Rank these NPT Stonescapes finishes by how dark they are please!

[Billy1234]

We're about 3 weeks away from our new build moving to the finish stage - pool is poured concrete in a rectangle and baha shelf, deepest end is 6' and gets lots of sun throughout the day until sunset. We're pretty set on the Micro Stonescape finish (we like the smoothness and the more even appearing surface at close distance for shallow areas like baha shelf vs. the salt and pepper look with mini) and are torn between these finishes:

Aqua Blue micro
Tropics Blue micro
Moraine micro

My concern is we don't want it to feel dark, just a natural feeling blue. We weren't even considering Moraine until we saw this post NPT Micro Stonescapes pool pics
that makes it look pretty much perfect for us... but wondering if these pictures are accurate to how it will look or if in the shade near sunset, it will be much much darker. Here are our inspiration photos:

Award Winning Mid Century Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Gus Duffy AIA | Houzz

Award Winning Mid Century Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Gus Duffy AIA | Houzz

www.houzz.com

Industrial Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Scribe Studio | Houzz

Industrial Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Scribe Studio | Houzz

www.houzz.com

Winflo Cabana and Pool - Contemporary - Pool - Austin - by Chioco Design | Houzz

Winflo Cabana and Pool - Contemporary - Pool - Austin - by Chioco Design | Houzz

www.houzz.com

 

[KCNM]

There is no Tropics Blue micro.

The best thing to do is search the forum, and also this specific thread:

Pool Finish and Color Viewing Room...PICTURES & details only please

This is our attempt at having one place that we can view the finished product of various Plaster/Pebble/Quartz/Vinyl/FG/etc. pool finishes. Simply attach a good pic looking down at the steps and another one looking at the deep end to share how it looks at different depths. Make sure to share the...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[KCNM]

I want to clarify: There is no *one* color for any pool surface. There is a spectrum depending on too many variables to control... Lighting level, lighting direction, where you're standing, depth, surroundings, cloudiness... The best thing you can do is find as many pictures as you can and integrate *all* of them into your view of that surface. Do *not* just pick one picture and fall in love with it, because that picture may not ever actually manifest in your installation. My wife and I picked the surface we did because there were very few pictures we saw that we didn't like. Sure, some we liked more, and we get those glimpses when the sun is right. But we like its entire spectrum.

EDIT: And sometimes you may have to take a leap of faith. Not even NPT has any Moraine pictures in their gallery. The pictures you found here might very well be the only pictures in the wild of that surface.

 

[Billy1234]

I want to clarify: There is no *one* color for any pool surface. There is a spectrum depending on too many variables to control... Lighting level, lighting direction, where you're standing, depth, surroundings, cloudiness... The best thing you can do is find as many pictures as you can and integrate *all* of them into your view of that surface. Do *not* just pick one picture and fall in love with it, because that picture may not ever actually manifest in your installation. My wife and I picked the surface we did because there were very few pictures we saw that we didn't like. Sure, some we liked more, and we get those glimpses when the sun is right. But we like its entire spectrum.

EDIT: And sometimes you may have to take a leap of faith. Not even NPT has any Moraine pictures in their gallery. The pictures you found here might very well be the only pictures in the wild of that surface.

There is Tropics Blue Micro. I saw and touched the sample at my local NPT store this afternoon and had a long discussion with the salesperson about it. It comes premixed with the abalone which you can't opt out of unfortunately or you can choose to add glass along with the pre-mixed in abalone. Apparently it's one of the more expensive micro options according to the salesperson.

Again, my main goal is to figure out the ranking of those three finishes based on darkest to lightest.

 

[KCNM]

There is Tropics Blue Micro. I saw and touched the sample at my local NPT store this afternoon and had a long discussion with the salesperson about it. It comes premixed with the abalone which you can't opt out of unfortunately or you can choose to add glass along with the pre-mixed in abalone. Apparently it's one of the more expensive micro options according to the salesperson.

Again, my main goal is to figure out the ranking of those three finishes based on darkest to lightest.

It's not listed on NPT's website, which is what I based that statement on. Especially with the premixed abalone, I'm guessing that might be a custom mix done by your PB or applicator.

My point is that a light surface in the shade is going to be darker than a dark surface in the sun... Especially when you're taking about what's essentially multiple shades of blue.

Based on the NPT pictures, moraine seems to be a darker shade than aqua blue. The descriptions for both tropics blue and moraine say "dark blue pigment", so they might even be the same pigment. Which means it would be up to the stones to make any difference.

https://www.nptpool.com/images/pool-finish/stonescapes/micro/puck/moraine.jpg

https://www.nptpool.com/images/pool-finish/stonescapes/micro/puck/aqua-blue.jpg

https://www.nptpool.com/images/pool-finish/stonescapes/regular-pebbles/puck/tropics-blue.jpg

 

[Billy1234]

Thanks, and yes I understand how sun / shade / water depth and time of day effect color, that’s why I’m doing so much extra leg work

The sample of Tropics Blue micro was at an NPT storefront in the valley:

National Pool Tile
(818) 787-2500

National Pool Tile · 7901 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406

★★★★☆ · Tile store

goo.gl

It’s also really interesting how different the aqua blue micro and moraine micro samples look in person vs the website swatches. Aqua Blue was a much lighter base in person.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[Cena_sea]

Hi. Of your sample pics I really like the middle pool pic's color but to me it looks more aquamarine.

I found this site searching for water picture colors that my builder uses. I think all of your color's waters look really nice off of npt's site. But I think it's really good you were able to see the samples in person and how it will look up close and in shallow water.

 

[JamesW]

Pool Finishes: Micro | NPTpool.com

StoneScapes Micro Moraine Blue creates dark blue water color and is comprised of modified white Portland cement which has been colored with dark blue pigment, natural quartz aggregate and a specialty blend of glass bead aggregates.

www.nptpool.com

motorrad

www.troublefreepool.com

NPT Micro Stonescapes pool pics

Hi. Reposting in hopefully right section. Looking for pictures of any finished pools with NPT Moraine or Aqua Blue Micro finish. Liking the micro for smoothness but thinking the Moraine may be a little green. Thanks!

www.troublefreepool.com

Stonescapes Micro Moraine:

 

[Golfball]

We're about 3 weeks away from our new build moving to the finish stage - pool is poured concrete in a rectangle and baha shelf, deepest end is 6' and gets lots of sun throughout the day until sunset. We're pretty set on the Micro Stonescape finish (we like the smoothness and the more even appearing surface at close distance for shallow areas like baha shelf vs. the salt and pepper look with mini) and are torn between these finishes:

Aqua Blue micro
Tropics Blue micro
Moraine micro

My concern is we don't want it to feel dark, just a natural feeling blue. We weren't even considering Moraine until we saw this post NPT Micro Stonescapes pool pics
that makes it look pretty much perfect for us... but wondering if these pictures are accurate to how it will look or if in the shade near sunset, it will be much much darker. Here are our inspiration photos:

Award Winning Mid Century Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Gus Duffy AIA | Houzz

Award Winning Mid Century Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Gus Duffy AIA | Houzz

www.houzz.com

Industrial Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Scribe Studio | Houzz

Industrial Modern - Contemporary - Pool - Los Angeles - by Scribe Studio | Houzz

www.houzz.com

Winflo Cabana and Pool - Contemporary - Pool - Austin - by Chioco Design | Houzz

Winflo Cabana and Pool - Contemporary - Pool - Austin - by Chioco Design | Houzz

www.houzz.com

Which one did you end up picking?