When to resurface a pool in Sarasota

Sarasota Pool Refinishing is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not resurface pools or do any pool work, and we are not taking requests yet. A licensed pool contractor does this work, and we are lining one up.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30¹, and a resurface leaves your pool drained for part of the job. Our reading is to aim for a window outside the peak of the season and to plan the drain and refill with your city or county and your water utility. Ask any contractor what happens if a storm is forecast while the pool is empty.

Check your pool surface Read the guides

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources.

Updated October 19, 2026. Sources

Illustration

The storm calendar

The National Hurricane Center gives the season as June 1 to November 30¹. It says the season peaks around September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October ¹.

Storms do reach this coast. Hurricane Milton came ashore on Siesta Key in October 2024 ².

Why a drained pool changes the plan

A resurface means draining the pool, preparing the shell, applying the finish and refilling. For part of that time the pool sits empty or is just being refilled.

We have not found a source that says how a drained pool behaves in a storm here, so we do not guess. Ask the contractor how they protect an empty pool from heavy rain and high groundwater, and what they do if a storm is forecast mid-job.

A simple timing plan

This is our reading of the calendar above, not a rule:

Good window. The months outside hurricane season, roughly late fall to late spring.
Avoid if you can. The peak, from mid-August to mid-October ¹.
If you must work in season. Ask for a storm plan in writing: when they stop, how they protect the shell, and how fast they can refill.
Leave room. Weather and repairs found after draining can stretch a job. Do not plan a party for the day after the finish goes on.

Draining: the state rules and guidance

Start with the state, then check your city or county. Local rules can be stricter than the state's.

Florida rule 62-624.200 lists dechlorinated swimming pool discharges among the non-stormwater discharges to a storm sewer that are not illicit, if they do not cause a violation of water quality standards ³. That rule defines illicit discharges. It does not give any one household permission.

The state environmental agency (DEP) has pool-discharge guidance. It says to let the water stand at least 48 hours after the last chlorine, or until free chlorine is under 0.01 mg/L ⁴. It sets pH between 6.5 and 8.5 ⁴, clear water, and suspended solids under 60 mg/L ⁴. It says to spread the water over a vegetated surface, keep it out of surface waters, and control the flow to prevent erosion and nuisance to neighbors ⁴.

The same guidance says not to drain a pool while watering restrictions are in place, and not to send pool water to the sanitary sewer without the permission of the treatment plant ⁴. It is agency guidance written for lodging properties, in a file dated 2017 ⁴, and it calls itself not comprehensive ⁴. It is not a county or city ordinance.

A district watering order is in place now and runs through March 31, 2027, says the City of Sarasota ⁵. Our reading is to ask your utility before you schedule a drain.

Draining: Sarasota County, Bradenton and Manatee County

Sarasota County. The county's water pollution code bars dumping anything other than stormwater into the county storm sewer, unless the discharge is exempt under the county's state stormwater permit (Code section 54-187) ⁶. The copy we read is a 2012 file on the Sarasota County Water Atlas, created in January 2012 ⁶. It does not name swimming pools. We have not read the permit's exempt list or today's online code. So we cannot say whether pool water is on the exempt list. Ask County Stormwater before you drain.
City of Sarasota. We have not found a City page or ordinance on draining pool water. Ask City Utilities and City stormwater staff, and get the answer in writing.
Bradenton. The City's stormwater page says never to drain chlorinated water to the street or storm drain. Let it stand and test it first, with chlorine under 0.01 mg/L, then drain onto a lawn or garden without erosion ⁷. It calls connecting a pool discharge pipe to the City drainage system illegal ⁷. See the Bradenton page.
Manatee County. The county's storm sewer permit page lists dechlorinated swimming pool discharges and filter backwash from residential pools among discharges exempt from its illicit-discharge ordinance, Ordinance 00-02 ⁸. It says the person discharging must show the water is uncontaminated ⁸. It gives no chlorine limit and covers unincorporated Manatee County. See the Lakewood Ranch page.

We have not read a drain rule for North Port or Venice. Ask the city before the pool is drained.

