Planning Your Pool Remodel: A Step-by-Step Guide to Picking Features
From surface finishes to fire features — how to plan your pool remodel, choose the right upgrades, and understand what each feature adds to the total cost.
Pool Pros of Pasco
20 Years of Pool Expertise
How to Plan Your Pool Remodel
A pool remodel is a significant investment — typically $12,000 to $100,000+ depending on scope. The key to staying on budget and getting the result you want is planning your features before you start. Here's our step-by-step approach after 20 years and thousands of pool transformations.
Step 1: Assess What Needs Fixing
Before dreaming about fire bowls and waterfalls, start with the basics:
- Is the surface worn, stained, or rough? → You need resurfacing ($8K–$18K)
- Is the deck cracked, uneven, or outdated? → You need new pavers ($7.5K–$36K)
- Is the coping chipped or mismatched? → You need new coping ($3K–$8K)
- Is the equipment old or inefficient? → You need equipment upgrades ($3K–$15K)
- Is the tile missing or discolored? → You need new waterline tile ($2K–$5K)
Pro tip: If you need resurfacing AND a new deck, do them together. The deck has to come out anyway for proper resurfacing, so you save on demo costs.
Step 2: Choose Your Surface Finish
The pool surface is the foundation of your remodel. It determines:
- Water color — darker finishes create deeper, more dramatic water
- Feel — PebbleSheen® is smoother than PebbleTec®
- Durability — PebbleTec® lasts 20–30 years vs. 5–7 for plaster
- Budget impact — Surface is typically 25–40% of total project cost
Visit our Design Studio to explore all PebbleTec® color options and see how they affect water appearance.
Step 3: Select Your Stone and Decking
The deck is the largest visible area of your pool project. Options include:
- Travertine pavers ($18–$25/sq ft) — The most popular choice in Florida. Natural stone, stays cool underfoot, elegant appearance
- Brick pavers ($12–$20/sq ft) — Classic look, many patterns available, very durable
- Concrete pavers ($10–$18/sq ft) — Budget-friendly, many color options
- Natural stone ($25–$40/sq ft) — Flagstone, bluestone, or limestone for a premium look
Cost calculation example: A 800 sq ft deck with travertine pavers = $14,400–$20,000 installed
Step 4: Pick Your Coping Style
Coping is the cap stone that sits on top of the pool wall. It's both functional (provides a grip edge) and aesthetic. Popular options:
- Travertine coping — Matches travertine decks, natural elegance
- Bull-nose coping — Rounded edge, classic pool look
- Cantilevered coping — Modern, seamless look that extends over the water
- Natural stone coping — Flagstone or limestone for a custom look
Step 5: Consider Feature Additions
This is where your pool goes from "remodeled" to "transformed." Each feature has a cost range:
Fire Features ($2,500 – $15,000)
- Copper fire bowls: $2,500–$5,000 each (most popular)
- Fire pit: $3,000–$8,000
- Fire torches: $800–$1,500 each
- Linear fire feature: $5,000–$15,000
Water Features ($500 – $12,000)
- Deck jets: $500–$800 each (usually installed in pairs)
- Laminar jets: $800–$1,200 each (arching streams of water)
- Sheer descent waterfall: $2,000–$4,000
- Rock waterfall: $5,000–$12,000
- Bubblers: $400–$700 each
Lighting ($2,000 – $8,000)
- LED color-changing pool light: $800–$1,500 each
- LED deck lighting: $1,000–$3,000
- Fiber optic perimeter lighting: $2,000–$5,000
- Landscape lighting integration: $1,500–$4,000
Automation & Heating ($3,000 – $15,000)
- Jandy AquaLink RS system: $3,000–$5,000
- iAquaLink app control: $500–$1,000 (add-on)
- Heat pump: $3,500–$7,000
- Gas heater: $2,500–$5,000
- Salt chlorine generator: $1,500–$3,000
Step 6: Calculate Your Total
Here's a sample budget for a mid-range full remodel:
| Feature | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| PebbleTec® resurfacing | $10,000 – $15,000 |
| Waterline tile | $2,500 – $4,000 |
| New coping | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| Travertine paver deck (800 sq ft) | $16,000 – $20,000 |
| 2 copper fire bowls | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 4 deck jets | $2,000 – $3,200 |
| LED color-changing lights (2) | $1,600 – $3,000 |
| Jandy automation system | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| Total | $44,600 – $66,200 |
Step 7: Explore Financing
Don't let the total number scare you. We partner with Lyon Financial to offer affordable monthly payments. A $50,000 project might be as low as $350–$500/month depending on terms.
Use Our Free Design Studio
Our online pool configurator lets you explore all these options visually. Select your surface, tile, coping, decking, features, and more — then request a custom quote based on your selections.
Ready to start planning? Call (727) 247-2214 or visit our Design Studio.
