Pool Tile Cleaning & Calcium/Scale Removal

That White Crusty Ring Around Your Pool

You've seen it. That ugly white or gray buildup along your waterline tiles. It makes your beautiful pool look neglected and dirty. You've tried scrubbing it with a brush. Maybe you've used store-bought chemicals. Nothing works. The buildup just keeps getting thicker and uglier.

That's calcium scale. It forms when minerals in your pool water evaporate and leave deposits on tiles and other surfaces. Our California water is hard, meaning it's loaded with calcium and other minerals. These minerals bond to tile surfaces and turn into rock-hard deposits that regular cleaning can't remove.

The good news is that calcium scale is removable with the right techniques and equipment. We specialize in tile cleaning and calcium removal for homeowners across Monterey Park. We've restored thousands of feet of pool tiles, and we can make yours look brand new again.

Why Calcium Scale Happens

Understanding why calcium builds up helps prevent future problems. Here are the main causes:

• Hard water: Monterey Park and surrounding areas have naturally hard water with high calcium content. Every time water evaporates, minerals stay behind and accumulate on surfaces.
• High pH levels: When your pool's pH runs too high, calcium precipitates out of solution more easily and sticks to tiles. Proper chemical balance helps prevent this.
• High water temperatures: Warmer water accelerates calcium deposit formation. That's why waterline scale is often worse on the sunny side of pools.
• Splashing and evaporation: The waterline gets the worst buildup because it's constantly wet and drying. Each cycle deposits more minerals.
• Using fill water with high mineral content: When you add water to your pool, you're adding minerals. Over time, those minerals concentrate as water evaporates.

Even with perfect weekly maintenance, calcium scale eventually builds up. It's not a sign you're doing something wrong. It's just part of pool ownership in areas with hard water. Regular professional cleaning keeps it under control.

Professional Tile Cleaning Methods

We use several techniques depending on how severe your calcium buildup is and what type of tiles you have. Each method has specific advantages:

Bead blasting: This is our most effective method for heavy calcium deposits. We use a specialized tool that shoots tiny glass beads at high pressure to strip away scale without damaging tile surfaces. Bead blasting removes years of buildup and reveals the original tile color underneath. It works on ceramic, glass, and stone tiles.

Chemical treatments: For lighter buildup, we use professional-grade calcium dissolvers that break down scale at the molecular level. These treatments work slowly but safely and are good for delicate tiles or as routine maintenance.

Pumice stone scrubbing: For moderate scale on durable tiles, wet pumice stone scrubbing can be effective. This manual method takes more time but works well on certain types of buildup.

Pressure washing: We sometimes combine pressure washing with other methods to remove loose material and speed up the process.

We inspect your tiles carefully and choose the safest, most effective method for your specific situation. Our technicians are trained to work on all tile types and know how to avoid damage while achieving excellent results.

What to Expect During Tile Cleaning

Tile cleaning is a separate service from routine pool maintenance. Here's how the process works:

First, we'll visit your property to assess your tiles and determine the best cleaning method. We measure the linear feet of tile that needs cleaning and give you a detailed quote. Most pools have 80-150 linear feet of waterline tile depending on size and shape.

On cleaning day, we typically lower your water level 6-12 inches below the tiles so we can work comfortably. For bead blasting, we set up our equipment and carefully blast away the calcium deposits section by section. The process is messy, with beads and calcium debris falling into the pool, but we vacuum everything out afterward.

Most tile cleaning jobs take 3-5 hours depending on how much tile you have and how severe the buildup is. We work methodically to ensure every inch is properly cleaned. When we're done, we vacuum the pool, refill to the proper level, and balance your water chemistry.

The difference is dramatic. Your tiles will look like they did when your pool was new. Colors are brighter, grout lines are clean, and that ugly white ring is completely gone.

Many customers combine tile cleaning with our deep cleaning service to give their entire pool a complete makeover. The combination delivers incredible results and maximum value.

How to Slow Down Calcium Buildup

While you can't eliminate calcium scale completely in areas with hard water, you can slow it down significantly:

Keep your pH balanced between 7.4-7.6. Higher pH accelerates calcium precipitation. Regular water testing and chemical adjustments make a big difference.

Maintain proper calcium hardness levels. Surprisingly, having some calcium in your water (200-400 ppm) actually prevents calcium from being pulled out of tile grout. Too low or too high causes problems.

Brush your waterline tiles weekly. Regular brushing removes early deposits before they harden into scale. Use a tile brush, not a wall brush, for best results.

Consider using a sequestering agent. These chemicals help keep minerals dissolved in water instead of depositing on surfaces. We can add them during regular service if you're prone to heavy scale.

Schedule professional tile cleaning every 1-2 years. Regular cleaning prevents severe buildup that becomes harder and more expensive to remove. Think of it like dental cleanings that prevent major problems.

Common Questions About Tile Cleaning