HOW LONG DID YOUR POOL MAKEOVER REALLY TAKE?
Did you ever feel like every time one thing got sorted, another popped up?
That’s the story of every reno I’ve ever done. Pools are their own beast, though. There’s something about digging a giant hole in your yard that seems to invite chaos. For me, it was a domino effect: first the old liner came out and revealed some “surprise” cracks, then the plumbing needed updating, then the weather decided to get involved… you get the idea.
I totally get what you mean about second-guessing tile choices. I spent way too many nights scrolling through photos of mosaic patterns, convinced that if I picked the wrong shade of blue it would haunt me forever. Now? Nobody even notices unless I point it out—and even then they just nod politely.
Here’s how my pool reno timeline actually played out (roughly):
1. Demo & prep: 2 weeks (should’ve been 1, but rain delays…)
2. Structural fixes: 3 weeks (cracks + surprise rebar issues)
3. Plumbing/electrical: 1 week (miraculously on schedule)
4. Tile & coping: 2 weeks (mostly because I changed my mind halfway through)
5. Plaster & fill: 1 week
All in, it was about two months start to finish, but honestly felt like six. The weird part is, once it was done and I finally got to swim, all those little setbacks kind of faded away. Maybe there’s something to your point—delays do make it sweeter in the end? Or maybe we just forget the pain once we’re floating with a drink in hand.
If I had to do it again, I’d probably still overthink every detail… but maybe stress less about the stuff nobody notices after week one.
I hear you on the overthinking—tile choices nearly broke me, too. It’s wild how much time you can spend debating shades of blue, only for everyone else to just see “pool.” For us, the timeline stretched out because we tried to reuse as much as possible and went with recycled glass tiles. That added a couple weeks, but honestly, I don’t regret it. The eco stuff can be a pain up front, but it’s worth it when you’re floating around guilt-free. And yeah, once you’re in the water, all the chaos fades out... mostly.
It’s wild how much time you can spend debating shades of blue, only for everyone else to just see “pool.”
- Been there. I once spent three days with a client holding up tile samples in different lights—morning, midday, sunset—just to end up picking the first one we liked.
- Recycled glass is a great call. Adds character you don’t get from standard stuff, even if it drags out the process.
- The “eco pain” is real, but I’ve noticed people feel better about their choices long-term.
- Honestly, most visitors never notice the details, but you will every time you swim. That’s worth a couple extra weeks in my book.
Totally get it. I once spent an entire afternoon with a client just watching how the water changed color as the sun moved, trying to decide if “sea glass” blue was too green or not blue enough. In the end, we went with a recycled glass tile that took forever to source, but now it catches the light in such a cool way. Most people don’t notice, but my client still mentions it every summer. Worth the hassle, honestly.
In the end, we went with a recycled glass tile that took forever to source, but now it catches the light in such a cool way. Most people don’t notice, but my client still mentions it every summer. Worth the hassle, honestly.
That’s exactly the kind of detail that makes all the difference, even if most folks don’t realize it. I’ve been through similar rabbit holes—spent way too long comparing grout samples under different lights just to get that “almost invisible” look.
- My last pool redo (just me and my partner, no pros) took about 7 weeks start to finish. That included demo, prepping the shell, tiling, and new coping.
- Tile selection was hands-down the slowest part. We changed our minds twice after seeing samples outside at different times of day. Sunlight really does mess with your color choices.
- Sourcing unique materials can drag things out. Our mosaic border tiles were backordered for nearly a month. At one point I considered just painting a border and calling it a day... glad I didn’t.
- Actual install time was pretty reasonable—about 2 weeks for tile and grout—but waiting on materials ate up most of our timeline.
I get what you mean about “worth the hassle.” There’s something satisfying about knowing you obsessed over those details—even if only you (or your client) ever notice them.
If anyone’s trying to estimate how long their own project might take, I’d say:
- Add at least 30% more time than you think for material delays and indecision.
- Don’t rush picking finishes. You’ll stare at them every summer for years.
- If you’re DIY-ing, factor in weather delays and sore backs.
Honestly, sometimes I wish I could just pick something off a shelf and be done... but then I see how the light hits that tile at sunset and forget all about the headaches.
