A well-built swimming pool can last decades — but no pool runs forever without attention. Tiles loosen. Liners thin. Equipment ages. The question for most pool owners isn't whether their pool will need work at some point; it's when, what kind, and how to know the right time has arrived.
This guide is for Devon pool owners trying to make that call. Whether you've just inherited a pool with a new property, are managing a holiday let that's starting to look tired, or have owned your pool for fifteen years and are wondering if it's time, the signs below should help you read where your pool actually is in its life cycle.
How long does a swimming pool last?
A properly installed swimming pool will typically last 20 to 50 years before needing a full renovation, depending on construction type and how well it's been maintained.
- Concrete and tiled pools are the longest-lived — often 40 to 50+ years with periodic resurfacing every 10 to 15 years.
- Vinyl liner pools typically need a new liner every 8 to 12 years, with the underlying structure lasting 20 to 30 years.
- Fibreglass shells generally last 25 to 30 years before needing repair or replacement.
Those are full-life numbers. Most renovations happen well before the pool is at end-of-life — usually when one or two systems start failing in ways that disrupt how the pool is used.
Five clear signs your pool needs renovating
1. You're losing water that you can't explain
A small amount of evaporation is normal — particularly in Devon's warmer summer months. But if your pool is dropping more than an inch a week and it isn't raining, there's a leak somewhere.
Pool leaks can come from the shell, the liner, the plumbing, or the equipment housing. Some are tiny pinholes that have widened over time; others are structural cracks that need proper attention. Either way, leaks waste water, chemicals, and heating — and small leaks tend to become large ones if left.
A pressure test can identify where the leak is and whether the answer is a localised repair or a full renovation. If it's the latter, the renovation often costs less than a year of wasted heating.
2. Tiles are cracking, falling off, or grouting is failing
Loose or missing tiles aren't just a cosmetic problem. Once one tile has come off, water gets behind the surrounding tiles, the grout starts breaking down, and the failure spreads quickly. Pool tiles also have sharp edges that can cut feet — a safety issue as much as an aesthetic one.
Grouting that's stained, discoloured, or crumbling is often the earliest warning sign. If you find yourself reaching for the grout repair every season, the pool is telling you it needs proper attention rather than another patch.
3. The pool surface is staining, rough, or showing its age
Whether your pool has a plaster finish, a vinyl liner, or fibreglass, the inner surface takes a lot of punishment over the years — from chemicals, sunlight, scrubbing, and the occasional impact. When that surface starts to deteriorate, you'll usually notice it before any equipment fails.
Common signs include:
- The pool feels rough to the touch when you swim
- Persistent stains that won't come out, even after acid washing
- Patches of plaster that have visibly thinned or cracked
- A liner that's wrinkling, fading, or has developed brittle spots
- Hairline cracks in the structure that telegraph through the surface
A pool that looks tired tends to feel tired too — and on a property where a pool is supposed to be a feature, that's worth fixing.
4. The equipment keeps failing — and the costs keep climbing
Pool equipment has a working life. Pumps, filters, heaters, and control systems all wear out, and when they do, replacement parts get harder to find as models get older.
If you're calling out an engineer three or four times a year for repeated breakdowns — or your energy bills have crept up year on year despite no change in how you use the pool — the equipment is probably reaching the end of its useful life. A renovation is often the right moment to upgrade it.
Modern pool equipment is dramatically more energy-efficient than what was installed even ten years ago. Variable-speed pumps, modern heat pumps, and intelligent control systems can reduce running costs by 50% or more. That saving alone often justifies the equipment replacement that's bundled into a renovation.
5. The pool no longer fits how you use the house
Sometimes a pool doesn't need renovating because it's broken — it needs renovating because the way the household uses it has changed.
A pool installed for young children twenty years ago may now serve adults who want a swimming workout. A heated pool that was used six months a year might now need to be year-round with a cover and enclosure. A pool that worked when the garden was a clean lawn may now feel disconnected from a landscape that's grown around it.