Refilling and the watering order

The water district's Order No. SWF 25-015 puts Sarasota and Manatee counties, among others, under the Modified Phase III water shortage through March 31, 2027 ⁹. The district's fact sheet lists limits on lawn watering, pressure washing, car washing, fountains and restaurants ⁹.

The district's fact sheet and its FAQ are silent on pools. Neither mentions filling or topping off a pool ⁹ ¹⁰. That is all they say about it. Silence is not permission, and it is not a ban.

We did not find the order's full text as a PDF, so we cannot rule out a pool clause inside it. Local governments can set stricter rules, and we have not read the Sarasota County or City of Sarasota rules on refilling a pool. Ask your utility before you drain.

Bradenton and Manatee County Utilities each publish a sewer-bill credit for customers who fill a pool ¹¹ ¹². A credit shows that refilling is a known use of water. It is a billing rule, not an exemption from the order.

Questions to ask:

Where will the drained water go, and who tests it first?
Is draining allowed now, with the watering order in place?
Will the refill run without stopping, and is that in the written scope?

Start-up after the refill

A new finish needs careful water care while it settles. The next sections set out guidance from a pebble maker and from the plaster trade group. This is manufacturer and industry guidance. It is not a rule, and both guides are national, not written for Florida. Your installer's written start-up sheet comes first, so ask for it before the job starts.

Both sources say the early days matter most. Pebble Tec says the finish develops most of its durability in the first 28 days ¹³. The National Plasterers Council says new plaster is especially prone to staining, scaling and discoloration in its first 28 days ¹⁴.

Pebble Tec's start-up guide

Pebble Technology International makes Pebble Tec finishes. Its start-up guide is for its own finishes, and it says the guide is not recommended for traditional pool plaster ¹³.

Fill. Test the source water first. Fill without stopping, with clean potable water, to the middle of the tile line or skimmer face. Stopping the flow causes a waterline mark. Keep everyone out during filling, pets included ¹³.
Do not fill with soft water. The guide says this, and says to tell the installer if your hose bibs supply soft water ¹³. The City of Sarasota's 2025 report says its supply is treated by reverse osmosis and ion-exchange softening, then blended ¹⁵. No source we read ties them together. So ask your installer how your tap water fits the plan.
Pump and brushing. Run the pump and filter nonstop after the fill. Brush the whole surface at least twice a day. Keep wheeled cleaners out for 28 days ¹³.
Chlorine, heat and salt. Keep chlorine out for 48 hours ¹³. Keep the heater off for the first 14 days ¹³. Add no salt for 28 days ¹³.
Water ranges early on. The guide's table covers the first 28 days and gives pH 7.0 to 7.4, total alkalinity 80 to 100 ppm, calcium hardness 150 to 250 ppm and cyanuric acid 20 to 30 ppm ¹³.
Warranty. The guide says water chemistry outside its range voids the manufacturer's warranty, and that a claim needs weekly maintenance records ¹³. Ask who keeps those records.

Pebble Tec's own sections differ. The main text says to run the pump nonstop for 5 days ¹³, and the checklist says 7 days with a 72-hour minimum ¹³. The checklist gives other water ranges: pH 7.2 to 7.6, calcium hardness stepped up to at least 200 ppm by days 4 to 7 ¹³, and cyanuric acid 30 to 50 ppm from days 4 to 7 ¹³. It also says no salt for 30 days, where the main text says 28 ¹³. Because the sections disagree, follow your installer's written sheet.

The plaster council's start-up card

The National Plasterers Council (NPC) start-up card is the trade group's procedure for ordinary plaster ¹⁴. The copy we read is hosted by a plastering company, because the council's own site blocked our reader. It carries the council's 2021 copyright line ¹⁴. The card says its steps rest on common trade practice, and that a manufacturer's own instructions may differ ¹⁴.

