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Pool resurfacing strips the old plaster, pebble, or fiberglass surface from your pool’s interior and applies a fresh finish. Most Bay Area pools need it every 8 to 15 years. Adams Pool Solutions has resurfaced more than 10,000 pools since 1953, every one prepped with our 40,000 PSI Hydroblast process and backed by a 10-year bond warranty.
Pool resurfacing strips the old surface and applies a fresh finish, every one prepped with our 40,000 PSI Hydroblast process and backed by a 10-year bond warranty.
1953
Family owned since
10,000+
Pools resurfaced
10-Year
Bond warranty
1,000
Pools per year
We use our own crews for all phases of the job unless the work involves gunite or concrete flatwork. Our control over the quality of the work as well as scheduling has helped us build an impressive body of satisfied customers, and every project has an onsite project supervisor whose mission is to ensure your complete satisfaction.
Resurfacing is often one part of a larger pool remodeling project. If the tile, coping, or equipment also need attention, we fold them into a single scope with one schedule and one crew.
Pool surfaces wear out gradually, so the warning signs are easy to miss until a small problem turns into an expensive one. Deterioration progresses through predictable stages, and catching them early determines whether you are looking at a straightforward resurfacing or a more involved structural repair.
A well-maintained plaster surface feels smooth underfoot. When plaster begins to deteriorate, calcium leaches out of the surface, leaving a rough, abrasive texture you notice on your feet and hands. This is one of the earliest and most reliable signs.
Mineral staining from calcium, iron, and copper is a normal maintenance issue. When staining does not respond to acid washing or targeted chemical treatment, the surface has become porous enough that minerals are penetrating below the top layer.
Fine surface cracks are common as plaster ages. Crazing, a spider-web pattern of shallow cracks, indicates the surface layer has begun to separate from the gunite shell. Cosmetic at first, but it lets water in and accelerates deterioration.
Sections of plaster that lift, chip, or come away from the shell have lost their bond. Delamination is a structural failure of the surface layer and will not improve with patching. Once it begins in multiple spots, a full replaster is the correct repair.
A porous surface consumes chlorine and pH stabilizers faster than a sound surface because chemicals are absorbed rather than staying in solution. If consumption has climbed without a change in usage, the surface is the likely cause.
A pitted surface gives algae a foothold. If algae keeps returning after cleaning and balanced chemistry, the surface itself is the cause.
Surface cracks and failed fittings let water escape, which shows up as a pool that drops faster than evaporation alone explains.
Knock on the pool walls with your knuckle. A hollow sound beneath the surface indicates a void between the plaster and the shell, which means the bond has failed in that area.
Bay Area pools, particularly in the East Bay and Tri-Valley, contend with hard water that accelerates plaster degradation. Pleasanton, Danville, Walnut Creek, and Livermore are served by water sources with elevated calcium hardness, so pools in these areas often need resurfacing closer to the 10-year mark for white plaster rather than the 15-year upper range seen in softer-water regions.
Seeing two or more of these signs? Our team can tell you whether a resurface, a targeted repair, or a larger remodel is the right call.
The two terms overlap, which is why people use them interchangeably, but they are not identical.
Replastering specifically means applying a fresh coat of white plaster, a cement and marble-dust mix, over the existing shell. It is the original and most economical pool finish.
Resurfacing is the broader term. It covers replastering as well as upgrading to a longer-lasting finish such as quartz or pebble aggregate. Every replaster is a resurface, but not every resurface is a simple replaster.
The decision comes down to how long you want the surface to last and the look you are after. We walk you through both paths during the estimate so the finish matches your budget and how you actually use the pool. For a full breakdown of pricing by finish, see what pool resurfacing costs in the Bay Area in 2026.
We run every phase of the resurface with our own crews, so the schedule and the quality of the work stay under our control from drain to fill. A standard resurface follows five steps and is typically complete in 7 to 10 days.
We drain the pool and inspect the shell, the waterline tile, and the fittings, so there are no surprises once the old surface comes off.
Instead of jackhammers, we strip the old finish with water at 40,000 PSI. This removes the worn surface without driving shock waves into the gunite shell, which protects the structure and gives the new finish a clean profile to bond to.
We patch cracks, address hollow spots, replace failed tile and coping where needed, and apply a bond coat so the new surface grips the shell.
Our crew applies your chosen plaster, quartz, or pebble finish in one continuous pour for an even, consistent surface with no cold joints.
We refill the pool right away and walk you through the first 28 days of curing care, including brushing and water chemistry, so the new surface sets up hard and lasts.
Most resurfacing contractors remove the old surface with jackhammers and chipping hammers. That method works, but the impact force sends vibration through the gunite shell, creating micro-fractures that are invisible to the eye. New plaster applied over a micro-fractured shell fails first right above those fractures, typically within five to seven years.
Adams hydroblasts instead: water at 40,000 PSI strips the old plaster cleanly from the gunite without sending impact force into the shell. The result is a mechanically clean surface with no micro-fractures and a profile that creates a superior bond for the new finish.
We back every hydroblasted resurfacing with a 10-year bond warranty covering the adhesion of the new surface to the shell. We do not offer that warranty on surfaces prepared any other way, because the bond performance is not equivalent.
Hydroblast surface prep: the future of concrete surface preparation.
The finish you choose sets the look, the texture, the cost, and how long the surface lasts. We install the full range, so you are never pushed toward a single option.
White plaster is Portland cement mixed with white marble aggregate and water, the standard residential pool finish for decades. Installed correctly with proper startup chemistry, it holds up for 7 to 12 years in the Bay Area. It produces the bright blue look most people associate with a swimming pool, costs less than aggregate finishes upfront, and is straightforward to repair. The tradeoff is a shorter service life and greater sensitivity to water chemistry imbalances.
