Swimming pool resurfacing costs $6,500 on average
Pool resurfacing costs $6,500 on average for a pool measuring 1,000 square feet. But you could end up paying anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 depending on size, type, finish, and your location. However, the end result will be a beautifully updated pool customized to your family’s wants and needs that you can enjoy for years to come.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $6,500 | $30,000 |
Pool Resurfacing Cost Breakdown
When planning a pool refinishing project, it's a good idea to get a sense of where your money is going so you can see if there's anywhere you can save or where you have room to spend a little more for a better or more durable end result.
Pool Size
The bigger the pool, the more it costs to repair. For example, resurfacing a concrete pool costs roughly $6,500 per 1,000 feet. So, if you have a 2,000-square-foot pool, you're looking at a total resurfacing cost of $13,000.
Pool Type
Vinyl pools cost the least to resurface since you’re not technically resurfacing them, but actually replacing the liner. Concrete and fiberglass pools are more costly because of the time and materials required for the refinishing.
Finish Type
Tiles are beautiful and incredibly durable, but they're also the most expensive. So if you want a completely tiled pool, be prepared to invest a significant sum. However, a tiled finish is easy to repair; If a tile breaks, you can just get that one replaced.
Tip: If you want the beauty of tile without the sticker shock, you can just tile above the waterline and use a more affordable finish below.
Paint is the lowest-cost, but least-durable option. Plaster is a good middle ground because it’s reasonably durable and cost-effective. Aggregate adds a luxury look and, while pricier than plaster, costs much less than tile.
Materials Cost to Refinish a Pool
Plaster, if applied properly, lasts 10 years and costs $4 per square foot, while pebbles—one of the most durable aggregate options—have a lifespan of 20+ years and a cost of $10 per square foot. At the top end are tiles, with glass tile being the most costly at around $25 per square foot. However, they can last a lifetime.
Pool paint costs around $1 per square foot, but it won't last as long as other materials, with a lifespan of just two to five years. Even with perfect water chemistry and high-quality Epoxy paint, the hardest-wearing pool paint won't last longer than seven years before it needs reapplying.
Overall, the cost of materials to refinish your pool varies significantly based on quality, lifespan, durability, and rarity.
Drain, Clean, and Refill
Getting someone to drain your pool costs between $175 and $225, plus another $250 for cleaning. Once the refinishing is complete, you'll need it refilled, which costs around $55 per 5,000 gallons.
Labor Cost to Resurface a Pool
On average, it costs between $45 and $65 per hour in labor to refinish a pool. However, your costs may vary based on your location and the job's complexity.
Pool Resurfacing Cost by Type
After installation, resurfacing is one of the highest swimming pool costs you'll face, and how much it costs depends on the type of pool you have. Each pool type and finish has different time, labor, and material costs. Vinyl pools generally cost the least, with concrete (often called gunite) pools costing the most to resurface.
Fiberglass Pool Resurfacing Cost
Fully resurfacing fiberglass pools costs an average of $6,500 per 1,000 square feet. If, however, you just want a new gel coat with a painted topcoat, which is enough to cover minor scratches and dings, you'll pay around $1,000 to $1,200.
Available finishes for fiberglass pools include:
Paint: Epoxy paint is a popular finishing option that you can do yourself or hire a pro to take on for you. It's relatively affordable compared to other finish types and typically costs $1 to $2 per square foot, including labor.
Aggregate: Aggregate finishes usually comprise quartz, pebbles, glass beads, and/or crushed stone. This finish type typically costs $5 to $7 per square foot.
Tile: Tile is among the most expensive finish types, but it's also the most durable and long-lasting. It usually costs anywhere from $4 to$30 per square foot depending on the type.
Concrete/Gunite Pool Resurfacing Cost
Concrete pools usually cost around $6,500 per 1,000 square feet, but costs vary depending on the finish you choose. Choosing pricier materials, and those that need a lot of time or labor to install, can quickly rack up costs, so make sure you speak to a local pool repair pro for an accurate quote.
Available finishes for concrete/gunite pools include:
Paint: Paint finishes are also available for concrete/gunite pools and typically costs $1 to $2 per square foot.
Plaster: Plaster is usually composed of marble aggregate, sand, and cement. It typically comes in white, but some manufacturers offer additional colors. This finish type costs between $5 and $6 per square foot.
Aggregate: Aggregate is comparable in price to plaster, usually costing around $5 to $7 per square foot, but some aggregate types can cost more.
Tile: You can expect to pay anywhere from $4 to $30 per square foot to finish your pool in tile. Glass tiles are usually the most expensive, while ceramic and porcelain are most affordable.
Vinyl Pool Resurface Cost
You don't technically refinish vinyl pools. Instead, you replace the whole liner, which costs between $1,000 and $3,500 per 1,000 square feet.
Cost to Resurface a Pool by Finish Type
If you have a high-end swimming pool, you’ll want to show it off in the best possible way, so you might want a finish that really sets it apart. But if your pool is more for fun family time than hosting an elegant poolside event and you're working with a tight budget, you likely want a solid finish that doesn't break the bank.
Cost to Repaint a Pool
Painting a pool surface costs around $1,500 per 1,000 square feet, including labor. It's a quick and easy job and a good choice if you decide your pool needs a facelift before your upcoming party. However, pool paint has a short lifespan at five to 7 years, and it's more susceptible to damage from poor water chemistry, which can further shorten its lifespan.
