Methodology
Last updated November 9, 2026
Every number on this site is either sourced or labelled as an estimate. This page explains the difference, and how a claim gets from a source document to a published page.
1. Primary sources first
Finish claims come from the manufacturer's application guide and technical data sheet: mil thickness, cure window, startup chemistry and the conditions that void the warranty. Preparation guidance follows the same documents and the industry technical guidance named on the page. Cost bands come from published US price guides, with the month checked stated on the page.
2. Cost models show their inputs
Installed cost is modelled from visible inputs: the material or equipment price, the labour and access scope (excavation, drain, electrical, permit), consumables, and a reserve for service or repair. We do not present a single "average cost" as if it were a quote; the range and what it includes are stated on the page.
3. How options are compared
We compare finishes on installed cost per square foot, expected service life under normal chemistry, feel and slip resistance, repairability and the startup discipline each one demands. A finish earns a recommendation for a stated pool and use; no supplier can buy a place in a comparison.
4. What we have not tested
We do not run a laboratory or a crew, and we do not carry out every job we write about. When a claim comes from a manufacturer document, an adopted code, a certification listing or a contractor report, we say which. We do not imply first-hand testing we did not perform.
5. Sources we work from
| Source type | What it decides | How it is cited |
|---|---|---|
| Finish manufacturer application guides | Mil thickness, cure window, startup chemistry, warranty conditions | Document and product named |
| Industry technical guidance (plasterers and pool trade bodies) | Preparation, bond coat and common failure causes | Guidance named |
| State contractor licensing boards | Which licence a resurfacing contractor must hold | Board named, with its lookup link |
| Local permit offices | Whether draining, replumbing or electrical work needs a permit | Office named, with its link |
| Published US price guides | Installed cost bands per square foot | Band with the month it was checked |
When two sources disagree, the page says which one it followed and why. A figure that cannot be traced to a document is labelled an estimate, and an estimate is never presented as the price of a specific job.
6. Listings and directory data
The service-area directory is compiled from public business records: the firm's own website, its published address and phone number, and the state or local licence register named on the city page. A record is marked verified only when the name, address, phone and licence have been checked against those sources and the date of the check recorded; everything else is labelled. Where a source does not publish a ZIP code or a website, the field is left blank rather than guessed.
7. Corrections
If a code, a specification or a listing changes, we update the article and its "last updated" date. Emailcontact@poolresurfacingguide.com with the page and the correction.