Resurfacing an Older Pool: Pavers, Flocrete, Tile and What to Expect

Most older pools don't fail all at once. The surface gets rougher under bare feet. A stain that used to brush out stays put. The tile line looks tired, and you start wondering whether the pool is worth putting more money into. Often it is. A resurface is the project that makes an older pool feel like a different one.

Signs it might be time

None of these proves anything alone, and a professional should look at the pool before anyone tells you it needs work. But the common signs are a rough or sandy feel on the floor and steps, stains and discoloration that won't clean off, visible wear in the surface, and tile that is loose, cracked or stained. If your pool has been through many Florida summers without a refresh, it's worth a look.

It's also worth thinking about what else has bothered you. If you've put up with a missing vacuum line, a dated tile band, or a pool that looks plain next to the rest of the yard, a resurface is when those things get fixed, because the pool is already drained and open.

Pavers or Flocrete: two ways to finish the pool

Mannix Pools & Grills lists resurfacing with pavers or Flocrete among its pool remodeling services. They give you different looks and a different feel underfoot, so it helps to see samples in person instead of choosing from a photo. Our showroom at 3500 Cypress Gardens Road was set up for exactly this kind of design conversation.

When you compare finishes, think about four things: how it feels on bare feet, how it looks when the sun hits the water, how it handles Florida heat and pool chemistry, and what care it needs over the years. Ask every contractor to explain how the finish they recommend wears, and look at real samples in daylight. A sample under showroom lights looks different at three in the afternoon beside your own pool.

Tile, mosaics and waterfalls

A resurface empties the pool, which makes it the easiest time to update the details. We offer a variety of tile designs, tile mosaics and waterfalls. A fresh band of tile at the waterline, a mosaic on the wall or a waterfall at one end changes how the whole backyard feels, and it's far simpler to plan these things together than to come back for them later.

Return lines and vacuum lines are the plumbing you don't think about until you wish you had it. If you've been dragging a hose because the pool has no vacuum line, or the water never seems to circulate to the far end, say so at the start. We add return lines and vacuum lines when they're needed, and doing it during a resurface is much easier than doing it afterward.

What happens at the free site visit

Pool remodeling starts with a free site visit and quote. Someone comes out, looks at the pool, listens to what you want and puts a plan on paper. In Diane Fehring's case, the owner, B.J. Mannix, came to her house himself. She wrote: "He listened carefully to my needs and worked with me to stay in my budget. He didn't try to upsell me anything I didn't want."

You'll get more out of the visit if you show up ready. A few things to have in mind:

• What bothers you most about the pool today, whether that's the feel, the stains, the tile or the plumbing
• Any equipment that has been giving you trouble
• Photos or ideas you've collected for tile, color or features
• Your budget, said out loud
• Your questions about who handles the water chemistry once the work is done

After the work: the water matters too

A new surface isn't finished when the crew packs up. Diane's review mentions that the project ran all the way through the last day of chemical balancing, and that's how it should go. A fresh surface needs the water brought into balance and watched closely at the start, so ask any contractor who handles that and what the plan is.

Because we also offer weekly pool service, the same company can keep an eye on the pool after a resurface. Diane's own summary of her project was this: "It was a stress free project and my 1987 pool is like new again!"

Mannix is a Florida state certified contractor, CPC-1458804, and we work across all of Polk County. The pool remodeling page has the details, or call (863) 326-9656 to set up a visit.