Pool Renovations Gold Coast
We renovate everything from the water's edge outward around an existing pool, from the coping and surround to the planting and entertaining areas.
Bella Terra Group renovates the area around existing pools across the Gold Coast, from our base in Nerang. We work from the water’s edge outward: the coping, the surround paving and tiling, levels and drainage, steps and walls, planting, lighting and the entertaining areas beside the pool. Resurfacing the pool interior, and the pumps, filters and heating, are left to pool specialists. Quotes are free and measured on site.
Many ageing pool areas have a sound pool and a tired surround. The pavers have lifted or sound hollow, the coping is cracked or dated, water sits where it should drain, and the entertaining area no longer suits the household.
We keep the pool where it is and rebuild what surrounds it, working in an order that protects the water’s edge and the pool interior throughout. Our owner, Dion McGirr, manages each renovation from the first site visit to handover.
What wears out
Why Do Pool Surrounds Fail?
Most pool surrounds fail from underneath. Water works its way under the pavers, the bed beneath them breaks down, and the surface starts to lift, crack or sound hollow.
The finish ages too. Dark pavers grow uncomfortably hot in a Gold Coast summer, older coping fades and chips at the water’s edge, and planting chosen years ago has outgrown its beds.
A new top layer over an old base rarely lasts. We lift the failed surround, correct the base and the falls, and only then lay the new coping and paving. If you’re planning a complete redesign of the garden around the pool rather than a renovation, our pool landscaping page covers that work.
The work
Our Pool Renovation Services
We carry out the renovation with our own team under our QBCC builder’s licence, and a licensed electrician wires the lighting. If you can tell us what isn’t working around your pool, we’ll work out what it needs.
Coping, surround and levels
The coping and the surround take the most wear in an ageing pool area, from sun, chlorinated water and bare feet. Renovating them properly means replacing what has failed beneath the surface as well as the finish you can see.
Here's what our pool surround renovations cover.
- Replacing cracked or dated coping in travertine, natural stone or porcelain
- Lifting loose or hollow-sounding (drummy) pavers and relaying the surround on a new base
- Correcting the falls so water drains away from the pool and the house
- New paving, steps and stepping stones between the pool and the house
- Rebuilding retaining walls and raised edges around the pool
- Joint sealing by Archiseal, who we work closely with on our tiling projects
The entertaining area, planting and lighting
Renovating is also the time to rework how the space around the pool is used. A household may now need room to dine and lounge, more lawn and less paving, or planting that no longer drops leaves into the water.
Here's what our entertaining area and planting work covers.
- Reworking the entertaining area for dining, lounging or an outdoor kitchen
- Replacing overgrown or tired planting with species that suit a pool
- Natural turf, laid as part of the project
- New decking beside the pool in timber or composite
- Outdoor lighting for the garden and steps, wired by a licensed electrician
Every renovation starts with a site visit, because much of what matters sits under the existing surround.
During the visit we walk the pool area with you, check the coping and the falls, and listen for hollow pavers. We talk through the options for coping, paving and planting, how each one wears, how much upkeep it needs and what it costs, so you can choose what suits your budget.
The process
Our Process
Every pool renovation starts with what sits under the existing surround. From there, it runs in three stages.
- Consultation and site assessment. We check the coping, the base beneath the pavers, the falls, the fence line and access, and ask what you’d like the space to do.
- An itemised quote. Each part of the renovation is priced separately, so you can see what every element costs and stage the work if that suits you.
- The work itself. Our team renovates the area in the order below while the pool stays in place, and Dion hands it back to you finished.
How Is a Pool Area Renovated Around an Existing Pool?
It’s renovated in an order that protects the pool, because the water’s edge is the hardest part to replace and the easiest to damage.
- Protecting the pool. The water and pool interior are covered before anything is lifted, keeping dust and debris out of the pool.
- Lifting the old surround. The old coping, pavers and bedding come up, showing the condition of the base beneath.
