Pool Remodeling & Renovation

Reinvent Your Sacramento Pool

Sacramento is home to tens of thousands of pools built in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s — and many of them look exactly their age. Dated tile, faded plaster, cracked coping, aging equipment, and a complete absence of the water features and lighting that define modern backyard design. If your pool still looks like it belongs in a different decade, a complete remodel can transform it — often at a fraction of the cost of building a new pool — while dramatically improving both beauty and function.

At Phenomenal Pool & Landscape, we approach pool remodeling the same way we approach new construction: with a comprehensive design-build process, in-house labor for every critical trade (including our own plastering crew), and a project supervisor coordinating the full scope from start to finish. We don't just resurface and hope it looks better — we assess every element of your pool, identify what's worth preserving and what needs replacement, and design a renovation that cohesively modernizes the entire water environment.

Is Your Sacramento Pool Ready for a Remodel?

The Sacramento climate can be brutal on older pools. Extreme summer temperatures, UV radiation, hard water, and freeze-thaw cycles in winter accelerate deterioration. Beyond aesthetics, there are practical and safety-driven reasons to consider a comprehensive renovation:

• Aged plaster or pebble surface — rough, stained, or discolored interior that detracts from every swim
• Outdated or damaged tile — 1970s-era tile designs that date the pool visually, or cracked tiles that allow water infiltration
• Deteriorating coping — the cap stones around the pool perimeter that are cracked, loose, or aesthetically mismatched
• Old single-speed pumps — California's Title 20 regulations now require variable-speed pumps on all residential pools, and old equipment costs 5–10x more to operate
• No water features — a bare pool shell with no movement, sound, or visual interest
• Missing or inadequate lighting — older pools often have single, dim incandescent lights that don't do justice to evening swims
• No spa — adding a spa to an existing pool is one of the most valuable remodeling investments you can make
• Cracked or dated decking — old concrete decks that are trip hazards or simply don't complement the pool's desired aesthetic

Complete Pool Renovation Scope

A comprehensive pool remodel from Phenomenal Pool & Landscape can include any combination of the following elements. We help you prioritize based on your budget, goals, and the current condition of your pool:

Interior Resurfacing

The interior plaster or aggregate surface is almost always part of a remodel — because new tile, new coping, and new water features look jarring alongside deteriorated old plaster. Our in-house plaster crew applies a new finish that sets the tone for the entire renovation. We offer white plaster, quartz aggregate, mini pebble, micro pebble, and glass bead finishes. See our Pool Resurfacing page for detailed information on each option.

Tile & Coping Replacement

The waterline tile is one of the most visible elements of any pool — and one of the most impactful to update. We remove old tile and install modern options ranging from glass mosaic tiles and natural stone to porcelain and travertine. Coping — the capstone that borders the pool perimeter — is replaced simultaneously, with options including natural travertine, cast concrete, brick, and flagstone that coordinate with your deck material.

Water Features Addition

One of the most transformative upgrades for an existing pool is adding water features. We add custom rock waterfalls, deck jets that arc water gracefully into the pool, sheer descent waterfalls, and raised spillover fountains. These features add both visual drama and the soothing sound of moving water that transforms a backyard atmosphere. Many Sacramento homeowners tell us their remodeled pool with a waterfall gets used far more than the old flat surface ever did.

Spa Addition

Adding a spa to an existing pool is technically demanding but entirely achievable. We excavate adjacent to the existing pool shell, form and gunite a new spa vessel connected to the pool's circulation system, and integrate it seamlessly with new coping and decking. The result is a cohesive pool-and-spa combination that looks like it was always designed that way.

LED Lighting Upgrade

Replacing old incandescent pool lights with modern LED systems is one of the highest-value, lowest-cost remodeling upgrades available. LED lights use 75% less energy, last 5–10 times longer, and offer color-changing capabilities controlled via smartphone. We install Pentair LED systems as our standard, which integrate seamlessly with the IntelliConnect automation platform.

Equipment Modernization

Old single-speed pumps, outdated filters, and analog timers are replaced with variable-speed Pentair pumps, modern cartridge or DE filters, digital automation controllers, and smart heating systems. Equipment upgrades often pay for themselves in energy savings within 2–3 years.

Deck Renovation

Cracked concrete decks are resurfaced or demolished and replaced. Options include stamped concrete, travertine, paver systems, and broom-finish cool-deck surfaces designed to stay comfortable barefoot in Sacramento's summer heat. See our Pool Decks page for details.

Sacramento Climate Considerations for Remodeling

Pool remodeling in Sacramento should account for the local climate. Cool-deck and heat-reflective surface options for decking are particularly important given summer temperatures that regularly exceed 100°F — standard gray concrete can reach surface temperatures of 140°F or more, making it dangerous to walk on barefoot. Shade structures integrated into a remodel design can also dramatically improve usability on hot afternoons.

For the pool surface itself, we recommend pebble or quartz aggregate finishes over standard white plaster for Sacramento's environment — their greater resistance to hard water chemistry and UV exposure justifies the additional cost in this climate, where standard plaster lifespans are notably shorter than in coastal areas.

Pool Remodeling Investment

Pool remodeling costs in Sacramento typically range from $15,000 to $80,000+ depending on scope. A moderate renovation — new plaster, tile, coping, and lighting — typically runs $15,000–$30,000. A comprehensive renovation adding water features, spa, decking replacement, and equipment upgrades reaches $40,000–$80,000+. We provide detailed itemized quotes so you can choose which elements to prioritize.

Financing is available through our Wisetack partnership, making comprehensive renovations accessible without requiring the full investment upfront. Ask about financing options during your free consultation.