Blog · November 6, 2026 · 4 min read
Pool Resurfacing in Scottsdale: What Locals Say on Reddit
Searching Reddit for pool resurfacing in Scottsdale and the Phoenix Valley turns up the same themes again and again. Here is what locals agree on, with every thread linked at the bottom.
5 steps
What locals agree on
Pebble is the durability pick
Across r/phoenix, r/arizona and r/pools, the recurring advice is that a pebble style finish lasts roughly twice as long as plain plaster, about 20 to 25 years against 10 to 12, and it resists the scale that hard Arizona water leaves behind.
Quartz is the smooth middle ground
Locals describe quartz as smoother underfoot than pebble and more colorful than plaster, but more prone to streaking and staining than pebble.
Costs vary widely
Reported resurface jobs run from about $8,400 to $16,000, with plain plaster on the low end and pebble with new tile on the high end.
The chip-out can change the quote
Several threads describe a bid that looked low, then grew once the old finish was opened and rebar or a full chip-out came into the picture.
Ask every pro the same list of questions
It is the most repeated piece of advice in the threads, ahead of any finish or brand.
Questions
Questions to ask before hiring
- What finish do you recommend for my pool, and why?
- Do you chip out to the bare shell, or overlay the new finish on the old?
- Is a full chip-out in the price, or is it added if the shell needs it?
- What happens to the number if rebar or structural work shows up once the pool is drained?
- How do you handle water chemistry in the first weeks after the fill?
- What is your Arizona ROC number, and can I look it up at roc.az.gov?
- Is the scope, the finish and the price set in writing before work starts?
Good to know
Red flags that keep coming up
- A quote well below the field that grows sharply after chip-out, with the extra presented as unavoidable.
- A finish the salesperson steers you toward that is not the one you asked about, with no clear reason.
- A scope that is not written down, so the price can move once the shell is open.
- An overlay pushed on a finish that is already flaking or delaminating, instead of a chip-out to sound material.
Costs
Costs locals report
These are personal stories, not quotes for your pool, and the dates are approximate from the thread age.
- A Phoenix homeowner paid about $11,000 for a pebble finish with new tile, a light and a grab bar on a 12,000 gallon plaster pool (r/phoenix, October 2024).
- A homeowner reported $8,400 for a plaster to pebble resurface on a 13,000 gallon pool, quotes ranging $6,000 to $15,000, done March 2024 (r/phoenix, October 2024).
- A homeowner paid about $9,000 for a plaster to pebble job on a 15,000 gallon pool in 2021 (r/phoenix, October 2024).
- A homeowner reported $13,000 in 2020 for pebble, cool deck and a water feature on an 11,000 gallon pool (r/phoenix, October 2024).
- A quote thread showed $10,500 for a pebble surface and $14,400 for quartz on a 15 year old pool, which commenters flagged as backwards, since pebble is normally the higher finish (r/pools, December 2024).
- A homeowner reported $16,000 for a mini pebble resurface with new tile on a 17,000 gallon pool (r/arizona, September 2023).
Good to know
Tips specific to Scottsdale and the Valley
- Schedule around monsoon. The season runs June 15 through September 30, and some owners plan a resurface to finish before the dust and storms.
- Pick a finish that resists scale. Scottsdale water runs 13 to 17 grains per gallon hard, so pebble or quartz tends to hold up better than plain plaster.
- Watch the water table on lower lots. A pool that sits low may need care when it is drained so the shell stays put.
- Keep the published ranges on the cost page next to any number you read, and let the shell's condition set the scope, not the town average.
Good to know
Arizona ROC numbers
In Arizona, a contractor who resurfaces pools carries a Registrar of Contractors (ROC) number. To confirm one, look the number up at roc.az.gov (opens in a new tab) and match the name and the license classification to the scope of your job. An ROC number is not a review of quality, it tells you the holder is on the registrar's books for that classification, which is the starting point before any work begins. Every contractor in our network holds an active Arizona ROC license, and you can check an Arizona contractor license in 3 steps.
4 questions
Questions people ask
Still have a question? Call (747) 243-2089 and say what your pool is doing.
What do Scottsdale locals on Reddit say pool resurfacing costs?
The personal stories run from about $8,400 for a plaster to pebble resurface on a 13,000 gallon pool up to about $16,000 for a mini pebble resurface with new tile. Every number is one person's story and is linked in the sources.
Is pebble or plaster the better pool finish in Arizona?
Locals on Reddit call pebble the durability pick, lasting roughly 20 to 25 years against 10 to 12 for plaster, and it resists the scale from hard water. Plaster costs less up front and is smoother underfoot, while quartz splits the difference.
Should a pool finish be overlaid or chipped out?
The threads lean toward chipping out to the bare shell so the new finish bonds to sound material, and flag an overlay pushed onto a flaking finish as a red flag.
How do I confirm a pool resurfacing contractor's license in Arizona?
A contractor who resurfaces pools carries a Registrar of Contractors (ROC) number. Look the number up at roc.az.gov and match the name and license classification to the scope of the job before any work begins.
Sources
Sources
- How much for Pool Resurfacing?, r/phoenix, October 2024.
- Pool Resurfacing in Phoenix AZ, r/PHXList, March 2025.
- Pool replaster $, r/arizona, September 2023.
- Pebble vs Quartz Pool Surface, r/pools, December 2024.
- Plaster vs Pebbles, r/pools, November 2024.
- Pebble or plaster?, r/pools, September 2026.
- Pebble Tec: Worth it?, r/pools, July 2023.
- Gunite Finish question, r/pools, September 2025.
Threads checked: November 2026.
