When you first built the pool in your backyard, you dreamed of all the sunny fun time possibilities. Now, it might be hard to walk past it without noticing all of its flaws. If you find yourself cringing at the thought of guests merely seeing your pool or you’re tired of looking at the same old, outdated features, it’s time to remodel your pool. Let this article be your ultimate guide to swimming pool remodeling to help you get started or gain insight into the process.
Resurface, Replaster, or Remodel?
Pool remodeling is an investment, but you may not need to remodel your pool entirely. Resurfacing is your least invasive option and allows you to repair minor cosmetic damage. Replastering involves repairing the pool’s surface, which you only need to do when the plaster surface is in disrepair. Remodeling is the whole gambit and includes resurfacing, replastering, tiling, and much more. It’s possible to resurface, replaster, or remodel portions of your pool, so convey exactly what you want to your contractor.
Start Drafting Ideas
If you’ve decided that you want to remodel your pool, your first job is to come up with a wish list of ideas that align with your budget. Do you want to redo the tiles? Are you looking for an entirely new finish, or do you simply want new coping? Whatever the case may be, you have plenty of materials, water features, and finishing options to choose from. Think of some general styles to use as guidelines if you’re unsure where to start.
Maybe you’re looking to create a tropical getaway or something a little more Greco-Roman? Perhaps you want something sleek and modern. Whatever you choose, it’s important to stay within your budget and set aside 10–12 percent of it for any emergencies that arise.
Find a Local Contractor
Once you’ve established your budget, selected your materials, and settled on a design, it’s time to find a contractor. Before getting quotes and looking at customer reviews, you should ask for their permit and insurance details. A contractor could have fantastic reviews and years of experience , but you’re putting yourself and your home at risk if they don’t have insurance and licensing.
Once you’ve confirmed they have insurance and licensing, ask for their portfolio and referrals. Any good contractor worth their salt will be more than happy to give you a list of referrals. If they don’t, they likely know they don’t have the experience or up-to-par skills you require for your pool remodel.
Step 1: Draining Your Pool
Before any work can begin, it’s important to prepare your deck by covering or removing plants, furniture, or valuable items. The remodeling process can get messy, and the more you clear out beforehand, the easier clean-up will be later on.
Workers will place a submersible pool pump at the bottom of your pool and drain the water with a hose leading out into the street. Note that this process can take up to a day, and your contractor may want to leave the pool to dry for a week to let any bad plaster hollow out.
Step 2: Checking for Hollow Spots
Once your pool is bone dry, your contractor will inspect the pool and check for hollow spots in the plaster. Some are obvious and look like spiderweb cracks, but this isn’t the case for all of them. Some hollow spots can be hard to find, and they may appear as bouncy, subtle bulges that only crack when you step on them. Again, it’s incredibly important to let your pool drain and dry completely.
Step 3: Chipping and Tiling
After your contractor has identified any problem areas, they can start the demolition process. This is the loudest and messiest part of the remodeling process and can take a few days, so prepare accordingly. Depending on your pool remodeling plan, the workers may have to chip off the plaster and potentially jackhammer the coping and tile. Once they’ve removed all the plaster, they will retile your pool.
Step 4: Resurfacing
The resurfacing process looks different, depending on the finish you choose. It may be a finishing polish or a coat of glass tile, beads, pebbling, or quartz. Workers will cover the installed waterline tile, coping, and drains and apply your desired finish to the surface of the pool. If you decide to use tile as your finish, this may take longer than it would to apply a spray-on pebble or granite finish.
Step 5: Cleaning
No matter how much tarping, taping, and prepping you do, there’s bound to be some mess after all of that hard work. A good contractor should make an effort to clean up the mess they made. They should clean any spills, track marks, plaster dust, dirt, and debris around your pool and any areas they stationed trucks and machines, such as the driveway.
Step 6: Refilling
Once your pool is finally finished and clean, it’s time to refill it! However, it’s not as simple as pouring in water and going for a swim. Your contractor should coordinate the delivery of your pool water and ensure the refill process goes smoothly and quickly. The longer it takes to refill your pool, the more likely water rings will appear around the pool’s surface.
Depending on your pool’s finish, your contractor should add chemical treatments to the water to kill bacteria and ensure the pH balance is safe for swimming. Your pool’s pH balance will differ depending on the finish you choose, so ask your contractor about your pool’s ideal pH level. If your pool is too acidic, it might eat away at the finish.
With this ultimate guide to pool remodeling, we hope the process is less intimidating and that you’re one step further to building the pool of your dreams.
If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced pool builder in the Houston area, let Limitless Custom Pools and Backyards bring your swimming pool dreams to life! Our pool restoration services can revive your pool, or we can design and build one from scratch. We’re here to help you build a hub of fun in your own backyard so you can beat the heat and enjoy quality time with loved ones under that beautiful Texas sun.
