Resurfacing a bad pool gets you a good-looking bad pool.
We correct the structure and the hydraulics first. Then we make it the backyard people stop walking past.
Most renovations are just expensive cosmetics.
People get tired of the green water, the rough plaster, the weak pump, the outdated look. So they pay someone to put a new surface on the same failing shell and the same undersized plumbing.
Six years later they are looking at the same problems again — only now the new finish is ruined too.
That is not a renovation. That is postponing the real work, at interest.
Surface-first
- Bid written from a walkthrough and a phone photo
- Chip out the old surface, shoot the new one, collect
- Cracks cosmetically patched, never traced to a cause
- Original pipe sizing and pump curve left untouched
- Bonding and GFCI assumed to be fine because the light turns on
- Change orders discovered after demolition and priced under pressure
Structure-first
- Written condition report before a dollar goes to cosmetics
- Shell, plumbing, equipment and hydraulics evaluated as one system
- Cracks traced to movement, water, or soil before they are filled
- Pipe sizing and flow verified against the equipment actually installed
- Bonding grid and GFCI tested, not assumed
- Scope, sequence and price fixed in a Solution you approve before demolition
We do not start with the finish. We end with it.
Three layers, executed in order. Skip one and the layers above it inherit the failure.
The vessel
Crack repair, structural evaluation, shell integrity, tile and coping assessment. If the vessel is compromised, beauty is makeup on a problem that is still moving.
- Structural crack mapping and evaluation
- Gunite, concrete and fiberglass shell repair
- Bond beam, coping and cantilever correction
- Waterline tile removal and replacement
- Skimmer throat and main drain rebuilds
- Expansion joint reconstruction
- Hydrostatic relief and groundwater management
How it actually runs
Pipe sizing, flow rates, pump and filter performance, automation, energy efficiency. A beautiful pool that fights itself every day is still a failure.
- Suction and return line sizing and velocity
- Turnover rate and total dynamic head calculation
- Variable-speed pump selection and programming
- Filter sizing, media and valve replacement
- Heater and heat pump sizing, gas and electrical
- Salt systems, sanitation and chemical automation
- Bonding grid, GFCI and equipment pad rebuild
- Controls: OmniLogic, IntelliCenter, EasyTouch, AquaLink
What everyone sees
Plaster, quartz, pebble, tile, lighting, decking, water features, spa integration. This is the part people notice. We make sure it sits on something that will last.
- Plaster, quartz aggregate and pebble finishes
- Glass, porcelain and stone waterline tile
- Travertine, paver and broom-finish decking
- Color LED lighting and low-voltage landscape
- Spa integration, spillways and raised walls
- Sheer descents, scuppers and bubblers
- Automatic covers, safety fencing and handrails
- Outdoor kitchens, fire features and hardscape
The scope is written before work starts. We do not price a renovation by what we find after demolition.
What you see is rarely what is wrong.
A renovation quote written off a symptom is a guess with a price on it. Here is what the common complaints usually turn out to be.
| What you see | The usual response | What we test | What it usually is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough, chalky, stained surface | Chip it out, replaster | Water chemistry history, calcium saturation index, surface age, circulation dead zones | Chronic chemistry or poor circulation that will destroy the new finish on the same schedule |
| Cracks that keep coming back | Fill, feather, paint over | Crack pattern, width and direction, soil and drainage, bond beam condition, structural movement | Active movement, hydrostatic pressure, or a failed bond beam. Filler does nothing to any of them. |
| Water level keeps dropping | Add water, replace the liner or surface | Bucket test, pressure test on each line, dye test at penetrations, structural inspection | Plumbing leak, skimmer throat separation, or a light niche conduit — none of which a new surface fixes |
| Pump runs constantly, still cloudy | Bigger pump | Flow rate, total dynamic head, filter area, turnover, pipe velocity | Undersized plumbing or filter. A bigger pump on small pipe buys noise and a power bill. |
| Tile falling off the waterline | Re-stick the loose pieces | Bond beam integrity, expansion joint condition, freeze exposure, substrate adhesion | Deck-to-coping expansion joint failure driving movement straight into the tile line |
| Deck cracked, heaved, or settling | Grind and patch | Sub-base compaction, drainage path, joint layout, slab thickness and reinforcement | Water going where it should not, or a sub-base that was never compacted |
| Spa will not hold temperature | Replace the heater | Gas pressure, flow through the heat exchanger, valve actuator position, cover and insulation loss | Flow or gas supply, not heater capacity, in most cases we open up |
| Lights out, breaker trips | New fixture | GFCI function, bonding continuity, conduit water intrusion, niche and cord condition | A bonding or moisture-intrusion fault. This one is a safety item, not a cosmetic one. |
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From make it stop failing to best backyard on the street.
