Cracked Plaster No More: Gilbert's Top Pool Remodelers

The Gilbert Pool Remodelers Actually Worth Your Backyard Budget

That sinking feeling when you peek out the back window and realize your once sparkling pool now looks more like a science experiment is something plenty of Gilbert homeowners know far too well. Between the relentless Arizona sun, hard water deposits, cracked plaster, dated tile, and coping that has seen better decades, pools in the East Valley tend to age faster than their owners expect. Pool remodeling is the process of refreshing or completely transforming an aging swimming pool, and it can involve anything from resurfacing the interior and replacing tile to reshaping the entire pool, upgrading equipment, adding water features, installing new decking, or converting to saltwater. According to Pool & Spa News, the residential pool renovation and remodel market has seen steady growth over the past several years, with homeowners investing billions annually into upgrading aging backyard pools rather than building new ones.

Our customers kept asking us which Gilbert companies we actually trust when their pools need a second life, so we listened and put this guide together for them. To build this list, we looked at years of job site experience, customer reviews across multiple platforms, licensing and bonding status through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, warranty terms, design creativity, communication habits, pricing transparency, and how each company handled the small stuff like cleanup and follow up visits. The names below rose to the top because they consistently deliver on what they promise, they show up when they say they will, and their finished projects still look great years later.

1. Dolphin Pools and Spas

Few things feel better than handing your backyard over to a crew that treats the project like it's their own home, and that's the energy you get from Dolphin Pools and Spas. With decades of combined experience across the Phoenix metro, this team has earned a reputation in Gilbert for blending old school craftsmanship with fresh, modern design ideas. Their remodels often feature pebble interiors, travertine decking, raised spa conversions, glass mosaic waterlines, and Baja shelves that turn ordinary rectangles into magazine worthy retreats.

What really sets them apart is how they walk homeowners through every stage of the process. You get a detailed plan, honest timelines, and a project manager who answers the phone. They handle everything from equipment upgrades and LED lighting to full scale reshaping and water feature installation. Their finish work is clean, their subs are vetted, and they stand behind their labor long after the final check clears.

One recent Gilbert homeowner, Marisol Hendricks, shared this after her remodel wrapped up: "They took a cracked, outdated pool that we were honestly embarrassed to have friends over for and turned it into the best part of our house. The crew was respectful, on time, and genuinely proud of their work."

2. BD Pools and Spas

Stepping into the showroom of BD Pool Builders feels a bit like walking into a backyard design museum, and that's exactly the point. As one of the top pool builders and remodelers in Arizona, they've built a name on consistency and scale, handling everything from modest resurfacing jobs to elaborate full backyard transformations. Their in house design team uses 3D renderings to help you see the finished product before a single tile is pulled.

For Gilbert homeowners looking for a one stop shop, Presidential covers pool interiors, decking, outdoor kitchens, ramadas, pavers, and spa additions. Their project scope is broad, their crews are experienced, and they've been around long enough to work through plenty of unusual backyard challenges. If you want a remodeler with deep bench strength and a long paper trail of completed projects, they belong on the shortlist.

3. Shasta Pools

Shasta has been a fixture in the Valley for generations, and their remodeling division brings that same legacy feel to every project. They specialize in interior finishes, tile replacement, equipment upgrades, and structural repairs, and they're particularly strong when it comes to energy efficient pump and filter conversions. Homeowners appreciate the fact that they rarely feel rushed through the design process, and their warranty coverage is among the more generous in the region.

Their Gilbert clients often mention how well the company handles older pools that have had multiple previous owners and mystery plumbing. Shasta's technicians know how to diagnose what's really happening beneath the surface before quoting the job, which saves everyone from unpleasant surprises halfway through demolition.

4. California Pools

Known across the Southwest for large scale custom work, California Pools brings a distinctly design forward approach to remodeling. Their team leans into modern aesthetics, think sharp geometric lines, infinity edges, fire bowls, and minimalist waterfalls, but they'll happily execute traditional Mediterranean looks too. Their gallery of completed Gilbert projects reads like a list of dream backyards.

