Which Tile is Right for Your Swimming Pool

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Swimming pool tiles are specially designed tiles considering the requirements of a swimming pool. Swimming pool tiles are different from kitchen tiles or bathroom tiles as these are designed to withstand continuous contact with water and sunlight. You can still find different colours and designs to personalise your pool design.

However, consider the factors discussed in the blog while selecting tiles for your pool. While swimming pool tiles prices are reasonable in India, you can look for options for your pool.

Common Challenges with Swimming Pool Tiles

Even after all the necessary measures taken by swimming pool tiles manufacturers, there are some common challenges faced by almost everyone. However, with the right approach and the best quality tiles, you can avoid most of these:

• Decolouration: One of the most common issues with pool tiles is decolouration. It can happen due to many reasons. Continuous exposure to sunlight, pool chemicals, temperature variations, algae growth, etc., can fade away the colour of tiles inside the pool.
• Microbial growth: Microbial growth between pool tiles can be due to the accumulation of moisture/humidity inside the tiles. Therefore, it is necessary to choose water-resistant pool tiles.
• Effects of Glue on the back of the tile: While swimming pool tiles are water resistant, tile grout should also provide similar features. Epoxy grout is considered the best for swimming pools worldwide. Epoxy grout is fully water resistant and offers perfect sealing for tiles.
• Temperature variations: Tiles that cannot withstand temperature variations often end up cracking when it's too hot or too cold.
• Calcium Build-Up: When there is some leak in the pool foundation, white flaky or grey-white deposits can be found in the pool. It generally happens due to incorrect installation of tiles.

Your Checklist for Choosing the Right Swimming Pool Tiles

While choosing the tiles for your swimming pool, keep these things in mind:

• High Durability

  The tiles should withstand continuous submergence in water, exposure to sunlight, pool chemicals, etc. Smaller tiles are preferable for pools as these are less likely to break due to the pressure of the water.

• Easy Maintenance

  Pool tiles should be easy to clean and maintain. You can ask your supplier for suitable cleansers or chemicals that will not cause any damage to the tiles.

• Ensuring Hygiene

  Pool tiles should resist germ and moss accumulation to stay hygienic. Swimming pool tiles from H&R Johnson feature a special glaze for the purpose.

• Anti-skid features for safety

  Tiles on the edges and in the deck area of the pool should provide a higher grip to minimize accidents. The Anti-slip tile, finger grip tiles, and grooved tiles with safety markings are the perfect options for the edges and stairs of swimming pools.

• Design and Colour

  The design and colour of the swimming pool tiles should match the surroundings. The most popular colours for pool tiles are dark blue, orient blue, white, new blue, and black. The colours in these tiles can be used to make different patterns and give a desired look to your pool. If confused about the design, you can take expert guidance from HR Johnson.

• Installation

  Pool tile installation requires skilled labour. An improper installation can cause several problems, such as leakage, cracks in tiles, and many more.

Pool Tiling Ideas

1. Mosaic Pattern

   The mosaic Pattern is one of the most popular and widely used patterns in swimming pools. You can give your pool a modern designer look by using ceramic swimming pool tiles of different shades.

   A combination of orient blue, dark blue, new blue, and white tiles from HR Johnson would be perfect for any pool.

2. Consistent Design with Single-Coloured Tiles

   Single-coloured ceramic tiles with no specific pattern give a very naturalistic look to your swimming pool. Especially for outdoor swimming pools, it's a great idea to choose ceramic tiles with a single shade of blue for the entire pool.

   A popular rooftop pool in Singapore has been designed on the same concept. The pool features over 2,50,000 single-coloured tiles giving it a solid blue appearance.

3. Chessboard Pattern

   A chessboard pattern made using Johnson's black and white swimming pool tiles would give a modern and unique look to your swimming pool. It can be a great option when you have a small-sized swimming pool inside your house. Adventure pools also prefer chessboard patterns.

4. Brick Pattern

   A brick pattern is another great option for a swimming pool design. You can use single-coloured tiles or mix two shades and create a pattern in the pool.

Type of Swimming Pools & Tile Choices

Your choice of pool tiles can depend on several factors such as:

• Number of users
• Size of the pool
• Indoor/outdoor placement
• Available surrounding area
• Swimming pool elements.

Here we have classified the pools into three categories and suggested the tiles you can use. While the suggestions can be limited to a few colour choices and schemes, your preference will always have a say in the pool design.

Indoor Swimming Pools

• Inside The Pool

  You can use multiple shades of blue tiles to create a mosaic pattern or choose a combination of black and white to create a chessboard pattern for your indoor pool. Even using only white-coloured tiles for the entire pool would be a good idea if your house has a light-coloured theme.