Three clear scopes. The same standard on every one of them. You are told which one your pool actually needs before you are asked to choose.
Corrective Renovation
Fix the structural and hydraulic problems that are currently killing the pool. Restore reliability and performance. Surface work only where it is required to protect the corrected systems.
- Structural crack correction
- Leak location and plumbing repair
- Equipment pad correction and right-sizing
- Bonding and GFCI remediation
- Targeted surface and tile repair
Full System Renovation
Shell, plumbing, equipment, automation, and finish. The pool is brought up to current engineered standards and made beautiful. This is the path most homeowners end up taking.
- Everything in Level 01
- Complete resurface: plaster, quartz or pebble
- Waterline tile and coping replacement
- Plumbing re-size and re-route as required
- Variable-speed pump, filter and heater package
- Color LED lighting
- Automation and remote control
- Start-up, balance and commissioning
Complete Transformation
Full pool renovation plus decking, hardscape, lighting, and outdoor living. The pool stops being the problem and becomes the reason people come over.
- Everything in Level 02
- Deck replacement: travertine, pavers or concrete
- Retaining walls, raised bond beams and spillways
- Spa addition or full spa rebuild
- Water and fire features
- Outdoor kitchen and living areas
- Landscape and low-voltage lighting design
- Drainage and grading correction
What we take in. What we hand back.
Renovation work is not glamorous in the middle. It is corrosion, failed structure, and plumbing that was never right. The finish is the last ten percent — and it only holds because of the ninety that came before it.
This is the part nobody photographs
Corroded wall panels, a failed surface, standing groundwater, and a shell that had been chased with cosmetic patches for years. Resurfacing this pool without correcting the structure would have bought about two seasons.
Structure corrected, then finished
Shell corrected, hydraulics brought to spec, surface and coping replaced, water balanced and handed over. The appearance is the outcome of the engineering, not a substitute for it.
Photography from Rocket City Water Wizards project files. Images are representative of intake condition and delivered condition and are not paired as a single before-and-after of the same vessel.
Pick the finish on service life, not on a sample board.
Every interior finish is a consumable. The only question is how long yours is rated to last and what it will cost you to keep it there. We give you the trade-offs in writing before you choose.
| Finish | Typical service life | Underfoot | Chemistry tolerance | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White plaster | 7 – 12 years | Smooth, softest of the group | Low. Unforgiving of neglect and aggressive water. | $ |
| Colored plaster | 7 – 12 years | Smooth, mottles as it ages | Low. Color variation is normal, not a defect. | $ |
| Quartz aggregate | 12 – 18 years | Lightly textured, comfortable | Moderate. Holds color and resists staining well. | $$ |
| Pebble | 15 – 25 years | Textured. Grippy, rougher on feet. | High. The most forgiving surface we install. | $$$ |
| Polished pebble | 15 – 25 years | Textured but smoothed at the surface | High. Pebble durability with a softer feel. | $$$ |
| Full tile interior | 25 years and up | Smooth, hard, cool | Very high. The substrate and grout become the limiting factor. | $$$$ |
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Service life figures are industry-typical ranges for properly balanced water in this climate. Chronic chemistry problems shorten every one of them. That is why we correct circulation and sanitation before we resurface — not after.
No “we will know more once we are into it.”
The scope is written before work begins. You approve it. Then we execute it. Seven steps, and you have a record of every one.
