Tempe has some of the oldest backyards we work in. In The Lakes, Warner Ranch, Optimist Park and Maple-Ashland, a lot of the pools have been in the ground for decades. They were built well, but plaster does not last forever, decking cracks and heaves as trees mature, and equipment from that era takes more power and more looking after than anything sold today.
Arrowhead Deck and Pools renovates older Tempe pools. Resurfacing, retiling, new coping, new decking and modern equipment, on pools that are worth keeping.
Pool resurfacing and replaster is the most common job we do in Tempe. Plaster, pebble and quartz finishes suit pools where the original surface has worn through.
Pool remodeling and reshaping includes retiling, new coping, reshaping steps and benches, and updating equipment for an older pool.
Older Tempe decks crack and lift as mature trees grow. Replacement decking in concrete, cool decking, travertine-style finishes or pavers.
Retrofitting modern lighting and automation onto an older pool is usually straightforward and makes the biggest day to day difference.
New pool design and construction is less common here given lot sizes, but we do build new in Tempe where the yard allows it.
An older pool is often a better starting point than a new one. The shell is usually sound, the plumbing runs are in, and the hard part, getting a pool into a backyard, is already done. What has worn out is the surface, the tile line, the deck and the equipment, and all four are replaceable.
The order matters. We look at the shell first, because everything else is wasted money if the structure is failing. Then the surface and tile, then the deck, then the equipment. If the budget only covers part of it in one year, doing it in that order means nothing gets torn out and redone later.
Â
This is the part that separates a Tempe renovation from one in a newer suburb. Lots are smaller, side yards are narrower, and mature trees and block walls limit what can get into the backyard.
We look at access before we quote, not after. Sometimes it means smaller equipment and a longer schedule. Sometimes it means removing and rebuilding a section of wall, which we will tell you about up front rather than on day three. Occasionally it means a different approach to the deck because a truck cannot reach the pour.
None of that is a reason not to do the work. It is a reason to plan it properly, and it is why we want to walk the side yard at the estimate rather than quote from a photo.
We remodel and renovate throughout Tempe, including The Lakes, Warner Ranch, Optimist Park, Maple-Ashland, South Tempe and the neighborhoods around Arizona State University.
Tempe requires permits for pool construction and for most structural deck work, with inspections at set points during the build. We pull the permits and handle the inspections.
On an older property, expect the barrier and gate hardware to be looked at as well. Arizona’s pool barrier requirements have changed since many of these pools went in, so a renovation is often the point at which an older yard gets brought up to current code. We will tell you at the estimate whether yours is likely to come up.
Almost always worth renovating. The expensive part, excavating and installing a shell, is already done and usually still sound. What wears out is the plaster, the tile, the deck and the equipment, and those are all replaceable. We check the shell first. If it is structurally fine, renovating costs a fraction of a new build.
Usually yes, and we check before quoting rather than after. Narrow access can mean smaller equipment and a longer schedule, and occasionally removing and rebuilding a section of block wall. We will tell you which applies at the estimate, not partway through the job.
Sometimes, but a patch rarely matches and the root that caused it is still there. More often the answer is replacing that run of decking and dealing with the root at the same time, otherwise it lifts again. We will show you both options and help you estimate your project cost.
Tell us about your Tempe pool and we will come and look at it properly, side yard included.
