2026 cost guide
Finish comparisons, a line-item breakdown, and two worked examples for aging First Coast pools.
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Resurfacing an older pool in the Jacksonville area runs $8,000 to $24,000 in 2026 depending on the finish, while a full remodel with new tile, coping, equipment, and deck work runs $25,000 to $70,000 or more. Where your project lands in that range depends mostly on pool size, how much of the shell and deck need repair, and which finish you choose.
2026 estimates for the Jacksonville area. Your lot, access, and finishes move these numbers. A site visit is what turns a range into a fixed price.
Resurface only
$8,000 to $18,000
Drain, surface prep, new plaster, quartz, or pebble finish on an otherwise sound shell.
Resurface plus tile and coping
$16,000 to $35,000
New finish plus waterline tile and coping replacement, addresses staining and cracked coping.
Full remodel
$25,000 to $70,000+
Finish, tile, coping, new equipment, lighting, and deck or cage work as one coordinated project.
Finish choice affects both upfront cost and how long you go before the next remodel. Florida climate wears finishes faster than cooler states because pools here get used nearly year-round and sit under intense UV exposure.
| Finish | Cost range | Typical life in Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Plaster | $8,000 to $14,000 | About 7 to 10 years |
| Quartz aggregate | $11,000 to $18,000 | About 12 to 15 years |
| Pebble | $14,000 to $24,000 | About 20 to 25 years |
A remodel is really several smaller projects bundled together. A fixed quote separates them so you can see what a full remodel adds beyond a basic resurface.
| Line item | 2026 estimate range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drain and surface prep | $800 to $2,500 | Includes hydrostatic relief check before draining |
| Finish (plaster, quartz, or pebble) | $8,000 to $24,000 | See finish table above |
| Tile | $2,500 to $8,000 | Waterline tile replacement, more for full tile jobs |
| Coping | $2,500 to $7,000 | Often replaced together with tile for a matched look |
| Equipment (pump, filter, salt system, automation) | $5,000 to $12,000 | Frequently upgraded during a remodel for efficiency |
| Lights | $800 to $3,000 | LED conversion is the most common upgrade |
| Deck | $10,000 to $30,000 | Full replacement of a cracked or settled deck, sized to footprint |
| Cage rescreen | $2,000 to $8,000 | If the existing enclosure frame is sound but the screen is worn |
A few conditions specific to older First Coast pools push a remodel above a simple resurface.
A straightforward resurface generally does not need a building permit in most First Coast jurisdictions, but adding equipment that changes electrical load, cutting new structural features like a tanning ledge or spa, or replacing a deck typically does. The permitting authority depends on where you are: City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division for most of Duval County, St. Johns County Building Services for Nocatee, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns, and Julington Creek, Clay County Building Division for Fleming Island and Middleburg, and Nassau County Building Department for unincorporated Amelia Island and Yulee. Check with the specific office before assuming a permit is not required.
A resurface-only project usually takes one to two weeks from drain to refill, most of it curing time rather than active labor. A full remodel with tile, coping, equipment, and deck work typically runs four to eight weeks depending on scope and whether the deck needs full replacement. Permitting, where required, adds time on the front end before work can start.
Most older gunite pools are good candidates for remodeling rather than replacement, since the shell itself typically outlasts several finish cycles. A remodel makes sense when the shell is structurally sound, meaning no major cracking through the gunite, no chronic leak beyond a fixable spot, and the shape and depth still work for how you use the pool.
Replacement becomes the better option when the shell has significant structural cracking, when the pool needs to move or change size for a new deck or addition, or when a fiberglass shell has degraded beyond what a resurface can fix. Most remodels we see on the First Coast are 1980s through 2000s gunite pools that need a finish, tile, coping, and equipment refresh rather than a rebuild.
A gunite pool built in the 1990s in Mandarin, showing plaster wear and an aging pump, is a typical remodel candidate. Draining, prep, and a pebble finish run roughly $14,000 to $22,000. New equipment, including a variable-speed pump, filter, and salt system, adds $6,000 to $11,000. Tile replacement along the waterline adds $3,000 to $6,000. Total: roughly $23,000 to $39,000, 2026 Jacksonville-area estimate, assuming the deck and coping are in good condition.
A 2005 gunite pool in Julington Creek with dated tile and a straight-drive pump is a common full remodel. New tile and coping run $6,000 to $12,000. A quartz finish adds $11,000 to $16,000. A variable-speed pump and updated filter and automation add $5,000 to $9,000. LED lighting conversion adds $1,000 to $2,500. Total: roughly $23,000 to $39,500, 2026 Jacksonville-area estimate, before any deck work.
A free on-site visit lets us drain-test or inspect the shell, check for leaks, and look at the deck and equipment pad condition. We put together a 3D design of the new finish, tile, and coping so you can see the result before work starts, then a fixed line-item quote covering every scope on this page, with any change during the project quoted in writing before it happens.
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A free site visit is what separates a range from a price. We measure, check access and grade, and send a line-item quote.
