A pool renovation cost is never one number. It is the sum of a few separate jobs: the interior surface, waterline tiles, coping, paving and equipment. At the time of writing (October 2026), the biggest line, resurfacing, starts from around R15,000 for marbelite. Everything else depends on what your pool needs and how far you want to go.
Below, our team breaks a makeover into those line items with current market prices, groups them into three levels of work, and walks through a recent Kwik Pools job. For the full scope of what we do, see our pool renovations page.
What drives pool renovation cost
Two pools of the same size can end up with very different bills. These are the things that move the number most:
- Surface area. Surfaces are priced per square metre and coping per metre, so a bigger pool costs more on every line.
- Condition underneath. Hollow plaster, cracks and leaks have to be fixed before any new finish goes on.
- Choice of finish. Paint, marbelite and fibreglass sit at very different price points and lifespans.
- How much of the surround changes. New coping and paving can match or beat the cost of the pool interior.
- Access. Narrow side paths and steps mean more carrying by hand, which adds labour time.
Older Cape Town pools, many of them marbelite from the 1970s to 1990s, often hide delaminated plaster that only shows once the pool is drained. That is why a fair quote includes an allowance or a clear rule for extra work. Our article on pool plaster delamination explains what hollow areas look and sound like.
Pool renovation line items and prices
These are market prices from Cape Town contractors and SA price guides at the time of writing (October 2026). They are not Kwik Pools prices. Use them to sense-check quotes, then ask our team for a current quote on your pool.
| Line item | From around | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorinated rubber repaint, typical pool | R4,182 | R4,182 to R6,018 |
| Epoxy repaint, typical pool | R6,888 | R6,888 to R9,912 |
| Marbelite resurfacing, per pool | R15,000 | R15,000 to R45,000 |
| Fibreglass reline, typical pool | R25,000 | R25,000 to R50,000 |
| Waterline tiling, per pool | R3,000 | R3,000 to R12,000 |
| Concrete coping, per linear metre | R250 | R250 to R500 |
| Paving lift and relay, per m2 | R250 | R250 to R550 |
| Smooth slab paving, per m2 | R300 | R300 to R420 |
| Minor crack repair | R1,500 | R1,500 to R4,000 |
| Filter sand change | R800 | R800 to R1,500 |
| Salt chlorinator, supply and install | R4,000 | R4,000 to R11,000 |
For more detail on the surface options, read our guides to fibreglass pool relining cost and pool resurfacing cost. Leak detection, from around R1,400 per visit, is worth doing before any of this if the pool has been losing water.
Why we do not quote a single total here. A renovation total only means something once the pool has been measured and the old surface checked. Adding up ranges from different pools gives a figure that fits nobody. Get each line priced for your pool instead.
Three levels of pool refurbishment
Most of the work we see falls into one of three levels. Read across to see which line items each one usually includes.
| Level | Usual work | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Repaint, small crack repairs, filter sand change, a thorough clean | A sound pool that looks tired |
| Mid renovation | New marbelite or fibreglass surface, waterline tiles, coping repairs, equipment servicing | A rough, stained or leaking interior with a usable surround |
| Full makeover | New surface, waterline band, new coping, new paving, upgraded equipment such as a salt chlorinator or LED light | An old pool and patio being brought up to date together |
Refresh: the lowest pool renovation cost
A repaint is the cheapest way to change how a pool looks. It suits a structurally sound pool that already has paint on it. Paint does not bond well over every surface, so check our pool paint guide for compatibility before you buy anything.
Mid renovation: new surface and waterline
This is the most common pool renovation we quote. The pool is drained, loose plaster is removed, cracks are repaired and a new finish goes on. Replacing the waterline tiles at the same time makes sense because the pool is already empty. Our pool mosaic tiles guide covers the choices.
Full makeover: pool and surround together
When coping and paving are also tired, it pays to do everything in one project. New coping sets the finished edge for the new surface, and the paving is laid to fall away from the pool. Our pool coping guide compares bullnose, square edge and stone.
Want your renovation priced line by line?
Send us photos of the pool and surround with a rough size. Our team will suggest which level of work fits and price each part separately.
A real old pool makeover by Kwik Pools
Here is a recent Kwik Pools job that shows how the line items come together. It was a small rectangular pool with tired brick paving around it and artificial lawn beside it.
The scope covered four of the line items in the table above:
- Interior. The pool was relined in bright blue with a mosaic waterline band.
- Coping. New concrete coping slabs were set around the edge.
- Old paving. The existing paving was lifted and stacked, and the ground was levelled.
- New paving. The pool surround and the side path along the house were re-paved in large grey slabs with a cobble border.
Doing this as one old pool makeover meant the coping, paving levels and the new lining all lined up, with no trades working over a finished surface later. The paving cost was driven by area, so the side path added a noticeable share. You can see more photos in our project gallery.
Pool renovations, Cape Town budget factors
Weather, water and salt all shape the timing and cost of pool renovations. Cape Town adds a few local factors worth building into the plan:
- Winter rain. Surface work and paving need dry spells. Runoff can also flood an empty pool, so drainage around the site matters.
- Summer wind and sun. The south-easter dries fresh render and paint quickly, so crews plan around it.
- Water to refill. A full refill is billed on the City’s stepped water tariff, from R25.42 per kilolitre in the first step up to R100.71 above 35kl. Ask whether a tanker refill is an option.
- Coastal salt air. Near the sea, equipment and fittings corrode faster, so factor in replacements while the pool is empty.
A sensible budget keeps a contingency for what draining reveals. Before you drain, it helps to know if there is a leak. Our pool leak detection service can find it with water still in the pool.
Pool renovation checklist before you sign
Our full pool renovation checklist goes into detail. These are the quote questions that affect cost the most:
- Is each line item priced separately, with areas and lengths shown?
- What happens if hollow plaster or cracks are found, and at what rate?
- Is rubble removal included?
- Who refills the pool, and who balances the water afterwards?
- What aftercare does the new surface need in the first weeks?
Once the work is done, the new finish needs careful start-up chemistry. Our pool renovation service includes a handover so you know what to do next.
Common questions about pool renovation cost
How much does a pool renovation cost in Cape Town?
There is no single figure, because a pool renovation cost is built from separate jobs. At the time of writing (October 2026), resurfacing alone runs from around R15,000 to R45,000 for marbelite, and coping, tiles, paving and equipment are priced on top. Ask our team for a current quote based on a site visit.
What is the most expensive part of a pool renovation?
The new interior surface is usually the biggest line, whether that is marbelite, a fibreglass reline or a full paint system. Paving can come close on a large surround because it is priced per square metre. Hidden leaks or structural cracks found after draining can also add a big line.
Is it cheaper to paint or reline an old pool?
Paint is the cheapest way to refresh a pool surface, from around R4,182 to R6,018 for a chlorinated rubber repaint of a typical pool. It needs redoing far sooner than marbelite or fibreglass. A reline costs more upfront but lasts much longer.
Can I renovate my pool in stages?
Yes, and many homeowners do. The usual order is repairs and leaks first, then the surface, waterline tiles and coping together, then paving and equipment. Doing coping and the surface in the same visit avoids damaging a brand new finish later.
What is the best time of year for a pool refurbishment in Cape Town?
Late winter and spring are popular because the pool is ready for summer and coatings cure better in mild, dry weather. Winter rain can delay surface work and paving. Book early, because spring is the busiest season for pool contractors.
Plan your pool renovation with Kwik Pools
Tell us what bothers you about the pool and surround, and what you want it to look like. We will price the work in parts so you can choose what to do now and later.