• Edges and Deck Area

  For edges, stairs, and deck areas, make sure to choose high-grip tiles. The ivory anti-slip tiles or similar ones by Johnson should be preferred.

• Surrounding Area

  You can also choose vitrified tiles in matte finish for the surrounding area of your indoor pool. A tile in a wooden matte finish can give it an ultra-modern look if it matches the rest of the theme.

  Johnson's Endura Maxgrip tiles with R10 class slip resistance are most suitable for the surrounding areas of indoor and outdoor pools. Other good colour options are pale grey, beige, black, etc, that will match almost every style.

Outdoor Swimming Pools

• Inside The Pool

  Outdoor swimming pools look the best in the presence of sunlight. For a more consistent look, you can use single-coloured tiles. For example, dark blue, new blue, or orient blue throughout the pool. Another good-to-go pattern is the brick pattern for outdoor swimming pools.

• Edges and Deck Area

  Johnson's anti-slip tiles with finger grips are just the perfect option for stairs and deck areas of exterior swimming pools.

• Surrounding Area

  For the surrounding area of outdoor pools, you should prefer anti-skid vitrified tiles that can be found in several colours and designs. Make sure that the tiles have anti-skid features and are water resistant.

Commercial Pools

• Inside The Pool

  The pools that are designed for commercial purposes or public use are generally larger in size. A brick pattern, mosaic pattern, or consistent colour with specific boundary lines would be good for such swimming pools. You can even go for other bold-coloured tiles for these pools.

• Edges and Stairs

  Johnson's grooved anti-slip tiles with safety markings are a perfect solution for edges, stairs, and deck areas of commercial swimming pools.

• Surrounding Area

  The surrounding area of public swimming pools should have a higher grip as these pools need to ensure added safety. Johnson's Good Grip tiles are a suitable option. These look modern as well as are water and slip resistant. 

The Right Swimming Pool Tiles to Ensure Safety and Hygiene

A swimming pool enhances the look of your house, but you will love the lavish feeling it brings. When choosing the tiles for your swimming pool, you also need to consider the quality along with the design and prices of the tiles.

You don't want to use tiles that can face decolouration due to chlorine, bleach or sunlight. So, it is better to ensure that the tiles are durable and can withstand exposure to common swimming chemicals.

Available in five different colours, Johnson's swimming pool tiles are durable, hygienic, and easy to maintain. Johnson's swimming pool tiles feature a glaze that discourages the growth of algae and bacteria. You can even get guidance from Johnson's experts for the tiles you should choose for your pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of tile is best for swimming pools?

Glazed vitrified (GVT) or porcelain tiles are the best choice for swimming pools. GVT tiles are better for swimming pools as they have negligible water absorption and feature a glaze that resists algae and bacteria growth. These tiles are also easy to clean and resistant to weather and chemical damage.

What are pool tiles called?

Pool tiles are specially designed for the swimming pool environment. These tiles can withstand high water pressures, resist algae formation and prevent germs. Also, they can withstand water treatment chemicals without losing their colour or quality.

Are pool tiles slippery when wet?

Slip factor may vary in different areas of the pool. For example, the mosaic tiles in the pool provide adequate grip even while submerged in the water. Similarly, on the edges, pools will have tiles with a higher wet grip to avoid slipping while climbing in or out of the pool. The walkway or deck area around the pool should have tiles with good grip to resist slippage while walking with wet feet.

Why are swimming pool tiles mostly blue?

Most swimming pool tiles are blue because these give a more natural look to your pools and match the sky's blue reflection. However, you can also use green, white and variations of colours with swimming pool tiles.

Swimming pool tile colors are one of the few things in life that you really can't go back on. While the decision might seem simple, your pool tile should last for years. It's both a headache and a high expense to change if you end up not liking the result.

In this article, we'll discuss the importance of choosing pool tile color with care, things to consider when doing so, and how you can choose the best swimming pool tile colors.

Why Does Swimming Pool Tile Color Matter? 

For some people, pool colors and tiles are a meaningless decision ' something to be checked off the renovation list and forgotten about. But in reality, it's key to creating the pool of your dreams. 

The right color will set the tone for the entire pool season, complementing your landscaping and providing an inviting atmosphere.

Choosing the wrong tile color or pattern can have the opposite effect, making your pool look dull and drab ' even to the point where you don't want to go in! It's important to take your time when selecting tiles, as what pool tile you choose will be around for years to come.

