What a pool remodel costs in Los Angeles

"Remodel" covers everything from freshening a tired surface to tearing out and rebuilding a backyard, which is why quotes come back so far apart. This page separates those jobs, puts 2026 LA numbers against the ones that have them, and gives you the language to describe what you actually want.

Modern Pool & Repair connects Los Angeles homeowners with pool contractors. Nothing here is a quote. Your quote comes from the contractor who would do the work.

First, work out which job you are actually buying

Most remodels are one of three, and they are very different purchases.

A resurface

The interior surface is worn, stained or rough underfoot, but the shell, the plumbing and the shape are fine. This is the most common pool remodel and the most predictable to price. Pool resurfacing covers what that job involves.

A resurface plus the visible trim

The surface plus waterline tile, coping, or both. This is where most pools jump from "repaired" to "renewed", because tile and coping are what you actually see from the patio.

A structural remodel

Changing the shape, depth or structure, moving equipment, adding a spa or a tanning ledge, rebuilding decking. Pricing this from an article is not possible and anyone who offers to is guessing. It is closer to a new build than to a resurface, and the page on what a new pool costs is the better starting point.

What LA homeowners are paying, where numbers exist

Researched for the Los Angeles market as of October 2026. These are market figures, not a price list, and not a quote.

• Replaster with white plaster: $6,000 to $8,500.
• Pebble finish: $10,000 to $14,000.
• Resurface plus new waterline tile: $9,500 to $14,000.
• Quartz and coloured aggregate typically lands between plaster and pebble. We do not publish a dollar band for quartz because we could not find a published Los Angeles area job price for it, only a per square foot spread, and converting one into the other would be arithmetic dressed up as research.
• Waterline tile on its own: $15 to $60 per linear foot.
• Coping replacement: $40 to $80 per linear foot. One source gives a wider low end, so treat the bottom of that as optimistic until a contractor measures your coping.

Your pool's size, its condition once it is drained, and access to the yard move all of these.

What makes a remodel quote go up

• What is found after draining. Cracks, hollow spots and failed plumbing are not always visible with water in the pool. A good contractor will tell you what they cannot see yet.
• Tile and coping. Priced per linear foot, so perimeter matters more than surface area.
• Decking. Often the largest single line and frequently not in the pool number at all. Ask.
• Equipment. A remodel is the cheapest moment to replace ageing equipment, because the pool is already down and the contractor is already on site. The page on replacing pool equipment covers how to decide.
• Access. Same as any pool work. A narrow gate changes the job.

Questions to ask on a remodel quote

• Is this a resurface, or does it include tile and coping?
• What happens to the price if you find structural problems after draining?
• Is decking included, and how much?
• Which interior finish is quoted, and what would the others cost?
• How long will the pool be out of use?
• Is equipment included or separate?

Common questions

How long does a pool remodel take?

A straightforward resurface is usually measured in weeks rather than months, with the pool out of use for most of it. Adding tile, coping or decking extends it. Your contractor will give you a schedule against your specific job.

How do I know if I need a remodel or just a repair?

If the surface is rough, stained or failing in patches, that is a resurfacing conversation. If you are losing water or seeing cracks, get the cause diagnosed first. The pool repair page covers that side.

Is it worth remodelling an old pool?

Usually, yes, compared with building new. The shell is the expensive part and a sound shell is worth keeping. A contractor can tell you whether yours is sound.

Will a remodel fix a leak?

Not by itself. Resurfacing can close some minor seepage, but a real leak should be found and repaired before new finish goes on, or you pay twice.