Pool Resurfacing in Broward County: Materials, Costs, and Process

Pool resurfacing is one of the most significant maintenance interventions in a residential or commercial pool's lifecycle, involving the removal or preparation of an existing shell surface and the application of a new bonded finish layer. In Broward County, Florida, the combination of high UV exposure, year-round pool use, and chemically aggressive water conditions accelerates surface degradation at rates above national averages. This reference covers the material categories, cost structures, regulatory requirements, and process phases that govern pool resurfacing work across Broward County municipalities.

• Definition and scope
• Core mechanics or structure
• Causal relationships or drivers
• Classification boundaries
• Tradeoffs and tensions
• Common misconceptions
• Checklist or steps (non-advisory)
• Reference table or matrix

Definition and scope

Pool resurfacing refers to the process of applying a new finish layer to the interior shell of a swimming pool — the surface that contacts water and swimmers. The process is distinct from pool plastering (which is a specific subset), pool painting (a superficial coating), and structural repair (which addresses concrete or gunite substrate failures). Resurfacing addresses the cosmetic and functional finish layer only, though preparatory work may include crack repair, bond coat application, or surface grinding.

The scope of this reference is limited to pools located within Broward County, Florida, encompassing the 31 municipalities that fall under Broward County Building Code jurisdiction. Work performed in Palm Beach County or Miami-Dade County falls outside this coverage area — separate permit requirements, contractor license categories, and inspection protocols apply in those adjacent jurisdictions. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) governs contractor licensing statewide, but local permitting authority rests with individual municipal building departments or, where applicable, the Broward County Building Division (Broward County Development & Environmental Regulation).

Resurfacing does not cover pool deck surfaces, coping, or tile band work — those are addressed separately in pool deck repair and pool tile repair contexts.

Core mechanics or structure

The interior finish of a pool functions as both a waterproofing membrane and a cosmetic surface. It bonds chemically and mechanically to the underlying gunite, shotcrete, or concrete shell. When the finish degrades, the substrate becomes exposed to water intrusion, which accelerates structural deterioration and creates water loss pathways.

The resurfacing process involves four structural phases:

Surface preparation: Existing finish is removed by acid washing, sandblasting, or hydro-blasting. The depth of removal depends on the condition of the substrate and the new material's bonding requirements. Delaminated or contaminated areas require mechanical chipping.

Substrate repair: Exposed cracks, voids, or spalled concrete are patched using hydraulic cement or polymer-modified repair mortar before any finish coat is applied. Structural failures deeper than the finish layer require separate pool crack repair assessment.

Finish application: New material is applied by hand or spray. Plaster and quartz aggregate finishes require troweling to a uniform thickness, typically between 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch. Pebble and exposed aggregate finishes use a broadcast-and-expose method. Fiberglass coatings involve resin and chopped strand mat layering.

Startup chemistry: After filling, water chemistry must be balanced within specific parameters to prevent aggressive water from etching a fresh plaster surface. The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) protocol is the industry-standard method for startup balance, referenced by the National Plasterers Council (NPC) in its technical guidelines.

Causal relationships or drivers

Resurfacing intervals in Broward County are compressed relative to cooler climates due to specific regional conditions. Florida's high solar UV index — averaging UV index 10–11 during summer months per NOAA UV Index data — accelerates surface oxidation and chalk formation in white plaster finishes. Year-round pool operation means surfaces experience continuous chemical exposure without seasonal rest.

Water chemistry is the dominant driver of premature surface failure. Pools with consistently low pH (below 7.2) produce aggressive water that etches calcium-based finishes. Calcium hypochlorite overuse, salt chlorine generator output, and high cyanuric acid concentrations each independently accelerate plaster dissolution. The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), now merged into the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), documents water chemistry thresholds in ANSI/APSP-11, the standard for residential pool water chemistry.

Deferred maintenance on pool circulation problems — particularly low flow states — creates stagnant zones where calcium scaling and algae biofilm formation damage finish surfaces from the water side inward.

Classification boundaries

Pool resurfacing finishes fall into five distinct material categories, each with different durability profiles, cost ranges, and application requirements.

White plaster (marcite): A blend of white Portland cement and marble dust. The baseline specification for pool resurfacing. Typical service life of 7–12 years in Florida conditions.

Quartz aggregate plaster: White or colored plaster blended with quartz crystals (typically 10–30% by weight). Harder surface than plain marcite, with service life of 10–15 years. Products in this category include National Pool Tile Group's QuartzScapes and SGM's Stonescapes lines.

