Pool Renovation in New Orleans

Why renovate your pool now

New Orleans climate is tough on pools—heat, heavy rain, clay soils, and hurricanes. A pool renovation can dramatically improve looks, safety, and performance while solving chronic issues like cracked coping, hollow plaster, outdated lights, and poor drainage around the deck. Our design‑build approach blends engineering and aesthetics so your pool looks incredible and works better through storm season.

What we upgrade (and why it matters)

1) Interior finish: Resurfacing

  • Quartz or pebble aggregates for durability and richer water color.

  • Address etching, delamination, mottling with proper prep: chip‑out, bond‑coat, and water‑chemistry‑smart startup.

2) Waterline tile & accents

  • Frost‑resistant porcelain or glass mosaics; larger formats for modern lines.

  • Add mosaic markers on steps/benches for safety.

3) Coping & expansion joints

  • Replace cracked brick/stone with travertine, dense limestone, or porcelain coping.

  • Rebuild expansion joints between shell, coping, and deck to prevent telegraphed cracks.

4) Deck replacement (and drainage!)

  • Swap aging concrete for porcelain pavers (sand‑set or pedestal), premium brushed concrete, or natural stone on a well‑drained base.

  • Add channel/slot drains and correct slopes (1–2%) away from structures.

5) Equipment & plumbing

  • Variable‑speed pumps for quiet, efficient circulation.

  • Heaters/heat pumps sized to pool/spa volume.

  • Automation for lights, heat, spa modes, and schedules from your phone.

  • Replace old skimmers, suction lines, and add vac ports or in‑floor/return‑swept circulation to control debris.

6) Lighting & electrical

  • Convert to LED niche or nicheless luminaires; add step/landscape lights.

  • Update bonding/GFCI and replace aging conduits.

7) Safety & code updates

  • VGB‑compliant drains (dual or unblockable) and covers.

  • Self‑closing, self‑latching gates and barrier compliance.

8) Features & layout tweaks

  • Add a tanning ledge (Baja shelf), benches, or a spillway spa.

  • Build a scupper or sheer descent wall to mask neighborhood noise.

  • Integrate auto‑cover for safety and leaf control on tree‑heavy lots.

Drainage & elevation fixes during renovation

Many legacy pools predate today’s storm thinking. During renovation we can:

  • Re‑pitch decks to 1–2% and introduce channel/slot drains.

  • Add hidden overflows or tie skimmer equalizers to relieve big rain events.

  • Elevate and relocate equipment to reduce flood risk and allow service clearances.

  • Transition to permeable/pedestal paving in courtyards to reduce standing water.

Our renovation process

  1. Site assessment – Laser levels, leak/pressure checks, equipment audit, and photo log.

  2. Scope & renderings – Options from refresh to re‑imagine with 3D visuals of finishes and features.

  3. Proposal & schedule – Transparent allowances, selections, and a Buildertrend timeline.

  4. Demo & repairs – Chip‑out, structural crack repair, skimmer/plumbing work, and electrical upgrades.

  5. Tile, coping & deck – New finishes and corrected joints/grades.

  6. Interior finish & startup – Plaster/pebble, careful fill, and chemistry‑smart startup with owner orientation.

What we inspect before we price

  • Shell condition (hollow spots, cracks, beam integrity)

  • Skimmers, returns, and suction plumbing (pressure/leak tests)

  • Equipment age/efficiency and pad height

  • Electrical bonding/GFCI and light niches

  • Deck condition, slopes, and outfall options

  • Fence and gate compliance

Finish & color ideas for New Orleans architecture

  • Historic: tumbled travertine or brick soldier‑course coping; 2″×2″ porcelain mosaics; soft quartz interior (sky to teal).

  • Modern: straight‑edge porcelain coping, large‑format waterline tile, charcoal or deep‑blue pebble.

  • Tropical: glass tile accents, warmer travertine, and lush planting (sweet olive, camellias, palmetto).

Add‑ons that make old pools feel new

  • Integrated spa with spillway

  • Fire bowls or a slim linear fire feature

  • Tanning ledge with umbrella sleeves and bubblers

  • Auto‑cover or leaf‑net system under live oaks

  • Outdoor kitchen or pergola to complete the space

FAQ: Pool renovation New Orleans

Can you add a tanning ledge to my existing pool?
Often, yes. We can re‑form shallow areas or add a shelf during chip‑out, then re‑steel and shoot to integrate structurally.

What if my pool is leaking?
We pressure‑test lines and inspect the shell. Repairs may include crack stitching, skimmer replacement, or localized shell work prior to resurfacing.

Is saltwater okay after renovating?
Yes. We size salt systems to our summer heat and bather loads; pebble/quartz finishes pair well with salt.

Will you handle permits and inspections?
Yes. We coordinate permits and schedule inspections with the appropriate jurisdiction (and HOA/HDLC review if required).

Can we keep part of the old deck?
Absolutely. We can transition to new coping and overlay or replace strategic sections while correcting drainage.

Parker Davies