What It Actually Costs to Renovate a 1990s Pool in 2026

If your pool was built between 1985 and 2005, you are probably looking at a renovation rather than a repair — and the number that comes back from a contractor can feel like it was pulled from thin air. It wasn’t. Here is how renovation pricing actually works on the Treasure Coast in 2026, with the ranges we see on real Martin County projects.

The three things that move the price

Surface, deck, and equipment are the big three. A straightforward resurface with new waterline tile starts in the mid-$30Ks. Add a full Travertine deck and you are into the $60K–$90K range. Add structural repair, new plumbing, automation, and lighting — the things a 30-year-old pool usually needs — and a complete renovation typically lands between $80K and $130K.

Where the surprises hide

• Bond beam cracks behind the old tile — common, and fixable, but only visible once you open it up.
• Plumbing that predates variable-speed equipment and needs to be re-run.
• Deck drainage that no longer meets code and has to be regraded.
• Old steel or rebar corrosion near the waterline in saltwater conversions.

A good contractor inspects for these before quoting and prices them in — so the surprise is on us, not on you. The right way to handle the unknowns is a thorough up-front assessment and a fixed-fee contract, not a low bid padded with change orders later.

How to budget honestly

Decide what you actually want first — a refresh, or a transformation — then design to it and price the design. If you start with a number and shop it to three builders, you will get three different scopes that only look identical on the surface. Start with the outcome and the budget follows.