Full Systems Assessment
We evaluate structure, plumbing, equipment, and hydraulics on site. Shell condition, crack behavior, bond beam, coping, tile, deck and drainage. Flow, head, turnover, filtration, sanitation, bonding and GFCI. You see the real condition of the pool before any money is spent on cosmetics.
- A written condition report on the vessel, the plumbing and the pad
- Photographs of every deficiency we identify, uploaded to your portal
- A clear separation of what is required from what is optional
Account Setup
You create your account in the client portal. This is where every communication, photo, Solution, approval and work order for your project is tracked. One record, from assessment through handover.
- Portal credentials and a single place to find every document
- A permanent history that survives staff changes on both sides
Engineering-Level Solution
You receive a formal Solution. It includes scope, sequence, materials, labor, exclusions, company credentials, insurance information, timeline and price. It is detailed enough that you can compare it to any other proposal on equal terms — which is exactly why we write it that way.
- Line-item scope with the sequence work will be performed in
- Named materials and finishes, not category placeholders
- Written exclusions so you know what is not in the number
- License, insurance and credential documentation
Your Approval in the Portal
You review and approve the Solution in the portal. Work does not begin until you approve it. Everything is time-stamped, so there is a clear record of exactly what was agreed and when.
- A time-stamped record of the approved scope and price
- A copy of the approved Solution retained in your portal
Scheduling and Mobilization
The approved Solution becomes an active job and a detailed work order. The work order is placed on the schedule and sequenced against material lead times, so crews are not standing in your backyard waiting on a delivery. You receive the start date and the plan for site access, water, power and debris.
- A written schedule with milestone dates, not a vague window
- Site protection and access plan before mobilization
- Materials confirmed against lead times before demolition starts
Documented Execution
Demolition, structural correction, plumbing, equipment, finish, and deck — performed in the sequence the Solution specifies. Photos and notes are uploaded at each milestone. You are never left wondering what is happening in your own backyard.
- Milestone photography at demolition, structure, plumbing and finish
- Pressure test results before anything is buried
- Written notice the moment anything deviates from the approved scope
Commissioning and Handover
Systems are tested under load, the surface is started up correctly, water is balanced, and you receive a clear orientation on how to keep the renovated pool performing the way it was designed to perform. A new finish is won or lost in its first thirty days. We do not hand you a hose and wish you luck.
- Equipment commissioning and automation programming
- A written start-up and first-season care plan for your specific finish
- Operating orientation for pump schedules, heater and controls
- Warranty and product documentation filed in your portal
All of this lives in your client portal
Every Solution, approval, work order, photograph and milestone note for your renovation, in one place, permanently.
rocketcitywaterwizards.mypoolportal.comTheir best is our baseline.
We use the same engineered approach on renovations that we use on new construction. Spec written before work begins. Structure and hydraulics corrected before cosmetics. Milestone verification. No surprises in the fine print.
Sequence is not negotiable
Structure, then hydraulics, then finish. We will not reverse that order to hit a lower number or an earlier date. Reversing it is what produced the pool you are trying to fix.
The approved Solution is the scope
What you approved is what we execute. Not a starting point, not a rough estimate, not a time-and-materials fishing expedition with a cover sheet.
Discoveries stop the work, not the clock on your consent
If we find something outside the approved scope once we are into the vessel, we stop, document it with photographs, and send a revised Solution for your approval before continuing. You are never asked to make a five-figure decision standing next to a running excavator.
Everything is written down
Condition report, Solution, approval, work order, milestone photos, pressure tests, commissioning notes and warranty documents. All of it in your portal. If it is not documented, it did not happen.
There are jobs we will not take at any price.
Not because we are difficult. Because there is no version of these where you end up satisfied, and we are the ones who get called back.
- ✕Resurfacing over an uncorrected structural crackA new finish does not restrain a moving shell. The crack telegraphs through, usually inside two seasons, and now it is our name on it.
- ✕Installing new equipment on plumbing that cannot carry itA high-performance pump on undersized suction lines produces cavitation, noise, and a shortened service life. We will size the plumbing or we will size the pump to the plumbing. We will not pretend the mismatch is not there.
- ✕Energizing a pad with a compromised bonding gridEquipotential bonding is a life-safety system. If continuity fails, it is corrected before anything is turned on. This is not an upgrade line item we will let you decline.
