits build into thick scale that dulls your beautiful tile. Oils from sunscreen, body lotions, and landscaping debris also stick to tile surfaces and create stains that regular brushing cannot remove.
Scale is not just ugly. It roughens tile surfaces and becomes harder to remove the longer it sits. Eventually, thick scale can damage tile glazing and grout. Professional tile cleaning removes buildup safely and restores your pool's appearance. Your tiles can look new again with the right cleaning process.
Our Tile Cleaning Methods
We use several proven methods to clean pool tiles depending on how much buildup you have and what type of tile you own. For light scale and surface dirt, we start with specialized cleaning solutions that break down calcium deposits chemically. We apply these cleaners, let them work for a few minutes, then scrub with professional brushes designed for tile surfaces.
Heavier scale buildup needs more aggressive treatment. We use glass bead blasting for stubborn calcium that will not come off with chemicals alone. This process shoots tiny glass beads at high pressure to blast away scale without damaging the tile underneath. It is like sandblasting but gentler and safer for pool surfaces.
- Professional-grade tile cleaners for light to moderate scale
- Glass bead blasting for heavy calcium deposits
- Pumice stones for targeted spot cleaning
- Acid washing for extreme cases (used carefully)
- Grout inspection and minor repair if needed
- Sealing recommendations to protect freshly cleaned tiles
The right method depends on your specific situation. We assess your tiles during our initial visit and recommend the most effective approach. Most tile cleaning takes a few hours depending on pool size and scale severity. Your tiles look dramatically better when we finish, and the clean surface stays cleaner longer going forward.
Understanding Calcium Scale Types
Two types of calcium scale form on pool tiles, and they behave differently. Calcium carbonate is the most common. It appears as white or gray flaky deposits that you can sometimes scrape off with a fingernail. This type forms when pH runs too high or total alkalinity gets out of balance.
Calcium silicate is harder and more stubborn. It looks grayish-white and feels smooth rather than flaky. You cannot scrape it off easily. This type takes longer to form but requires more aggressive cleaning methods. High calcium hardness levels in your pool water contribute to both types of scale.
We test your water chemistry during tile cleaning to understand why scale formed. Then we can help you adjust chemical levels to slow future buildup. Keeping pH between 7.4 and 7.6 and maintaining proper alkalinity makes a big difference. Combined with our weekly pool maintenance service, you can keep calcium under control and your tiles looking great year-round. If your water chemistry issues stem from equipment problems, our equipment repair service can help.
Preventing Future Scale Buildup
After we clean your tiles, you want them to stay clean as long as possible. Prevention starts with balanced water chemistry. Regular testing and adjusting of pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness slows scale formation significantly. We can show you what levels to maintain or handle it for you with regular service.
Brushing the waterline weekly helps too. Even a quick brush around the perimeter prevents scale from getting established. Some pool owners use calcium scale prevention products that bind minerals and keep them from depositing on surfaces. These products work well when used consistently.
Miami Gardens water is naturally hard, so some scale formation is inevitable. But with proper water balance and regular cleaning, you can keep it minimal. Many of our customers have tile cleaning done once or twice a year as part of their pool care routine. This prevents heavy buildup and keeps tiles looking beautiful all the time. Think of it like professional teeth cleaning - regular maintenance prevents bigger problems down the road.