I am in the process of having a pool built and we opted for the beach entry feature with Pebble Tec. We will actually have more of a tanning ledge than a true beach entry, it will only go from 0" to 12" of water. We were also considering the use of Pebble Sheen on the beach entry for a smoother finish. My local Pebble Tec installer (A&B Plaster) said that pebble sheen is no good for out of water application. I just could not believe it and called the Pebble Tec headquarters to get to the bottom of it.

It turns out that there were several people who did a Pebble Sheen beach entry and were very dissatisfied with the aesthetic look of the Pebble Sheen out of the water, it looks like concrete. To warn about this possible disappointment Pebble Tec HQ sent out a memo to all installers about it. The Pebble Sheen material has no mechanical or physical limitation of being out of water, it's simply an aesthetic thing, but as urban lenegds spread now people are told that Pebble Sheen cannot be used out of water. It's not that it can't, it's just that it is discouraged due to some people being unhappy with the finished look.

Bottom line, I will have Pebble Tec on my beach entry not Pebble Sheen. I will also have the beach entry done in a different color than the rest of the pool.

I have also heard the rumors about birds using it as a bath, I guess I'll just have to live with it. Wifey really wants the beach entry, so we're getting one. The only other option that was offered for us as far as finish on the beach entry was flagstone. It is $$$ and I am affraid that it would be too slippery. I am sure the Pebble Tec will be great. Now if only they would start digging.....