- ✕Burying plumbing that has not been pressure testedBackfilling over untested lines is how a renovation becomes a demolition eighteen months later. Test results are documented before the trench closes.
- ✕Starting demolition without an approved written scopeOpening a vessel with no agreed scope hands all the leverage to the contractor. We do not work that way and you should not accept it from anyone who does.
- ✕Guaranteeing a finish on water we are not allowed to correctInterior finishes fail on chemistry more than anything else. If circulation and sanitation are not brought to standard, we will say so in writing and adjust what we are willing to warrant.
Straight answers.
Can you just resurface my pool?
We can. We usually will not recommend it until we know the structure and hydraulics are sound. Putting a new finish on a failing shell or undersized plumbing is how people end up paying twice.
If the assessment comes back clean, we will tell you that and quote the resurface on its own. We are not looking for reasons to enlarge the job — we are looking for reasons the last one failed.
How do I know what level of renovation I actually need?
That is what the assessment is for. We look at the real condition of the pool and tell you what is required versus what is optional. You decide how far you want to go, with the trade-offs in front of you in writing.
What does a renovation cost?
Anyone who gives you a number before seeing the vessel is guessing, and the difference between the guess and the invoice becomes your problem. Cost is driven by shell condition, plumbing condition, surface area, finish selection, and how much deck and hardscape is in scope.
You will have a fixed written price in the Solution before any work begins, and we will show you which line items are structural necessity and which are discretionary.
How long does a typical renovation take?
It depends entirely on scope. A corrective renovation can be relatively fast. A full system renovation or complete transformation follows a longer, sequenced schedule, and material lead times and weather both factor in. You receive a written timeline with the Solution, with milestone dates rather than a vague range.
Will I have a clear price before work starts?
Yes. The Solution you approve is the scope and the price. If something outside that scope is discovered, we stop, document it, and send a revised Solution for your approval before continuing.
Do you handle decking and hardscape as part of a renovation?
Yes. Level 03 transformations regularly include decking, retaining walls, lighting, and outdoor living elements. We can also coordinate with your preferred hardscape contractor if you already have one, provided the sequencing is agreed before demolition.
Do you renovate fiberglass and vinyl pools, or only gunite?
All three. Gunite and shotcrete shells, fiberglass shells, and vinyl liner vessels each fail differently and each has a different correct repair path. The assessment identifies which construction type you have and what its specific failure mode is before anything is quoted.
Can you add a spa, tanning ledge, or water feature to an existing pool?
Often, yes — but it is a structural and hydraulic question before it is a design question. Tying new structure into an existing shell requires the existing shell to be sound, and adding features means the plumbing and equipment have to carry the additional load. We evaluate both before we draw anything.
Can we use the yard during the renovation?
Partially. Demolition and structural phases involve heavy equipment, debris, and controlled access. We give you the site plan before mobilization so you know which areas are working areas, where access and protection will be, and what the sequence looks like week to week.
When is the best time of year to renovate in North Alabama?
Fall and winter are the strongest windows. Surface application and curing are sensitive to temperature extremes, demand is lower, and finishing in the off-season means the pool is ready when the season opens rather than losing you a summer. Spring bookings fill first and push schedules the furthest.
Do you work on commercial pools?
Yes. Commercial and multi-family vessels carry additional code, health department, and documentation requirements. Those requirements are identified in the assessment and carried explicitly in the Solution, not discovered during inspection.
Will you take over a renovation another contractor started?
Sometimes. It requires a full independent assessment of what was actually done, and we will not warrant work we did not perform or cannot verify. We will tell you plainly what can be salvaged, what has to be removed and redone, and what we can stand behind.
Stop pouring money into a pool that is still broken underneath.
Tell us what is failing and what you actually want the backyard to feel like. We will diagnose both, put it in writing, and price it before anyone touches your pool.
- Toll free / text or call 24.7(833)H20•WZRD | (833)420•9973
- Emailsolutions@rocketcitywaterwizards.com
- Client portalrocketcitywaterwizards.mypoolportal.com
- Service areaHuntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur and the Tennessee Valley
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