If I could do it again, I’d lock in all the finishes before demo even started.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I kinda liked having a bit of wiggle room on finishes. Once demo started and I saw the space opened up, some of my original choices just didn’t feel right anymore. It slowed things down a bit, sure, but I think it saved me from some regrets later. Sometimes seeing things in person changes your whole vibe, you know?
LOCKING IN FINISHES VS. GOING WITH THE FLOW
I totally get the urge to have everything picked out before demo, but honestly, I tried that once and it backfired. I had this whole vision board thing going—tiles, coping, even the color of the pool light. Then demo started and suddenly the space felt way bigger (and weirder) than I’d pictured. The tile I was obsessed with looked totally off in the actual sunlight. Ended up swapping half my choices mid-reno, which drove my contractor a little nuts, but hey, better than living with regret every time I look at the pool.
The last pool flip I did, I left myself some room to change my mind. It did drag things out a bit—my “two-month” project turned into four, but at least I didn’t end up with a pool that looked like a Pinterest fail. There’s something about seeing the bones of the space that just changes your perspective. Like, I thought I wanted all these bold colors, but once the old plaster was gone and the yard opened up, I realized subtle was the way to go.
I guess it depends on your tolerance for chaos and how much you trust your gut in the moment. If you’re cool with a little extra dust and some decision fatigue, leaving finishes open can actually save you from making choices you’ll hate later. But if you’re the type who needs everything locked down to sleep at night, maybe stick to the plan.
Either way, I’ve learned that “two months” in pool reno time is basically code for “however long it takes plus at least three weeks.”
LOCKING IT ALL IN SAVED ME A HEADACHE
I hear you on wanting to see the space first, but honestly, locking in finishes up front worked way better for me. I’ve done a couple pool renos now, and every time I left things open-ended, it just dragged out the timeline and made my budget balloon. Picking everything before demo meant fewer last-minute runs to the tile shop and less back-and-forth with the crew. Yeah, you risk not “feeling” the space, but if you do your homework and get samples in the actual yard light, it’s not as risky as it seems. Sometimes sticking to the plan keeps things moving—and my sanity intact.
Picking everything before demo meant fewer last-minute runs to the tile shop and less back-and-forth with the crew.
I get what you mean about locking it all in. I tried to “feel” the space during my first pool reno and honestly, it just made things messier. I kept second-guessing tile colors and the crew would have to pause while I ran around town looking for samples. The whole thing dragged on for almost three months when it should’ve been half that. Next time, I’m picking everything before demo, even if it feels a bit risky. Less stress, less chaos.
Totally relate to the chaos of indecision mid-project. I used to think waiting until demo would help me “see” the space better, but honestly, it just led to a lot of wasted time and stress. Picking everything upfront felt a bit counterintuitive, but my last reno went way smoother. The crew appreciated not having to stop and start, and I actually enjoyed the process more. It’s tough to commit early, but it really does pay off in the end.