Whether you call it pool replastering or resurfacing, all pools will eventually need to have their ‘coating’ refinished. Autumn is the best time of year to do this. Pool replastering costs run from under $1,500 to upwards of $30,000, depending on the material you choose. You basically have 4 options:
- Paint
- Plaster
- Aggregate
- Tile
Pool Paint
Paint is the least expensive and definitely a possible Do It Yourself project. Once you’ve drained the pool, you’ll be better able to see what condition the surface is in. (Finding cracks? missing chunks of cement? These repairs are not quite as accessible for the DIYer. For that you may want to hire a pro.) All you really need to resurface with paint is a brush or roller. You’ll put paint on first, and then seal it with a glossy finish. The glossier a finish, the harder it becomes and the less permeable to water damage over time. Paint costs between $1,500 to $2,000 including labor.
Pool Replastering Costs
Plaster is the material most pools are resurfaced with. Plaster is softer than other options and therefore weaker. It won’t last as long as stone or pebble aggregate or tile. Replastering should be done every 6 to 10 years. For the expense and hassle, more and more homeowners are opting out of pool replastering and either going with an aggregate or tile. Pool replastering costs run in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $10,000. For the money, it’s worth using a plaster that has marble, stone or quartz dust to harden the plaster and extend its life.
Aggregate is a mix of small stone and/or glass beads. This type of resurfacing material is applied like plaster because the stone and beads are mixed into a ‘ground’. The surface is then wiped clean to reveal the aggregate. There are many options for color with aggregates and they come either tiny or medium sized. The surface is somewhat irregular and feels like walking in a pebbly stream. Aggregate surfaces can last up to 20 years. The cost usually ranges around $9,000-$10,000.
Tile
And finally we come to the Big Cheese: glass or porcelain tile. The hardness of tile can’t be beat and for that reason it can last upwards of 30 years. You’re probably looking at a range of $15,000 to $30,000, depending on the cost of the tile. Labor is added to that. But the high-end results are stunning and creative. Tile comes in many different shapes, from small squares to small rectangles, to subway tile to large squares.
Sometimes the designer will choose the most cost effective way: to tile the bottom of the pool and plaster the walls. Here’s a beautiful example of that:
