How Much Does It Cost to Replaster a Pool in New Orleans?

Written by Big Easy Pool Builders

How Much Does It Cost to Replaster a Pool in New Orleans?

Quick Answer: Nationally, HomeGuide’s cost guide, updated April 2025, puts standard white plaster at $6,000 to $8,000 for about 1,000 square feet of pool surface, quartz at up to $10,000, and pebble or aggregate at up to $15,000. Homewyse’s May 2026 estimate lands close for plaster. Your New Orleans price depends on the shell’s size and the finish you choose, plus prep.

Those figures are national ranges, not our quote. A replaster job is priced by the square foot of surface, and every pool is a little different once it’s drained. We give homeowners in Kenner and Gretna a written price after we’ve looked at the shell, because what’s under the water decides more of the cost than the brochure does.

What Does Each Pool Finish Cost Nationally?

Finish choice is one of the main price decisions you control. HomeGuide’s pool resurfacing cost guide, updated April 2025, lists these national ranges, based on roughly 1,000 square feet of surface and not counting the cost to refill the water:

• Standard white plaster (marcite): $6 to $8 per square foot, or $6,000 to $8,000.
• Quartz plaster: $7 to $10 per square foot, or $7,000 to $10,000.
• Pebble: $7 to $15 per square foot, or $7,000 to $15,000.
• Full tile: $8 to $30 or more per square foot, the most expensive option on the list.

A second national source lands in the same neighborhood for plain plaster. Homewyse’s May 2026 replastering estimate starts at $6.63 to $7.90 per square foot for basic mid-range work. HomeGuide’s overall national average for resurfacing, across all finishes, is $11,000 as of its April 2025 update.

Is Quartz or Pebble Worth the Extra Money?

It comes down to how long you plan to keep the pool and how you want it to feel underfoot. HomeGuide rates standard plaster at 7 to 12 years, quartz plaster at 10 to 15 years, and pebble at 15 to 20 years or more. Pebble Technology International, the company behind PebbleTec, says its pebble finishes can last over 20 years with proper maintenance and water chemistry.

So the math isn’t only about the first bill. If you expect to own the home for a long stretch, a finish you replace less often can close some of the price gap. If you expect a shorter stay, standard plaster carries the lowest up-front price on HomeGuide’s list.

Texture matters too. Quartz has colored quartz fragments mixed into the plaster for a speckled look. Pebble has a more textured feel underfoot than standard plaster, so try a sample with bare feet if you can. Ask to see finish samples in your own backyard light before you decide.

What Drives the Price of Your Replaster Job?

Two pools that look the same size from the patio can price very differently. These are the factors that change the number:

• Surface area. You’re paying to cover the floor and every wall, steps and benches included. A deep diving well adds more wall area than you’d guess.
• Prep work. HomeGuide notes that a concrete or gunite shell has to be sandblasted or chemically etched before the new finish goes on, and loose old plaster has to come off.
• Repairs. HomeGuide advises fixing cracks before resurfacing, since they can spread and damage the new finish.
• Tile and extras. New waterline tile, custom inserts, or pigmented plaster all add cost.
• Water. Draining and refilling often show up as separate line items.

If your pool is a gunite shell, the surface is what you’re replacing, not the structure. Our guide on what a gunite pool is and how it’s built explains how the shell and the finish layer work together.

What Do Draining and Refilling Add?

These costs are easy to miss. HomeGuide’s national figures, updated April 2025, put draining and cleaning a pool at $600 to $650. Refilling with a garden hose runs $40 to $400 and takes 12 to 36 hours, while a water delivery truck costs $400 to $2,000 and fills the pool in under an hour.

Ask whether your quote includes these steps. When two bids look far apart, compare whether each one includes the drain and prep as well as the tile work.

Does the New Orleans Climate Change What You Should Budget?

It doesn’t change the per-square-foot math much, but it does change how you plan the job. Our swim season runs long, and summer afternoon storms can stall work on a drained pool. Our advice: schedule replastering around the forecast so the fresh surface isn’t exposed to a downpour before it’s covered with water.

The heat and strong sun also make water chemistry harder to hold steady, and chemistry is what wears plaster out early. Pebble Technology International lists harsh sunlight and heavy rainfall among the conditions that wear pool finishes. If you’ve struggled to keep your water balanced, factor that into your finish choice, and budget for a good test kit alongside the new surface.

How Long Will Your Pool Be Out of Service?

HomeGuide puts a typical resurfacing job at 5 to 7 days, and the pool and finish you choose move that number. After that comes a start-up period of careful brushing and chemistry while the new surface cures. For owners in Gretna and Kenner, we recommend going over that start-up routine with the crew before they leave, because the first weeks shape how the finish looks for years.

How Do You Compare Replastering Quotes?

Line the quotes up side by side and check that each one covers the same work:

• The same finish product and color, named in writing.
• Who drains the pool, and whether the old surface is removed or just prepped.
• Whether waterline tile is replaced, cleaned, or left alone.
• Who handles the refill and the start-up chemistry.

A lower total that skips prep or tile isn’t really cheaper. You can see what our pool replastering service includes, and our pool FAQs answer the common scheduling questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is replastering the same as resurfacing?

Replastering usually means applying a new plaster coat. Resurfacing is the broader term and covers every finish type, tile and pebble included. Both involve draining the pool and preparing the old surface.

Can you replaster over old plaster?

The old surface has to be sound and properly prepped first. Loose or hollow-sounding areas need to come off, or the new coat won’t bond to them.

Why do some quotes cost much more than others?

Usually the finish or the prep. Check whether every bid includes draining, surface removal, crack repair, and the refill before comparing totals.

Can an existing gunite pool be replastered?

Yes, a new finish is how an older concrete or gunite pool gets a fresh surface. HomeGuide notes the shell has to be sandblasted or chemically etched first, and cracks should be fixed before the new coat goes on. Our replastering service area includes homes in Kenner and Gretna.

Get a Replastering Quote in Kenner or Gretna

We’ll look at your shell, talk through finish options, and give you a written price you can hold up against any other bid. If you’re also weighing a heater or pump fix while the pool is empty, our pool equipment repair team can check the equipment on the same visit.

Want to see the full scope first? Read what our New Orleans replastering crew handles on every job.

Big Easy Pool Builders serves New Orleans and the surrounding metro. Request your replastering quote or call (504) 608-4680.