Plaster wears out. The pool underneath usually has not.
Pool plaster is a wear surface. After ten to twenty years in South Central Texas water it goes chalky, stains in patches, etches around returns, and turns rough enough to catch swimsuits and feet. None of that means the shell is failing. Resurfacing strips the worn interior back to sound gunite and replaces it, and it is the single highest-impact thing you can do to an aging pool in New Braunfels or San Antonio.
We are a PebbleTec Elite builder, so most of our resurfacing work finishes in pebble aggregate rather than white plaster — it holds color, resists staining in hard Hill Country water, and lasts toward the long end of the replacement cycle. Quartz and standard plaster are still options when budget or look calls for them, and we will tell you plainly which one fits your water and your plans for the pool.
Resurfacing is also the moment to handle waterline tile, coping, and any crack or leak repair — the pool is already drained and the crew is already there.
Pool replaster
Chip out failed plaster, repair the substrate, and refinish in plaster, quartz, or PebbleTec with a controlled startup.
PebbleTec & pebble finishes
Elite-builder installation of Pebble Sheen, Pebble Tec, and Pebble Fina in the color you actually want to swim in.
Spa resurfacing
Spas wear faster than pools from heat and chemistry. We resurface spas on their own or alongside the pool.
Waterline tile replacement
New waterline and step tile while the water is down — the change most visible from the back door.
Stain, etch & scale repair
Calcium scale, rust bleed, and etching addressed at the surface and at the water chemistry causing them.
Startup & water balance
A managed 28-day startup and balance so a new pebble finish cures correctly instead of clouding.
What a worn interior looks like.
Pools tell you before they get expensive. If two or three of these sound like your pool, resurfacing is likely cheaper than another season of chemicals and patching.
Rough or chalky to the touch
Plaster that snags skin and swimsuits has lost its surface. Brushing releases a white cloud that never fully clears.
Blotchy staining and gray patches
Mottled color, gray shadows, and rust bleed are the finish itself failing, not dirt. No amount of cleaning brings it back.
Etching and exposed aggregate
Pits, rings around returns, and visible aggregate mean the finish has thinned to the point where it is no longer protecting the shell.
Chemicals no longer hold
A degraded surface constantly shifts pH and eats chemicals. Rising costs often show up before the visual damage does.
Finish and size set the price.
Resurfacing is priced by interior surface area and the finish you choose. These ranges are typical for pools we work on in New Braunfels, San Antonio, Boerne, and Canyon Lake.
Chip out, substrate repair, standard plaster or quartz finish, new waterline tile, and a managed startup.
Pebble aggregate interior with new waterline tile, drain and light trim, and full startup and balance.
Interior, tile, coping, and equipment together — a complete renovation rather than a surface swap.
Spa-only resurfacing typically runs $3K to $6K. Deep repairs, plumbing work, and premium finishes move the total. For a full remodel scope, see pool renovation.
Drained to swimming in weeks, not months.
Inspect & Quote
We look at the finish, shell, and equipment, then quote the work line by line.
Drain & Chip
Drain, chip out the failed interior, and repair the substrate and any cracks.
Tile & Apply
New waterline tile, then the new interior applied and troweled or exposed.
Fill & Balance
Immediate fill, brushing schedule, and a managed startup for a proper cure.
Questions we get asked.
How much does pool resurfacing cost?+
A standard replaster generally runs $8K to $12K, and a PebbleTec resurface $12K to $20K, depending on interior surface area, the finish selected, and how much substrate repair the shell needs. Spa-only resurfacing is usually $3K to $6K. Every quote is line-item.
How often does a pool need resurfacing?+
Standard plaster typically lasts 10 to 15 years and a premium pebble finish 15 to 20 or more, depending on water chemistry and use. Hard Hill Country water and heavy chlorine use shorten it; balanced water extends it.
How long does resurfacing take?+
A straightforward resurface with new waterline tile takes about two to three weeks from drain to refill, plus a 28-day startup period of brushing and water balancing while the new finish cures.
Is PebbleTec worth it over plaster?+
In our market, usually. Pebble finishes hold their color, hide the mineral staining common in Hill Country water, feel better underfoot than aging plaster, and last several years longer. Plaster is still the right call on a tighter budget or a pool being prepared for sale.
Can you resurface just the spa?+
Yes. Spas take more heat and chemical load than pools and often need refinishing first. We resurface spas on their own, though doing both at once saves on mobilization and produces a matched finish.
Do you resurface pools in San Antonio?+
Yes. We resurface and replaster pools throughout San Antonio and Bexar County, along with New Braunfels, Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Schertz, Cibolo, Seguin, and San Marcos.
Do I need to fix cracks before resurfacing?+
Yes, and it should be done as part of the same job. A new finish over an unrepaired structural crack will telegraph and fail. We handle crack and structural repair while the pool is drained.
Two guides worth ten minutes.
PebbleTec versus plaster, compared
Read →Full pool renovation scope and cost
Read →Saltwater versus chlorine
Read →Crack, leak, and tile repair
Read →Serving New Braunfels, San Antonio, Boerne, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Seguin and the surrounding Hill Country. See every neighborhood we build in.
Make it feel new again.
Send a few photos of your interior and waterline. We can usually tell you the likely scope before we visit.