Cost to Replaster a Pool
Replastering a pool costs $5,500 per 1,000 square feet on average, including labor. Good-quality plaster, when properly installed, should last around 10 years, assuming you maintain healthy water chemistry.
The standard color is white, but some contractors offer the option to add pigment in blue, gray, or black. Adding pigment may result in an additional charge but allows you to create a custom look.
Cost to Resurface a Pool With Aggregate Finishes
The average cost of polished and rough aggregate pool resurfacing, including quartz, pebble, and crushed stone, is $6,500, including labor. Aggregates have a long lifespan, with quartz lasting around 12 years and glass beads lasting more than 20 years.
Cost to Refinish a Pool With Tiles
If you want to resurface the whole pool in tile, expect to pay around $30,000 per 1,000 square feet. If you want the high-end look of tile but want to spend less, go for tile edging to make a statement, then install something less costly, like colored plaster, below the waterline.
Porcelain tiles: $4 per square foot*
Ceramic tiles: $6 per square foot*
Glass tiles: $25 per square foot*
*plus $45–$65 per hour for labor
Tiles are the most expensive option because the installation process is so labor-intensive, but they're also the longest-lasting, with most tiles lasting around 20 years or more.
Additional Costs to Consider
In addition to basic resurfacing prices, it's helpful to consider associated costs that might come with a resurfacing project. For instance, if you're making other repairs or installing additional features, you'll want to factor those costs into your overall budget.
Repairs
The cost to repair a swimming pool usually ranges anywhere from $200 to $1,200, but it might be more or less expensive depending on the repairs you need. Minor repairs, like pump motor repairs, typically cost between $50 and $300, while replacing a pool filter usually costs $1,500 to $2,000.
Additional Features
While beautifying your pool with a new surface, maybe you want to enhance it even further with additional features. Common add-ons include lighting, decking, and fencing.
Lighting
New pool lights cost anywhere from $20 to $1,700, but most homeowners will pay around $625 per light. LED pool lights usually cost the most, while incandescent bulbs cost the least. Additional features, like color-changing technology, will further increase costs.
Water Heater
If you want to extend your swimming season or simply make it more comfortable, consider installing a pool heater. Pool heaters cost between $1,700 and $4,000 to install based on the size and type.
Decking
A new deck can enhance the look of your pool while making it safer and more comfortable to walk around it. Pool decks cost between $3,000 and $12,000 depending on the deck's size.
Fencing
Pool fences can help prevent accidents so they're an important safety measure, especially for households with kids and pets. The cost of pool fencing ranges from $1,500 to $10,000 based on the fence's size and materials.
Water Features
You can add water features to your pool to make it more fun and inviting, such as a waterfall, waterslide, or fountain. Depending on the type you choose, you can expect to pay between $450 and $1,900.
How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Pool Yourself?
Expect to save $45 to $60 per hour on labor costs by DIYing your pool surface—but most pool resurfacing jobs are best reserved for the pros. The only full resurfacing option that most homeowners can do themselves is repainting, and even that requires a certain amount of skill and experience.
If you want to hire a local pool resurfacing professional but also want to minimize costs, you can take care of the draining, cleaning, refilling, and water rebalancing yourself. You'll save approximately $200 for draining the pool and around $250 for a thorough clean. However, remember that you'll increase your water utility costs for the refill plus the cost of pool chemicals if you choose to rebalance the water yourself.
These tasks are time-consuming and the savings are minimal, so unless you're certain you have the time and skills required, you'll likely be better off doing something fun and leaving pool refinishing to the professionals. Plus, if you botch the job, you'll end up paying more to fix the problem and complete the refinish than if you'd hired a pro to begin with.
However, most homeowners can patch small areas of their pool surface using DIY kits that cost less than $50. The same goes for replacing broken or missing tiles. No need to re-tile the whole area or get a pro. With minimal know-how, you can easily replace a tile or two.
Katy Willis contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll know your pool needs resurfacing when you notice signs like plaster flakes or peels, surface stains, rough plaster surface, and discoloration in the plaster. You should also scan for cracks in the pool’s structure, rust stains, rebound cracks in the pool steps, and fiberglass failure.
You’ll pay between $3 and $5 per square foot on the cost to replaster a pool. The final cost depends on the size of the pool and if you want the plaster dyed. Replastering a pool adds a new layer of plaster on the walls and bottom of your pool, which helps with your pool's waterproofing.
Most plaster products list how much surface area they'll cover per package. But you still need to work out how much square footage you have to replaster. It's a simple formula, though.
Measure the length and width of one side of your pool, and multiply them to get the square footage of one side. Multiply that by two to account for the opposite side, assuming you have a rectangular pool. Now repeat for the other sides. And then again for the floor. Add the square footage of each side and the floor together, and you have your total square footage.
A good plaster finish should last between five and 10 years. However, how well you maintain the correct chemical balance of the water impacts the lifespan of your pool's finish. It's one of the main reasons that proper pool maintenance is so important. After all, the cost to maintain a pool is much less than the cost to repair a pool.
While your pool’s size and materials play a big role, expect it to take five to seven days to resurface your pool unless you're using paint, which is often done in a day or two. If you live in an area prone to bad weather or in a remote location, it may take up to 14 days.
