We renovated an 8x4m concrete pool in Howick with a premium, fully tiled finish throughout. The standout details are the fully tiled stairs and a tiled feature wall, both in Bisazza glass mosaics, finished with natural stone coping and a Diamond Brite interior. Total project value was around $47,000 + GST.
Artisan Stone & Tile took this pool from standard to genuinely high-end, mostly through the tiling detail. When you tile the stairs and a feature wall rather than just the waterline, the whole pool changes.
The pool was sound but plain, and the client wanted a lift in quality rather than just a fresh surface. That pointed us toward a fully tiled approach: tile the stairs, add a tiled feature wall, and carry the finish right through instead of stopping at the waterline.
Fully tiling stairs is fiddly, detailed work. Every step has to be set true so the lines run clean and the surface stays comfortable underfoot. It’s slower than a standard retile, and it’s exactly the kind of finish that makes a pool feel custom.
We tiled the stairs, the feature wall and the pool in Bisazza glass mosaics. Bisazza is an Italian brand with a reputation for colour and consistency, and it’s a strong choice when the tiling is the main event.
The tiled feature wall gives the pool a focal point, and the fully tiled stairs turn a purely functional part of the pool into part of the design. We set everything on an epoxy grout system, which resists chemical attack and holds up far better than cement grout in and around the water. More on our approach on the swimming pool tiling in Auckland page.
For the edge we used natural stone coping. Stone gives a warm, textured finish that pairs nicely with a fully tiled interior, and its natural variation suits a family backyard. We prepared the bond beam and set the coping in a splash-zone adhesive for a solid, natural edge. See our pool coping stones page for the range.
We finished the interior in Diamond Brite, one of the render finishes we use and recommend today. Diamond Brite is a durable, polymer-modified plaster with a hard, long-wearing surface that stands up well to Auckland pool chemistry.
It’s a practical, good-looking finish that works alongside the tiled stairs and feature wall without competing with them. For more on current finish options, see our pool renovations Auckland page.
We upgraded the plumbing and lighting as part of the renovation. Better circulation keeps the water clear and even, and new LED lighting picks out the tiled stairs and feature wall after dark, which is when a fully tiled pool really earns its keep.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pool size | 8m x 4m concrete shell |
| Tiling | Bisazza glass mosaics (stairs, feature wall and pool) |
| Interior finish | Diamond Brite |
| Coping | Natural stone |
| Grout | Epoxy grout system |
| Upgrades | Plumbing and LED lighting |
| Location | Howick, Auckland |
| Project value | ~$47,000 + GST |
Howick and the wider east Auckland area have plenty of established family pools. Owners here often want a renovation that adds a bit of wow, and fully tiling the stairs and a feature wall is one of the best ways to do that without changing the pool’s footprint.
We work across east and coastal Auckland, including Castor Bay on the North Shore. Every job is trade-certified, uses BRANZ-appraised materials, and is backed by 35+ five-star Google reviews.
Want to lift an older pool with tiled stairs, a feature wall or a full retile? We’ll show you what’s possible on your pool and give you a fixed-price quote after a free site visit.
or call Mario on 021 123 8672.
