The need to renovate a pool is not necessarily dependent upon age, but on how it was constructed and how the soil and weather have affected it. A pool that could be considered for remodeling may be almost new or over thirty years old. Most of the work performed during the remodel process is cosmetic, as the structure of the pool is usually sound. The client may choose to change the structure of the pool, such by making it longer and deeper. Such extensive renovations may also require replacement of the deck, coping, tile, plaster, and plumbing. In the Dallas area, concrete decks, patios, drives, and slabs are a problem from the beginning. This is due to "expansive soil." The ground moves seasonally due to soil moisture, and there is no guarantee that a slab on concrete laid on soil in Dallas, will not move or crack.

Just as in old houses, old pools also have old plumbing. Very often, this plumbing is made of copper. When chlorine comes in contact with the copper, the copper is eaten away and forms a blue discoloration on the plaster. Copper stains on the plaster dissolve away the surface of the plaster and cause pitting and etching.

Loose waterline tile, can be one of the first signs of a problem with the cantilever deck or wall(s) of the pool. The deck has actually been poured on top of the tile, and any movement of the deck loosens the tile.

The electrical system is perhaps the most inconspicuous, but more important elements in the renovation of a pool. Few pools build before 1980 would pass present national electrical codes. The bonding and equipment grounding codes were changed in 1976. Even with pools built more recently, the bond wires and seal-tite covering should be checked and possibly replaced. The cost to rewire an existing pool is roughly the same as wiring a new pool.

Gunite makes up the shell or structure of your pool. The shell will sometimes crack. These cracks may be structural or non-structural. Any crack in the gunite will show up in the plaster of the pool. Plaster cracks are generally not structural and do not follow a straight line. If a crack is leaking, dirt will be drawn into the crack and it will appear much larger than it actually is. Leaking cracks usually signify structural damage.

In almost every renovation where the tile and coping are replaced, it is necessary to replaster the pool. Pool plaster will last about 10 years if well maintained. The best way to replaster a pool is to sand blast or water blast the old surface to prepare it for receiving the new plaster coat. An acid wash prior to replastering will produce the same look, but the plaster will not last nearly as long as with sand or water blasting.