Pool Tile Cleaning & Calcium/Scale Removal

You've seen it. That crusty white line along your waterline tiles that won't come off no matter how hard you scrub. Or maybe your beautiful tile has turned dull and cloudy with a gray film. That's calcium buildup, and it's one of the most common problems we see in South Gate, CA pools. The good news is that our professional tile cleaning and calcium removal service can make your tiles look like new again.

Calcium scale is more than just ugly. It makes your pool look neglected and old, even when everything else is maintained perfectly. It also makes tile surfaces rough, which can scrape swimmers' skin. The longer you let it build up, the harder it becomes to remove. What starts as a thin film eventually turns into thick, crusty deposits that seem impossible to clean.

Let's talk about why this happens in the first place. Our Southern California water is naturally hard, meaning it contains high levels of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. When pool water evaporates (which happens constantly in our sunny climate), those minerals get left behind. They attach to your tile, creating that white or gray scaling you see.

High calcium hardness in your pool water makes the problem worse. So does high pH levels. When your water chemistry gets out of balance, calcium precipitates out of solution and deposits on surfaces. The waterline gets hit hardest because that's where water and air meet, creating the perfect conditions for scale formation.

Not all calcium buildup is the same. Understanding the difference helps explain our cleaning approach.

We don't use the same approach for every pool. The right method depends on your tile type, the extent of buildup, and what kind of calcium we're dealing with. Here's how we determine the best approach.

First, we drain or lower your pool water below the tile line. This gives us full access to the affected area. We test a small area to confirm what type of calcium we're dealing with. Then we choose our cleaning method based on that information.

For moderate calcium carbonate buildup, we use:

• Professional-grade acid-based cleaners
• Specialized pumice stones designed for pool tile
• Pressure washing to remove loosened deposits
• Hand scrubbing for detailed work around fittings

For heavy buildup or calcium silicate, we might use:

• Glass bead blasting for stubborn deposits
• Soda blasting for delicate tile surfaces
• Pumice stone treatment for targeted areas
• Combination approaches for best results

Your pool tile represents a significant investment. We take care to clean it properly without causing damage. Different tile materials require different approaches. Ceramic tile can handle more aggressive cleaning than natural stone. Glass tile needs gentler treatment. We adjust our methods based on what you have.

We're also careful around grout lines and tile edges. Aggressive cleaning can chip tiles or damage grout. Our technicians have the experience to work efficiently while protecting your tile surfaces. The goal is clean tile that looks great for years to come, not tile that needs replacing because we damaged it during cleaning.

After we restore your tile, you probably want to keep it looking good. The key is maintaining proper water chemistry. Keep your pH between 7.4 and 7.6. Monitor calcium hardness and keep it in the recommended range for your area. Regular brushing of the tile line during weekly maintenance helps prevent buildup from starting.

Some buildup is inevitable in our area because of the hard water. But catching it early and cleaning it regularly prevents the thick, stubborn deposits that are hard to remove. Think of tile cleaning like dental cleanings. Regular attention prevents serious problems. We can include tile line cleaning in our maintenance service or schedule periodic deep cleaning visits to stay on top of it.

While we're working on your tile, we often notice other issues that need attention. Loose tiles that should be re-adhered. Damaged grout that needs repair. Coping stones that have shifted. We point these things out because catching them early prevents bigger problems later. A loose tile now is easier to fix than a whole section that falls off next year.