Some people might consider painting pool tiles as a cheap alternative to buying new ones. Unfortunately, this is rarely an option with swimming pools. Most products, like glass tiles, can't be painted over. Trying to do so will have disastrous results ' in most cases the paint will peel off and need to be removed.
It's best to find tiles that you love and that work with the overall design of your pool. However long it takes or whatever the cost per square foot of your pool, ensuring it's perfect will save you stress and money in the long run.

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Factors to Consider When Choosing Swimming Pool Tile Color

When picking tile color for your pool, there are several factors to consider:

Patterns

Swimming pool tiles come in a variety of patterns, from classic squares and rectangles to geometric shapes and fish scale designs. Consider how the pattern of your tiles will look with the overall design of your landscape and pool.

Finish

Swimming pool tiles come in both glossy and matte finishes. Glossy tiles will reflect more light and make your pool look brighter, while matte tiles will help create a more muted and subtle look.

Material

The material of your tiles will impact the color of the water and how it looks in your pool.  Glass pool tile designs reflect light well and are great for saltwater pools. Porcelain tiles help to soften colors and work with several different water types.

Atmosphere 

It's also important to think about how the tile you select will work with other tiles and materials in your pool and the surrounding area. Think of your tile selection as part of the entire pool design, and make sure everything works together to create a unified look.

How to Choose Pool Tile Color

If you're in need of some guidance when it comes to choosing pool tile color, here are a few tips:

1. Consider Your Environment

Take into account the colors and tones of your home, landscape, and other surrounding features.

For example, if your pool is surrounded by lush greenery, try to find tiles that will blend in and complement it. Earthy brown and green pool tile mix well when surrounded by nature. Similarly, mosaic pool tile works great in already-colorful environments or an area where you'd like to showcase several tones.

Sun exposure is also worth thinking about ' if your space gets a lot of sunlight, it's important to choose pool tiles made from materials that can withstand it long-term, like slate or stone.

Don't forget decor, either! In addition to pool-side environments, you should select your tiles based on the existing designs around them. For example, pool tiles made from materials like stone and sandstone add a unique feel, but may not work well if your house is very "beachy" looking. In this case, pool tiles made from materials like slate or limestone may be a better choice.

2. Know What You're Going For

Just like how you should be considerate of the environment around your pool, you should also take into account the type of atmosphere you want to create.

Do you want an elegant and luxurious feel? Modern pool tile colors like black and gray are great options. 

What about something exotic and bold? Try opting for brighter options like aqua pool tile, blue pool tile and green pool tile.

3. Know How Patterns Can Affect Color

Patterns, like mosaic tiles, can play a huge role in how the color of your tiles looks in your pool. A large-scale pattern will make any color look bold and vivid, while small-scale patterns can help to soften the colors. 

Remember: The best tile colors for swimming pools don't overpower the pool. They enhance it. It's all about striking a balance. Use patterns and spacing to your advantage in doing so!

4. Ensure Your Choice Is Easy to Clean

Don't forget to make sure you can easily clean your pool tile. Swimming pool tiles will get wet and dirty, so you want to make sure that the options you select are simple to scrub and keep presentable. Look for tiles that are non-porous, as this will help minimize the amount of grime that accumulates on your waterline tiles and better maintain the color over time. 

5.  Mix and Match

What if there was more than one answer to the question of best color for swimming pool tiles? Mixing and matching is a great way to create a unique look that stands out. Just make sure that all colors and patterns you choose work together to create a unified look.

If you want to feature multiple tones without going as far as mixing and matching, iridescent pool tile can create a perfect balance. Iridescent glass tiles in particular reflect natural light in different shades of blues and greens, making them a great neutral that blends in with the overall design of your pool. 

6. Think About Shape

The best pool tile colors are those that work with the shape of your pool. Try to select a tile color that will highlight and accentuate the walls and curves of your pool.

For example, if you have a curved wall, dark pool tile can help to emphasize the shape and create definition. Conversely, if you want to soften the look of a sharp corner, light-colored porcelain pool tile can help to create a more unified effect.

Certain tile shapes are also better suited for some pools than others. Kidney or L-shaped designs, for example, work well with strip-style tiles that can line their contours.

7. Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

At the end of the day, there's no "best color" for pool tile. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. So don't be afraid to ask for help ' whether it's from a pool tile expert or somebody with a good eye for design ' to ensure your pool tile is the exact color you want. Remember, you can always order samples to pass around and compare!

Buy Swimming Pool Tiles in Every Color

At Oasis Tile, we understand the importance of picking out the best swimming pool tile color for your yard. We have a wide array of swimming pool tile colors, materials, mosaics, and patterns to choose from, so no matter what look you're going for, we can help make it happen.

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