These aren't repair questions — they're design ones. A good pool renovation specialist will help you think through whether the current pool can be reimagined to fit your life now, or whether replacement is the better answer.
Renovating versus replacing — when each makes sense
There's a temptation to think a tired pool always needs to be torn out and rebuilt. In reality, most pools can be renovated to a near-new condition for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
Renovation usually makes sense when:
- The pool's structural shell is sound but the surfaces, equipment, or aesthetics need updating
- You like the pool's size, shape, and position
- The pool is a sympathetic match for the property and garden
- You want to upgrade the surrounding hard landscaping (paving, coping) at the same time
Replacement might make more sense when:
- The shell itself has failed (significant structural cracks, ground heave, foundation issues)
- The pool's size or position no longer works for the household
- Multiple major systems are at end-of-life simultaneously
- The original installation has design flaws that affect long-term running cost or safety
For most Devon pool owners, the answer is renovation — and a good specialist will tell you honestly if it's not.
What does a pool renovation actually involve?
A typical pool renovation takes between four and twelve weeks depending on scope, and might include any of the following:
- Re-tiling or re-lining the pool surface — the most common and visible part of the work
- Resurfacing plaster or marbelite finishes
- Replacing or upgrading pumps, filters, heaters, and control systems
- Modernising the lighting (LED systems are dramatically more efficient and offer more design options)
- Updating coping and surrounds — the stonework around the pool edge often dates the pool more than the pool itself
- Installing a new cover — automatic safety covers prevent heat loss, evaporation, and accidental access
- Adding or upgrading enclosures — particularly valuable in Devon for extending the pool's usable season
The right renovation is the one that addresses what's actually wrong, brings the pool back into line with how it's used, and modernises the running cost without paying for things that aren't necessary.
Cost of pool renovation in Devon
Pool renovation costs vary widely depending on the work needed, but for a typical Devon domestic pool:
- Resurfacing or relining only: £5,000 to £15,000
- Resurfacing plus equipment upgrade: £10,000 to £25,000
- Full renovation including surrounds and cover: £20,000 to £50,000+
The big variables are the surface area of the pool, whether existing equipment can be retained, the quality of finish chosen, and any unforeseen issues uncovered during the work (most commonly leaks that hadn't been previously identified).
Always insist on a detailed on-site assessment before any quote — desk quotes for pool renovation are almost always wrong by a significant margin.
Choosing a pool renovation specialist in Devon
Pool renovation isn't quite like any other building work. It combines structural, hydraulic, electrical, chemical, and finishing skills — and the things that go wrong tend to go wrong slowly and expensively if the work hasn't been done well.
A few things to look for:
- A specialist firm, not a general builder or landscaper
- Years of demonstrable experience with renovations specifically (not just installations)
- References from completed projects in your area
- A proper site assessment before quoting
- A clear plan for what's being done and why
- Willingness to upgrade equipment sympathetically rather than just replacing like-for-like
Working with a local specialist matters more than you might think. Devon's ground conditions — clay, granite, mixed soil types — vary significantly across the county, and renovation work often surfaces ground-related issues that a non-local firm wouldn't anticipate.
What's the right time to renovate?
If your pool is showing one of the five signs above, the right time is probably now — before the next season starts and before the work becomes more expensive than it needs to be.
The Pool & Spa Company has been designing, building, and renovating swimming pools across Torbay, Exeter, and South Devon for over 17 years. We work on domestic pools, commercial pools for hotels and holiday parks, and historic pools that need sympathetic restoration. Every renovation starts with a free site assessment — a proper look at the pool, the equipment, the surrounds, and how you use it — before any quote is prepared.
If your pool is showing its age and you're not sure whether it needs renovating or replacing, we can help you work out the right answer for your specific situation. Get in touch through our contact page or call the office to book an assessment.