Resurfacing, Remodel or New Pool? How to Pick the Right Kind of Company
Not every company that works on pools does the same kind of work. Before you compare quotes, make sure you're calling the right type of company for the job you actually need.
When a pool starts to look tired, most homeowners do the same thing: they search online, call two or three numbers and ask for a price.
The problem is that those numbers often belong to very different kinds of businesses. One may be the company that cleans your pool every week. Another may be a general handyman. A third may be a contractor that specializes in resurfacing and remodeling. A fourth may be a full pool builder.
They can all say "pools" on the truck. They are not interchangeable.
Quick answer: Match the company to the job. Weekly cleaning and water chemistry belong to a service company. Replacing an interior finish, changing tile and coping, reshaping steps or adding features is contractor work. Building a new pool is pool-builder work. In Florida, pool construction, repair and interior finishing fall under the pool/spa contractor categories defined in state law, so check the license before you check the price.
The Four Kinds of Pool Companies (and What Each One Is For)
1. Pool maintenance and service companies
These are the people who keep your water balanced, empty the skimmer baskets, brush the walls and tell you when the pump sounds wrong. A good service company is valuable. They often notice early signs of trouble — rough spots, stains, loose tile — before you do.
What they usually don't do is tear out and replace a finish or rebuild part of a pool. Some service businesses hold a state pool/spa servicing license and can handle certain repairs; many simply clean. Ask which one you're dealing with.
2. Handymen and general "fix-it" businesses
A handyman can be the right call for a fence gate or a deck light. Pool interiors are a different story. Florida law has a narrow exemption for "casual, minor, or inconsequential" work under $2,500, but section 489.103(9), Florida Statutes says it doesn't apply when the work is part of a larger job, is split into smaller contracts to avoid the rules, or when the person advertises as a contractor. A full resurfacing is not minor work.
3. Specialized resurfacing and remodeling contractors
This is the company you want when the pool itself is sound but its surfaces are worn out or outdated. Resurfacing means removing the old interior finish and applying a new one — pebble, quartz or polished finishes, for example. A remodel can go further: new waterline tile, new coping, a sun shelf, updated steps, lighting or water features, and sometimes a new deck.
The craft here is specific. Surface preparation, bonding, application and the chemical start-up afterward all affect how long the new finish lasts.
4. Full pool builders
A pool builder designs and constructs a pool from the ground up: layout, excavation, steel, plumbing, shell, equipment, finish and deck. Builders also handle the heavier end of remodeling, such as changing a pool's shape or depth, because that work starts to look a lot like new construction.
What Florida's Pool Contractor License Actually Covers
Florida defines several pool contractor categories in section 489.105(3), Florida Statutes. In plain language:
| License category | What the statute describes |
|---|---|
| Commercial pool/spa contractor | Construction, repair and servicing of any swimming pool, hot tub or spa, public or private — including new equipment and interior finishes |
| Residential pool/spa contractor | The same scope, limited to residential pools |
| Swimming pool/spa servicing contractor | Repair and servicing (not construction), including repair of existing equipment and interior refinishing |
A few points matter for homeowners:
- Cleaning doesn't require a license as long as it doesn't affect the structural integrity of the pool or its equipment. Building, repairing and refinishing is a different matter.
- Unlicensed contracting is a crime in Florida. Under section 489.127, acting as or advertising as a contractor without the required certification or registration, or doing permitted work without the permit in effect, is prohibited. A first offense is a first-degree misdemeanor, and repeat offenses can be a felony.
- A business tax receipt is not a license. The same statute says so directly.
You can look up any contractor by name or license number on the Florida DBPR license search. Confirm the license is active and that the category fits the work you're hiring for. If you want a deeper explanation of the credential, read our guide on what a CPC licensed pool contractor is.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and local rules change — confirm current requirements with DBPR, your county building department or an attorney.
When You Need One Company That Does Both
Many projects don't fit neatly into one box. A homeowner who calls about "just resurfacing" sometimes discovers they'd also like a sun shelf, a bench, new tile and a bigger deck. Another family planning a new pool may want the same finish and tile they saw on a neighbor's remodel.