Colored plaster uses the same cement and marble base as white plaster with mineral oxide pigments added. Gray, blue, black, and green are common choices. The color runs through the material, not a surface coating, so the pool keeps its color as the surface wears. Service life is comparable to white plaster. Dark colors can make it harder to see the pool bottom, a consideration for commercial pools and households with young children.
Quartz finishes replace some or all of the marble dust in plaster with ground quartz crystals. The result is a harder, denser surface that resists staining and abrasion better than standard plaster. Common products include QuartzScapes and Stonescapes. Service life runs 12 to 15 years under normal Bay Area conditions, at a cost between white plaster and pebble.
Pebble finishes embed small pebbles into a cement matrix, exposing the aggregate after the cement is washed back. PebbleTec, PebblePlus, PebbleSheen, and Wet Edge lead this category. These are the most durable finishes available, lasting 15 to 25 years. For pools that will not be resurfaced again for 20 years, pebble typically represents better value over the full lifecycle even at a higher upfront cost.
Glass bead finishes are a variation on pebble aggregate that uses glass beads rather than stone pebbles. The result is a smoother, more reflective surface with a distinctive shimmer. Durability is comparable to pebble aggregate, and these finishes are especially popular in high-end residential projects where the visual effect is the primary consideration.
A resurface is also the ideal moment to refresh the waterline tile and coping, since the pool is already drained and prepped. You can compare materials in more detail on our pool surface options page.
Pool resurfacing costs in the Bay Area depend on pool size, current surface condition, the finish material selected, and the scope of any additional work being done at the same time. These factors determine the final price:
We provide itemized, written estimates after an on-site inspection. We do not quote resurfacing over the phone, because the condition of the existing surface determines a significant portion of the scope. For current price ranges by finish, see what pool resurfacing costs in the Bay Area in 2026.
We resurface commercial pools, HOA and apartment-community pools, and hotel and club pools across the Bay Area and Las Vegas. A commercial pool is a revenue-producing or resident-amenity asset, and downtime has a direct cost, so commercial work runs on a tighter calendar and a stricter standard. Our own crews and Hydroblast equipment let us turn a large surface around quickly and reopen on schedule.
We hold a California C-53 Swimming Pool license (CSLB #726779) and Nevada license #47958, and we handle the permitting, health-code compliance, surface prep, and finish as one managed project with a supervisor on-site throughout. Recent work includes the Miwok Aquatic Center at College of Marin, HOA community pools across the East Bay, and hotel properties in Las Vegas.
If the property also needs structural or equipment work, we fold the resurface into a full commercial pool scope. Commercial estimates require an on-site visit: call (925) 828-3100.
How the surface is treated in the first month sets how long it lasts. We hand you a simple start-up plan: brush the surface daily for the first two weeks, keep the water chemistry balanced, and hold off on salt systems and pool covers until the finish has cured. After that, balanced water and routine brushing are what keep plaster, quartz, or pebble looking new and push the surface to the long end of its lifespan.
Bay Area pool owners have choices when selecting a resurfacing contractor. The primary differentiator for Adams is that we do the work ourselves. Our plastering and surface prep crews are Adams employees, not subcontractors. That means consistent workmanship, a single point of accountability, and a warranty backed by the contractor who actually performed the work.
Adams Pool Solutions builds, remodels, and resurfaces pools across the San Francisco Bay Area. We serve homeowners and commercial clients throughout the communities below.
Adams Pool Solutions builds, remodels, and resurfaces pools across the Las Vegas valley. We serve homeowners and commercial clients throughout the communities below.
Cost depends on pool size, surface material, and the condition of the existing shell. White plaster is the most economical option. Pebble aggregate finishes cost more upfront but last two to three times longer, which changes the math over a 15-to-20-year horizon. Adams provides detailed, itemized estimates after an on-site consultation. Contact us for a free quote. For a full 2026 price breakdown by finish and the Bay Area factors that move the number, see what pool resurfacing costs in the Bay Area.
A straightforward surface preparation and resurfacing project is typically complete in 7 to 10 days. Additional scope adds time: new tile and coping, masonry repairs, plumbing, or equipment upgrades. Once we start, completing your project as quickly as possible is the priority.
Yes. California requires a building permit for any swimming pool project, including replastering and resurfacing. Adams handles the permit process on your behalf. You pay the permit fees directly to the city or county, and we manage the paperwork and inspection coordination.
Hydroblasting uses 40,000 PSI water pressure to strip the old pool surface instead of jackhammers. Traditional mechanical removal sends shock waves into the concrete shell, creating micro-fractures that cause bond failures within five to seven years. Hydroblasting removes the old surface without damaging the shell underneath, which is why Adams backs every hydroblasted resurfacing with a 10-year bond warranty, one of the strongest in the industry.
Yes, in almost every case. A failing surface gets rougher, stains more easily, loses water through cracks, and grows algae faster, which raises your chemical and water costs every month. Resurfacing restores a smooth, sealed surface, protects the shell underneath, and adds years to the pool. It is also far less expensive than letting surface damage reach the structure.
We do not recommend it. Resurfacing means draining the pool, stripping the old finish, repairing the shell, and applying and curing a new surface in a narrow window before it sets. Plaster and aggregate finishes are mixed and troweled to a tight timeline, and mistakes show up as delamination or a rough, blotchy surface within a season. The cheapest way to resurface is to have it done right once by a licensed crew, not to redo a failed DIY job.
