How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Pool in Los Angeles in 2025?

If you’re planning to remodel your pool in Los Angeles this year, understanding the real cost—and what drives it up or down—is essential to making smart, lasting decisions.

Thinking about remodeling your pool in Los Angeles, but unsure what it will cost?
Are you finding vague ranges and missing details when searching online?
In this guide, we break down the real cost factors behind pool remodeling in LA for 2025—including materials, structural work, code requirements, and why quotes can vary so widely.
Whether you're resurfacing, adding a spa, or completely reimagining your pool's shape, this article will give you the facts you need to make an informed, confident decision.

What Drives the Cost of Pool Remodeling in Los Angeles?

 For example, the cost to only re-plaster the surface of a pool typically ranges from $30,000 to $35,000.
This process includes draining the pool, carefully removing the old plaster (which often involves multiple compromised layers), preparing the shell for a new fresh coat and, applying a new "plaster" cement-based finish, and providing post-plaster chemical balancing to ensure proper curing once the pool is filled.
The final price depends largely on the pool’s size and any access limitations for equipment—but this range gives you a realistic starting point for budgeting in Los Angeles.

One of the hidden reasons your pool remodel might cost more?  —Years of improper repairs.
Many homeowners are unaware that previous owners often added new plaster layers over old ones instead of removing and refinishing the pool correctly. While this may have worked temporarily, those stacked layers begin to delaminate—leading to failure after failure. Removing all these coats is labor-intensive and can add significantly to your cost.

Concrete issues are another major culprit.
Benches, steps, and shallow areas are often constructed with subpar concrete mixes or are poorly installed. Over time, chemical damage from years of unbalanced water—especially over-chlorination—degrades these areas. Rebuilding them requires additional materials and labor to address all structural corrections.

Material quality also plays a big role.

Like Pebble Tech, premium finishes utilize refined stones sourced from various remote locations, which undergo a thorough tumbling and polishing process, in addition to cleaning and sorting, to eliminate contaminants such as metals or crystals that could result in a rough surface. These high-end blends ensure smooth finishes and fewer long-term issues. While basic materials meet ASTM standards, they don’t offer the same longevity or aesthetic results.
Investing in quality materials early prevents expensive repairs later.

Typical Pool Remodel Pricing Ranges in Los Angeles

While every project is different, here are a few general ranges to help you understand what’s typical in our region:

• Pool replastering (basic white plaster finish): $30,000–$35,000

• Add spa integrated into pool shell: $30,000–$35,000

• Upgrade to pebble finish from standard plaster: +$8,000–$13,000

• Pool tile replacement (standard perimeter): $6,500–$8,000 (includes waterproofing and premium grouts; in addition tile materials can vary from $10 to $35 depending on manufacturer and type of tile)

• Full remodel with new plumbing, equipment, finish, tile, and spa: $60,000–$100,000+

Note: These ranges are based on J Designs’ real project averages in Los Angeles in 2025 and may vary depending on pool condition and access.

If you're seeing quotes significantly lower than this, it's worth asking: what’s being left out?

How Homeowners Can Keep Pool Remodeling Costs Down Without Sacrificing Quality

The best savings come from smart planning—not cutting corners.
One way to reduce cost is by optimizing your pool’s mechanical design. Efficient plumbing layouts minimize the need for deep trenching, heavy demolition, and costly backfilling. Thoughtful equipment placement can also reduce installation complexity.

Reuse what’s still functional.
If your heater, filter, or automation system was recently upgraded, there’s often no need to replace it. We evaluate each component to see what can be retained without sacrificing safety or performance.

However, safety standards come first.
Old, undersized plumbing or outdated safety systems often must be brought up to code—and rightly so. For example, drain covers and suction lines must meet updated safety regulations to avoid potential hazards.

Design choices can save, too.
Integrating a spa into your pool's existing structure, rather than building a raised, standalone spa, can dramatically reduce costs while delivering the same level of luxury.
The earlier these decisions are made, the more money—and time—you’ll save.

Why Are Some Pool Remodeling Companies More Expensive Than Others?

Experience is priceless

Inexperienced contractors frequently lack the knowledge to identify approved solutions, which can result in expensive errors.
For instance, a spa installed without a properly designed mechanical system won’t heat or circulate correctly. Instead of adding value, it becomes a maintenance nightmare and a future liability. Experienced supervision matters because it identifies problems before they become ingrained.  In the images (left), we observe inadequate material choices, unapproved setting materials for underwater applications, or tiles unsuitable for pools. These issues often stem from contractors cutting corners and deceiving clients with methods and procedures that save them thousands but jeopardize the durability of the clients' properties in both the short and long term.

Material installation shortcuts also explain pricing differences.
For instance, lower-cost coping (like concrete borders) might seem fine, but they’re prone to cracking and water intrusion. Properly installed stone coping, while more expensive, lasts significantly longer and protects structural integrity, much like these pictures, from failures and subpar craftsmanship.

Paying more for licensed trades, real supervision, and proven materials isn’t overpaying—it’s investing in peace of mind.

Why Are Some Pool Remodelers So Cheap—And What It Really Costs You

What’s missing from that low quote? Usually: permits, safety, and accountability.

Cheap remodels often skip city-required permits or attempt to mask serious issues like corroded electrical lines. We’ve found wiring buried in aggressive soil conditions without proper conduit—this not only risks functionality but also poses a safety risk.

Think of it like this:
If you're replacing your car’s brakes, but skip cleaning the brake lines, the system won’t work. Pools are no different—covering up old problems with new finishes leads to failure.

Waterproofing and curing are two standard processes that are often skipped.
Skipping waterproofing under tile? Expect delamination. Rushing concrete curing to save time? Expect early failure. That urgency to finish fast often leads to cracks, poor adhesion, and long-term regret. A very common issue in tile installation 

And then there’s licensing.
In California, it’s disturbingly easy for unlicensed workers to pose as pros. Without proper insurance or workers' comp, homeowners are exposed to liability.
Low-cost contractors often lack the qualifications, training, and oversight your project truly needs.

Where We Stand: J Designs’ Approach to Cost, Transparency, and Value Since 2008

At J Designs, we believe trust starts with transparency and we are turning it into the New Industry Standard!

We’ve been remodeling pools in Los Angeles for over 15 years, and we know the true cost of doing things right. Our pricing reflects real materials, licensed trades, documented processes, and experienced supervision—because we’ve seen what happens when those are skipped.

We don’t just aim to remodel your pool—we aim to inform, educate, and elevate your expectations. That’s why we:

• Provide real-time pricing insights when possible

• Explain every process before it's started

• Encourage homeowners to reuse what they can and upgrade what they should

• Stay on top of code changes and safety requirements

My construction perspective is simple:

—In 25 years of visiting thousands of pools, my mission is to repair and create pools that look beautiful and last—because you deserve both.

At this point, you should have a much clearer understanding of what truly impacts pool remodeling costs in Los Angeles—and how to protect yourself from hidden risks.
You came here unsure about how much to expect, and now you know what causes prices to rise, what brings them down, and what red flags to watch out for.

What is your next step? In this video, you will understand the timeline and phases of a complete pool renovation.  We’re J Designs, and since 2008, we’ve helped LA homeowners build, protect, and love their outdoor spaces with transparency, care, and experience.