Surface cracks · Structural cracks · Steps · Tile lines
Pool Crack Repair in Phoenix, AZ
A crack in your pool can be a cosmetic blemish or the first sign of a leak and shell damage. We find out which one you have, fix the cause, and refinish the area so the repair lasts and blends in. Licensed crews, serving the whole Phoenix metro.
Arizona is hard on concrete pools. Expansive desert soils, 115° summers, monsoon groundwater, and hard water all put stress on the shell and the finish. Most pool cracks are surface cracks in the plaster or pebble finish, and they are very fixable. Some go deeper into the gunite shell, and those need a structural repair before they turn into a leak. The first job is telling the difference.
Surface crack or structural crack?
Surface cracks stay in the interior finish. They show up as fine hairlines, a spider-web “crazing” pattern, or small check cracks in older plaster. They are mostly cosmetic, but they trap dirt and algae, feel rough, and tend to spread as the finish ages.
Structural cracks run through the shell itself. Warning signs include a crack that keeps getting longer or wider, one side sitting higher than the other, water loss beyond normal evaporation, rust stains bleeding through, or a crack that continues through the tile line, bench, or steps. These need a proper structural repair, not a cosmetic patch.
Cracks we repair
Plaster & finish cracks
Hairline cracks, crazing, and check cracks in plaster, quartz, or pebble finishes.
Structural shell cracks
Cracks through the gunite shell that move, leak, or keep growing.
Steps & benches
Cracked, chipped, or delaminating steps, benches, and tanning ledges.
Tile-line & bond-beam cracks
Cracks along the waterline where tile pops loose or the beam has shifted.
Fittings & skimmers
Cracks around skimmers, returns, lights, and main drains, a common leak point.
Coping & deck joints
Cracked coping and failed expansion joints that let water behind the shell.
When cracks are part of a bigger refresh
Plenty of cracked pools are also stained, rough, and dated. When that’s the case, repairing the cracks as part of a resurface usually costs less than patching now and resurfacing later. The Martinez family’s Glendale pool went from neglected to resort-style in one project.
How we repair pool cracks
Inspect & diagnose
We map every crack, check for movement and water loss, and find the cause: soil, drainage, fittings, or age.
Clear recommendation
You get a plain-language diagnosis and a written quote: targeted repair, or repair plus resurfacing if the finish is worn out.
Repair the cause
Surface cracks are opened, cleaned, and properly sealed. Structural cracks get a structural repair to the shell before any refinishing.
Refinish & refill
We match or renew the finish so the repair blends in, then refill and start up the pool correctly.
Why pools crack in Arizona
Soil movement. Much of the Valley sits on expansive clay that swells when monsoon rain soaks in and shrinks as it dries, flexing the shell.
Heat and exposure. An empty or low pool in summer heat can crack its finish fast. Never drain a pool in the heat without a plan to refill it quickly.
Water pressure and drainage. Poor deck drainage and failed expansion joints let water collect behind the shell. Groundwater can push on a drained pool from below.
Age and chemistry. Older plaster and unbalanced, hard water weaken the finish until hairline cracks appear. Read more in our guide to why pool plaster cracks.
Repair the crack, or resurface the pool?
If the rest of your finish is in good shape, a targeted crack repair is the right call. If the finish is already rough, stained, or near the end of its life, fixing the cracks as part of a resurface is usually the better value: most resurface and tile projects we complete run $8,000–$15,000, and you get a like-new pool instead of a patched one. We’ll tell you honestly which makes sense. See our Arizona pool remodel cost guide for full pricing.
- A crack that is getting longer or wider
- Water loss you can’t explain
- Loose or popped tile along a crack
- Rust-colored stains near a crack
- Cracks in steps, benches, or the tile line
- A rough, crazed finish across the pool
As seen in the news
Recognized across Arizona & national media
We Fix Ugly Pools and owner Brian Morris, “the Ugly Pool Guy,” hold a world record for the fastest pool build and have been featured by national and Arizona outlets, including as expert pool columnists for The Arizona Republic.
Why homeowners trust us with crack repair
- Licensed & insured. A licensed Arizona contractor (ROC KA5-275609 / KB2-304269).
- We fix the cause. Sealing a crack without addressing why it formed just brings it back.
- Remodel specialists. 700+ renovations a year means we see every kind of crack.
- Repairs that blend in. We refinish so the fix doesn’t leave an ugly scar.
- Honest advice. Targeted repair when that’s enough, resurfacing only when it’s the better value.
- 4.9 stars from 305+ homeowners. Serving the Valley since 2001.
Found a crack in your pool?
Get a free inspection and a clear, written quote before a small crack becomes a leak.