Pool Tile Cleaning & Calcium/Scale Removal

What Causes Calcium Buildup on Pool Tiles

That white, crusty buildup on your pool tiles isn't dirt. It's calcium scale, and it's especially common here in Diamond Bar because of our hard water. When pool water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals. Over time, these minerals form a hard coating that regular brushing won't remove.

Calcium deposits show up as white or gray lines right at the waterline. Sometimes they spread to steps, spa spillways, and waterfalls. The buildup makes your beautiful pool look neglected and old, even if you maintain it regularly. Worse yet, calcium is rough and can scratch swimmers' skin.

High pH levels and high calcium hardness in your water make the problem worse. That's why proper chemistry is so important. Our pool cleaning experts in Diamond Bar balance your water to prevent future buildup while removing existing scale.

Professional Tile Cleaning Techniques

We use several methods to clean pool tiles and remove calcium, depending on how severe the buildup is and what type of tile you have. The goal is to get your tiles spotless without damaging them.

• Bead Blasting: We use tiny glass beads under pressure to gently remove scale without scratching tiles
• Acid Washing: For severe calcium, we carefully apply diluted acid to dissolve stubborn deposits
• Pumice Stone Treatment: Light scale can be removed with specialized pumice stones and elbow grease
• Pressure Washing: High-pressure water combined with safe cleaners for regular maintenance

Each method has its place, and we choose the right approach for your specific situation. We've cleaned thousands of pools in the area and know exactly what works best for different types of scale and tile.

Why Clean Tiles Matter

Clean tiles do more than just look good, although the aesthetic improvement is dramatic. When you remove calcium buildup, your pool looks newer and more inviting. The true colors of your tile shine through again.

But there are practical benefits too. Smooth tiles are easier to clean during regular maintenance, which means less work for you or lower costs if you have a service. Calcium deposits can harbor algae and bacteria in their rough surface, making it harder to keep your water sanitized.

Clean tiles also last longer. Calcium scale can etch and damage tile surfaces over time, especially if it's left for years. Regular professional cleaning protects your investment. Many of our weekly pool service customers add tile cleaning once or twice a year to keep their pools looking pristine.

Preventing Calcium Scale Buildup

Once we clean your tiles, you want them to stay that way. The key to preventing new calcium buildup is proper water chemistry and regular maintenance. Keep your pH between 7.2 and 7.6. When pH creeps higher, calcium precipitates out of the water and onto your tiles.

Watch your calcium hardness levels too. In Diamond Bar, our tap water already has high calcium, so you might need to partially drain and refill your pool every few years to dilute the minerals. A quality sequestering agent added regularly can help keep calcium dissolved in the water instead of stuck to your tiles.

Regular brushing of the tile line helps too. It won't remove heavy scale, but it prevents light deposits from building up into a serious problem. If you notice white streaks starting to form, that's the time to call us for cleaning before it becomes difficult to remove. We can also inspect your tiles during filter service visits and let you know when cleaning is due.

Tile Cleaning FAQs