A Carrollton Homeowner's Guide to Pool Remodeling

A pool remodel has four real stages, and knowing what happens at each one makes the whole process a lot less unpredictable. Here's what actually happens, from the first walk-through to the last one.

Step 1: On-site consultation and inspection

It starts with a careful evaluation of the existing pool, the shell, the equipment, the surface, and a conversation about what you actually want out of the remodel. This is where problems get identified before anything gets designed around them, so the plan that comes out of it is built on what the pool actually needs, not guesswork.

Step 2: Design and proposal

This is where the real choices get made. Plaster comes in three types, white marble for the classic smooth white finish, quartz aggregate for a different texture, or pebble aggregate for the most textured look. Tile is available standard or upgraded. Beyond the surface, this stage covers coping, decking, water features, LED lighting, energy-efficient pumps and heaters, and computer automation controlled from a smart device. The proposal itself comes out clear and itemized, so you can see exactly what each choice costs before construction starts. One thing worth knowing upfront: the original shape and size of the pool generally isn't changed during a remodel, though additions like benches, sun benches, and sun decks are on the table.

Step 3: Construction and remodeling

This is the physical work, plaster, tile, coping, and decking going in. The pool is drained for most of this stage. It typically takes three to ten weeks depending on the weather and how much of the pool is being touched, though a more contained renovation can land closer to two to six weeks. Your backyard and landscaping will be affected within the area the remodel actually touches, which is worth planning around if you've got plants or hardscaping close to the pool.

The ten-day cure

Once construction wraps, the pool doesn't get filled right away. New plaster gets a ten-day curing period first, instead of rushing to fill it. That waiting period lets the plaster cure properly: the water balance stays correct to protect the new surface, the plaster hardens evenly for a smoother texture, and the result resists cracks, stains, and scaling better, with color that holds brighter over time.

Four weeks of follow-up care

After the fill, someone comes back regularly for four weeks to keep the water balanced while the new surface finishes setting. Most companies remodel a pool, fill it, and disappear, leaving the homeowner to figure out post-fill water chemistry alone. Four weeks of scheduled follow-up visits is the difference between that and having someone stay through the part of the process that actually protects the investment you just made.

Step 4: Final walkthrough and ongoing support

The last stage is a final walkthrough of the finished work, with warranty terms listed at the bottom of the original proposal so there's nothing to hunt for later. After that, weekly maintenance is the standard recommendation to keep a newly remodeled pool at the chemical balance it needs, either as a homeowner doing it themselves or through a weekly cleaning and maintenance plan.

Financing and what's accepted

A remodel at this scale, $30,000 to $90,000 for a complete job, often uses financing through third-party partners rather than being paid in one lump sum. Payment for smaller jobs and store purchases is accepted by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or check. Ask about financing at the proposal stage in Step 2, not after construction has already started.

Why the process looks like this

Most companies remodel a pool, fill it, and move on to the next job, leaving the homeowner to sort out water chemistry alone while new plaster is at its most vulnerable. The four-step process, consultation, design, construction, and a final walkthrough backed by four weeks of follow-up care, exists specifically to avoid that gap. It takes longer than a fill-and-go job, but it's the difference between a remodel that holds up and one that needs attention again within a year.

Getting started

A-Affordable Pool & Spa has run this same four-step process in Carrollton since 1991, is TDLR licensed, #433, and is BBB accredited. The remodeling center at 1616 W Hebron Pkwy has tile, stone, and plaster samples on the wall along with an outdoor kitchen display, so Step 2's choices are easier to make in person. Call (972) 416-4487 to start with Step 1.