A few things homeowners tend to highlight about working with them:

• Thorough site visits before any quote is finalized
• Clear written contracts with itemized pricing
• Strong coordination between design, demolition, and finishing teams
• Willingness to incorporate existing hardscape rather than ripping everything out

They're typically not the cheapest option, but the quality of the finished product tends to justify the investment.

5. Pebble Tec Authorized Applicators

This one is slightly different because Pebble Tec is a finish brand rather than a single company, but any Gilbert homeowner focused on a top tier interior remodel should be looking at their authorized applicator network. Pebble Tec applicators are vetted, trained, and held to quality standards that most independent contractors simply can't match. Their finishes resist staining, hold up against Arizona's harsh water chemistry, and come with warranty protections that follow the product rather than the installer.

If your primary goal is a gorgeous, long lasting pool interior and you're less concerned about structural reshaping or major hardscape work, starting with a Pebble Tec certified contractor is a smart move. Many of the other companies on this list, including Dolphin, are authorized applicators themselves.

What Smart Homeowners Check Before Signing Anything

Picking a remodeler isn't just about scrolling through pretty before and after photos. The companies that do great work tend to share a set of habits and credentials, and knowing what to look for will save you real money and real headaches. Before you sign a contract or even pay a deposit, spend a little time on the homework phase. The best contractors welcome the scrutiny.

Start with their digital footprint. A legitimate remodeler will have a working website with actual project galleries, not just stock photos. Look for company owned images, project addresses that match the city they claim to serve, and detailed descriptions of services. A Gilbert company that only shows projects from California or uses generic pool photos is a yellow flag. Their website should also list a physical address, a real phone number that gets answered, and a clear breakdown of what they actually do.

Next, verify the paperwork:

• Confirm their license status directly through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website
• Ask for a current certificate of general liability insurance and workers' compensation
• Request a written bid with line items rather than a lump sum
• Check how long they've been operating under their current business name
• Look up any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau or state agencies

Referrals still matter more than almost anything else. Ask for three recent Gilbert references, and actually call them. Drive by a couple of finished projects if the homeowners are open to it. Pools look very different in person than they do in marketing photos, and seeing the tile work, coping joints, and deck transitions with your own eyes tells you more than a hundred Instagram posts.

Pay attention to how they communicate during the estimate phase. If they're slow to respond, vague about timelines, or pushy about deposits, that behavior rarely improves once you've signed. Good remodelers are patient, answer questions thoroughly, and explain the why behind their recommendations. They'll also be upfront about what could go wrong, soil conditions, hidden plumbing issues, old rebar corrosion, and how they handle those discoveries when they pop up mid project.

A few more green flags to weigh:

• Clear written warranty terms separated into labor, plaster, tile, and equipment
• Willingness to pull permits rather than skipping them
• Detailed project schedules with milestones
• A single point of contact throughout the build
• Transparent change order policies

Finally, trust your gut. You're letting a crew tear apart a major feature of your home and camp out in your backyard for weeks. If something feels off during the sales conversation, it's usually a preview of what working together will actually feel like.

Your Backyard Deserves More Than a Guess

Remodeling a pool in Gilbert isn't a small decision, and since you can't remodel the pools yourself, the difference between picking the right company and the wrong one can mean thousands of dollars and months of frustration. The five remodelers featured above rose to the top because they've earned that spot through consistent quality, honest communication, and a track record of finished projects that still look great years down the road. From Dolphin Pools and Spas leading the pack with their hands on craftsmanship to Presidential Pools offering deep resources, and from Shasta's legacy expertise to California Pools' design flair and the Pebble Tec network's finish quality, each brings something different to the table.

Think of this list as your launching pad rather than the final word. Use the vetting steps above, verify licensing, call references, walk a few job sites, and make the company earn your trust. The right remodeler will treat your backyard like their own reputation depends on it, because it does. So, when you picture yourself floating in your newly finished pool next summer, which of these companies is going to be the one you call first?

If there's another industry you'd love us to break down next, whether it's landscapers, roofers, HVAC pros, or anything else you rely on as a homeowner, send us a note and let us know. We'll put together a fresh guide built around real experience and real customer feedback, just like this one.