Pool Tile Cleaning & Calcium/Scale Removal

Why Calcium Builds Up on Pool Tile

That white, crusty line along your pool tile is calcium scale. It forms when your water chemistry is off, particularly when calcium hardness or pH levels are too high. Here in Galveston, our water naturally contains minerals that contribute to this buildup. Add in evaporation during hot summers, and you get concentrated mineral deposits along the waterline.

Calcium scale does not just look bad. It feels rough and can damage your tile over time. It also makes your pool harder to clean because dirt and oils stick to the rough surface. Many pool owners try scrubbing it off with brushes, but that rarely works. Calcium is too hard for standard cleaning methods.

Professional tile cleaning uses specialized tools and techniques to remove scale safely. Our Galveston pool cleaning team has the equipment to handle even heavy buildup. We restore your tile to its original color and smooth finish. The difference is dramatic and makes your whole pool look better.

Our Tile Cleaning Process

Tile cleaning is more than scrubbing. We use a combination of methods depending on your tile type and the severity of buildup. Here is how we approach it:

• Inspect your tile to determine the best cleaning method
• Lower the water level if needed to access the waterline
• Use professional-grade tile cleaning tools and solutions
• Carefully remove calcium scale without damaging the tile
• Clean grout lines and hard-to-reach corners
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all cleaning residue
• Check and adjust water chemistry to prevent future buildup

For light scale, we can often use chemical treatments and manual scrubbing. Heavy buildup requires more aggressive methods like bead blasting or pumice stone work. We always choose the safest approach for your tile material. Delicate glass tiles need gentle handling, while ceramic can withstand more aggressive cleaning.

Keeping Your Tile Clean Long-Term

Once your tile is clean, you want it to stay that way. Prevention starts with balanced water chemistry. Keep your pH between 7.2 and 7.6, and maintain proper calcium hardness levels. Test your water regularly or let us handle it through our weekly pool service.

Brushing your tile weekly also helps. It prevents scale from building up in the first place. If you see white spots forming, address them quickly before they harden. Early treatment is much easier than removing heavy deposits later. We also recommend tile cleaning as part of your annual maintenance routine, especially if you have hard water.

If your pool develops other issues like cloudy water or algae, those can make tile cleaning harder. Address water quality problems early with services like algae treatment so your tile stays in better condition. A clean pool means clean tile.

Frequently Asked Questions