A pool resurface runs through a set of stages, from draining to filling, and the total time depends on how much repair the shell needs, the finish you choose, whether tiles or coping are being replaced and the weather. We don’t quote a one-size-fits-all number because the honest answer changes from pool to pool. You get a realistic timeline with your written quote.
What we can tell you is what happens at each stage, what slows a job down and how we plan around the date you want to be swimming. For the full scope of work, see our pool resurfacing page.
The stages, from drain to swim
- Inspection and quote. We look at the pool, sound out the render where we can and talk through finishes.
- Drain. We check ground conditions and the hydrostatic valve first, then empty the pool.
- Strip and prep. The old surface comes off and the shell is ground back to sound render.
- Repairs. Drummy render is cut out and replaced, and cracks are opened up and repaired.
- Tiles and coping. Loose or tired waterline tiles and coping are replaced while the pool is empty.
- Finish. The new surface is applied by hand, then exposed or polished depending on the finish.
- Cure, fill and start-up. The surface needs to be ready before water goes in, then the pool is filled and balanced.
Each stage has to be done properly before the next one starts. Rushing a stage to hit a date is how surfaces fail early, so we don’t.
What changes the timeline
How much repair the shell needs
This is the biggest variable and we can’t see all of it until the old surface is off. A shell with sound render moves quickly. One with widespread drummy patches or several cracks needs more time in the repair stage, and repairs have to cure properly before the finish goes on.
The finish
Different finishes take different time to apply and to settle. A pebble finish and a quartz finish are applied and exposed in different ways. A fully tiled interior (see pool tiling) involves setting and grouting every tile, which is slower than applying a surface coat.
Tiles and coping
Replacing waterline tiles or coping adds stages to the job. It’s still the right time to do it, because the pool is empty and the crew is already there, but it does add to the timeline.
Weather
Rain and temperature both matter. Cement-based finishes are sensitive to wet weather during application and to extreme heat or cold. Sydney’s weather can turn quickly, so we plan around the forecast and sometimes hold a stage back for better conditions. That is better than applying a finish in poor weather and living with it for years.
Access
Narrow side paths, steps and sloping blocks slow the carrying of materials and equipment. It shows up more in older established suburbs than on newer estates.
Why curing and start-up can’t be rushed
The new surface continues to harden after it’s applied, and the first period in the water is when it’s most sensitive to chemistry. We take you through start-up and the care that goes with it. If you’d like the detail, read caring for a new pool surface.
Our approach: we work to your deadline and keep you updated on the schedule. We won’t promise a finish date we can’t keep, and we won’t cut a stage to make one.
Planning around your swim-by date
Pool season opens in November, but people want the pool ready for different dates: the start of the season, Christmas or later in summer. Tell us your date when you ask for a quote, and we’ll work back from it and give you a realistic schedule. The earlier you ask, the more choice you have about when the job starts, and the more room there is to absorb a bout of bad weather without missing your date.
If you’re choosing a start time, our guide on the best time to resurface covers how seasons affect booking and application. And if you want to see how scope affects price as well as time, see what drives the cost.