That's when a company that handles resurfacing, remodeling and new construction is useful:
- One scope, one contract. You aren't coordinating a resurfacer, a tile setter and a deck crew who each blame the others for gaps.
- Structural questions get answered in-house. If the crew finds something under the old finish that needs more than a resurface, the same team can evaluate it.
- Design continuity. Finish, tile, coping and deck are chosen together, so the result looks planned rather than patched.
At D&J The Pool Resurfacers, that's how we work. We've served Central Florida since 2014 under Florida certified pool contractor license CPC1459797, and our services include complete pool resurfacing, remodeling, new pool construction, commercial pool renovation and decking.
Why the Type of Company Matters
Warranty validity
Manufacturer warranties on premium finishes depend on who installs them. PebbleTec, for example, states on its warranty page that its pool finish warranty only applies when the finish is installed by an authorized installer, and that workmanship defects are the installer's responsibility. The same page says the limited warranty is non-transferable. If the person who applied your finish wasn't authorized, the material warranty you thought you had may not exist.
Permits
Work that requires a building permit has to be done under one. Ask every company who pulls the permit, who schedules inspections and whether the price includes it. A company that suggests skipping the permit to save time is telling you something important about how it operates.
Resale
When you sell, buyers and their inspectors may ask what was done to the pool, when and by whom. A licensed contractor's contract, permit records and finish documentation answer those questions. A cash job with no paperwork doesn't.
Insurance and liability
Pool work involves heavy equipment, draining, chemicals and workers on your property. Ask for proof of insurance and keep a copy. If something goes wrong with an unlicensed or uninsured worker, the problem can land on you.
How to Sort the Companies You're Calling
Before requesting quotes, write down what you actually want. Then ask each company:
- What license do you hold, and what's the number?
- Is this work within the scope of that license?
- Who will be on site doing the work — your crew or subcontractors?
- Who pulls the permit, if one is needed?
- Which manufacturer warranty applies to the finish, and are you authorized to install it?
- Can I see recent projects similar to mine?
If you're still deciding between companies, our checklist on choosing the best pool resurfacing company in Orlando covers what to compare once you've narrowed the list to the right type of contractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my pool cleaning company resurface my pool?
Only if it holds a Florida license that covers interior refinishing and actually has the crew and experience for it. Many service companies clean only. Ask for the license number and check it on the DBPR site.
Does a handyman need a license to work on my pool?
For anything beyond casual, minor work, generally yes. Florida's minor-work exemption is limited to jobs under $2,500 and doesn't apply to larger projects, split contracts or anyone advertising as a contractor. Resurfacing a pool is well beyond that.
What's the difference between resurfacing and remodeling?
Resurfacing replaces the interior finish. Remodeling can include resurfacing plus changes like new tile, coping, steps, a sun shelf, lighting, water features or decking.
When do I need a pool builder instead of a resurfacing company?
When you're building a new pool or making changes that affect the pool's structure, shape or depth. For those, you want a contractor licensed and experienced in construction.
Is the cheapest quote from an unlicensed company worth the risk?
Consider what you could lose: the finish warranty, permit compliance, insurance protection and clean documentation for resale. Those are hard to recover after the job is done.
Start With the Right Conversation
The right company for your pool depends on what your pool needs. Once you know that, the list gets shorter and the quotes get easier to compare.
If you're in Central Florida and want an honest assessment of whether your pool needs a resurface, a remodel or something more, request a free estimate or call us at (689) 358-9790. We'll look at your pool and give you a written, itemized quote. Se habla español.
Written and reviewed by
D&J The Pool Resurfacers
A Florida-licensed pool contractor and certified PebbleTec applicator that resurfaces, remodels and builds pools across Central Florida, working with pebble, quartz and polished finishes.
- Florida Certified Pool/Spa Contractor
- CPC1459797 · Verify the license on MyFloridaLicense.com
- PebbleTec
- Certified PebbleTec applicators
- Last updated
Why trust this article: it’s written by the licensed crew that does this work in Central Florida, and it only states what we do on our own jobs — pebble, quartz and polished finishes. More about D&J