- Base, falls and drainage. The base is repaired or rebuilt to fall away from the pool and the house, with drainage where water used to sit.
- Conduit and irrigation. Lighting conduit and irrigation lines go in while the ground is open.
- New coping, then the surround. The coping goes first because it sets the finished height at the water's edge, and the surround is laid to meet it.
- Planting, decking and lighting, last. These go in once the cutting and heavy work are finished, so nothing new is damaged.
Recent work
Recent Pool Area Work Around the Gold Coast
Recent pool projects include travertine paving and planting in Casuarina, steps and rendered walls in Hope Island, and a crazy paved pool terrace with an outdoor kitchen. We keep our customers’ details private, so each project is shown here by its photos alone.
Casuarina: travertine paving around the pool, with palms, pebble beds and a hedged boundary.
Hope Island: a paved patio and side lawn along the glass pool fence, with hedges in raised rendered planters.
A crazy paved pool terrace with an outdoor kitchen bench and monstera planting.
Why Bella Terra Group
Choosing Bella Terra Group for Your Pool Renovation
Our owner, Dion McGirr, has over 14 years in the trade and runs each pool renovation on site. One client engaged us “to design and construct a complete pool and backyard renovation” and wrote that Dion’s “recommendations … made the whole process run so smoothly.” Another client said Dion “took great pride in his work” on their pool area.
The design and the construction come from one company, licensed with the QBCC as a low-rise builder under licence 15452813. You can see finished pool areas in our project gallery.
Quotes are free, measured on site and itemised, with no obligation to go ahead.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a pool renovation cost on the Gold Coast?
The cost depends on how much of the surround is replaced, the coping and paving chosen, the condition of the base underneath and machinery access. Those vary too much for a set price to be accurate, so we inspect the area and provide an itemised quote at no charge.
Do you resurface pool interiors?
No. We renovate everything from the water's edge outward. Resurfacing the interior and work on pumps, filters and heating are left to pool specialists, and where the interior needs attention too, we plan our stages around theirs.
Why are the pavers around my pool lifting or sounding hollow?
Pavers usually lift or sound hollow, which the trade calls drummy, because the bed or adhesive beneath them has let go, often from water under the surround, tree roots or a poorly compacted base. Relaying them on the same base rarely holds, so we lift the area, fix the base and falls, and relay it.
Can we use the pool during the renovation?
In most cases the pool can't be used while the coping and surround are being replaced, because the water's edge is open. We stage the works to keep that period short, and the quote sets out the order and timeline.
Does the pool fence have to stay compliant during a renovation in Queensland?
Yes. A pool must keep a compliant barrier, and if part of the fence has to come out, a temporary fence can be used for up to 3 months once a building certifier or pool safety inspector has approved it. Fence height is measured from finished ground level, so new paving must still leave at least 1200mm of fence and no gap over 100mm beneath it. We plan the levels and stages around the fence line, and fencing itself is left to a fencing specialist.
Source: the QBCC.
Areas We Serve Across the Gold Coast
We’re based in Nerang, and we work right across the Gold Coast. There’s no showroom to visit, so we come to you.
If you’re planning a pool renovation on the Gold Coast, there’s a good chance we’ve already worked in your area. Our recent projects include Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Currumbin Valley, Casuarina, Benowa, Hope Island, Oxenford, Robina, Carrara, Parkwood, Bundall.
Not on that list? Get in touch. We cover most of the Gold Coast and will tell you straight away whether your suburb is one of them.
Written by Dion McGirr, who runs Bella Terra Group and has been in the trade for over 14 years. You can talk to Dion directly about your project.
Get a free quote
Tell us a little about the pool area as it is now and Dion will be in touch to arrange an on-site consultation. The quote is free, itemised and carries no obligation. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.
Let’s discuss your renovation
Get a free, no-obligation quote for the area around your pool.
Get a free quoteEvery quote is free, prepared on site and carries no obligation. Or call 0423 188 691.