Pebble and exposed aggregate: River pebble, glass bead, or crushed stone is broadcast into a plaster matrix and the surface is acid-washed to expose aggregate. Service life of 15–25 years. Pebble Tec and Pebble Fina are registered brand names within this category. Higher initial cost but significantly lower lifecycle cost.

Fiberglass coating: A resin-and-glass-strand system applied to existing concrete pools. Used for rehabilitation rather than new construction in most Broward applications. Service life dependent on bond integrity; delamination is the primary failure mode.

Epoxy and rubberized paint: Surface coatings rather than structural finishes. Typically require reapplication every 2–5 years. Not compatible with all substrate types and not suitable as a long-term solution for pools with active water chemistry issues.

Tradeoffs and tensions

The central tension in resurfacing decisions involves lifecycle cost versus initial cost. White plaster costs roughly $4,000–$7,000 for a standard 15,000-gallon residential pool in Broward County (based on contractor market data, not a published regulatory figure), but requires replacement in under a decade under typical local conditions. Pebble aggregate finishes may cost $9,000–$15,000 for the same pool but extend service intervals to 20+ years.

A secondary tension exists between aesthetic finish and chemical compatibility. Darker plaster colors absorb more solar heat, reducing heating costs but increasing thermal expansion cycling, which stresses the finish-to-substrate bond. Dark finishes also make calcium scaling more visible, creating maintenance pressure even when scaling levels are chemically within acceptable ranges.

The regulatory tension in Broward County concerns permit thresholds. Resurfacing is classified as a repair/alteration under Florida Building Code, Chapter 4, Section 454 (the public swimming pool chapter of Florida Statute 514 governs public pools; residential pools fall under Florida Building Code). Whether a permit is required for residential pool resurfacing in a specific Broward municipality depends on that municipality's local amendments. Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Pembroke Pines each maintain separate building department permit thresholds. The pool service permits framework provides jurisdiction-specific details.

Common misconceptions

Misconception: Resurfacing fixes structural leaks. Resurfacing addresses the finish layer only. Active hydraulic leaks through the shell require structural repair before any finish application. Applying plaster over an active crack will result in premature failure at that location within 12–24 months.

Misconception: A pool can be resurfaced without draining. All recognized resurfacing methods — plaster, quartz, pebble, and fiberglass — require complete drainage. Surface preparation requires dry substrate contact. Performing any application over water, regardless of claimed underwater products, produces unacceptable bond failure rates.

Misconception: Resurfacing can be performed by an unlicensed contractor in Florida. Florida Statute 489 (DBPR, Contractor Licensing) requires that pool resurfacing work be performed by a licensed Swimming Pool/Spa Contractor (CPC or CPO designation). A Pool/Spa Specialty Contractor license does not authorize resurfacing. Hiring an unlicensed operator voids insurance coverage and may trigger building code violations.

Misconception: Plaster color is purely cosmetic. Surface finish color affects solar absorption rates, which influences water temperature, evaporation rate, and chemical consumption. This has measurable operational consequences beyond aesthetics.

Checklist or steps (non-advisory)

The following sequence describes the standard phases of a pool resurfacing project in Broward County, as performed by licensed contractors under applicable building code:

1. Pre-project inspection — Structural assessment of shell, identification of cracks, delamination, or substrate voids requiring repair before resurfacing begins.
2. Permit application — Submission to the applicable municipal building department or Broward County Building Division, if required under local thresholds.
3. Pool drainage — Complete water removal; discharge must comply with local stormwater ordinances and Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department (EPGMD) regulations regarding discharge of chemically treated water.
4. Surface preparation — Acid wash, sandblasting, or hydro-blasting of existing finish; mechanical removal of delaminated areas.
5. Substrate repair — Patching of exposed cracks, spalls, and voids using approved repair mortars.
6. Bond coat application — Application of bonding agent where required by the finish material specification.
7. Finish application — Application of selected finish material to specified thickness by licensed applicator.
8. Inspection — Building department inspection, if permit was required.
9. Pool fill — Water introduced through a hose with a diffuser to prevent impact damage to fresh plaster.
10. Startup chemistry protocol — Water balanced per NPC startup guidelines or equivalent protocol; aggressive water conditions prevented during the 28-day plaster cure window.

Reference table or matrix

Cost ranges reflect Broward County contractor market conditions and are structural estimates; actual bids depend on pool geometry, existing surface condition, and current material pricing.

References

• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Contractor Licensing
• Florida Statute 489 — Contracting
• Florida Statute 514 — Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places
• Broward County Building, Code Enforcement and Environmental Resources (BCER)
• Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department (EPGMD)
• Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) — formerly APSP
• National Plasterers Council (NPC)
• EPA UV Index Scale — NOAA UV Data
• Florida Building Code — Online Publication (FBC)