Fill. Test the fill water for pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and metals. Fill to the middle of the skimmer without stopping, as fast as you can, with clean potable water. This helps prevent a bowl ring and shrinkage cracking. Put a cloth on the hose end in the deepest spot, keep other water out, and keep people and pets out. Start the filtration system as soon as the pool is full ¹⁴.
Pump and brushing. Brush the whole surface at least twice a day on days 1 to 3 ¹⁴, and keep brushing and running the pump each day through day 7 ¹⁴. Run the pump and filter nonstop for 7 days or until the dust is gone ¹⁴, and for at least 72 hours ¹⁴. Keep wheeled cleaners out for 28 days ¹⁴. After day 7, once the dust is gone, brushing can be limited to visible debris or to times when you add chemicals ¹⁴.
Chemistry. The card sets day 1 alkalinity at 80 to 100 ppm and pH at 7.2 to 7.6 ¹⁴. It steps calcium hardness up from 80 to 100 ppm on day 1 to 100 to 150 ppm on day 2 ¹⁴, and to at least 200 ppm by days 4 to 7 ¹⁴. It adds no chlorine for the first 48 hours, then 1.5 to 3.0 ppm on day 3 ¹⁴. Cyanuric acid starts at 30 to 50 ppm on days 4 to 7 ¹⁴. It says to run no heater until the water is balanced and no plaster dust remains.
Salt and later ranges. Salt-water pools should add no salt in the first 30 days ¹⁴. After start-up the card keeps the Langelier index between 0.0 and +0.3, with free chlorine 1 to 3 ppm, calcium hardness 200 to 400 ppm, cyanuric acid 30 to 50 ppm and pH 7.2 to 7.6 ¹⁴. It warns that cyanuric acid at 100 ppm or more may permanently damage the surface ¹⁴.

The card and Pebble Tec do not match on every number. Ask your installer which sheet your warranty follows, and get the start-up plan in writing: who balances the water, how often, and when you can swim, add salt or run the heater.

Facts used in this guide

Verified facts only. Each one links to its source and shows the source's date.
Fact	Value	Source
NOAA: the Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, peaking around 10 September, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October.	June 1 to November 30	[1] undated (retrieved October 18, 2026)
Swimply's 2026 guide gives plaster (marcite) pool finishes a typical life of 7 to 10 years.A national guide range, not a Florida or Sarasota figure. Water care and use change how long a finish lasts.	7-10 years (national guide range)	[16] February 9, 2026
Swimply's 2026 guide gives pebble pool finishes a typical life of 15 to 25 years.A national guide range, not a Florida or Sarasota figure. Water care and use change how long a finish lasts.	15-25 years (national guide range)	[16] February 9, 2026
Bob Vila's pool resurfacing guide says a plaster finish lasts about 10 years.An older national guide (2022), not a Florida figure.	about 10 years (national guide figure)	[17] July 26, 2022
Bob Vila's pool resurfacing guide says aggregate finishes (such as pebble) last 10 to 20 years.An older national guide (2022), not a Florida figure.	10-20 years (national guide range)	[17] July 26, 2022
Florida Administrative Code rule 62-624.200(2)(q) lists 'dechlorinated swimming pool discharges' among non-stormwater discharges to a municipal storm sewer that are not illicit, provided they do not cause a violation of water quality standards.	dechlorinated pool discharge is an allowed non-stormwater discharge	[3] 2003-05-01 (effective date shown on the rule page)
Florida DEP's pool-discharge guidance says to let pool water stand at least 48 hours after the last chlorine addition or until free chlorine is under 0.01 mg/L, with pH between 6.5 and 8.5, clear water and suspended solids under 60 mg/L. It says to spread the discharge over a vegetated surface, avoid direct discharge to surface waters, and control the rate to prevent erosion and neighbor nuisance.This is state environmental-agency guidance for pool owners, not a Sarasota County or City ordinance.	chlorine under 0.01 mg/L; pH 6.5-8.5; solids under 60 mg/L	[4] 2017-08 (PDF creation date)
Florida DEP's pool-discharge guidance says not to drain a pool when watering restrictions are in place, and that pool wastewater should not go to the sanitary sewer without the permission of the wastewater treatment facility (and not during or just after heavy rain).	sanitary sewer needs the utility's permission	[4] 2017-08 (PDF creation date)
The district's Order No. SWF 25-015 fact sheet and FAQ (both created 12 Oct 2026) say the Modified Phase III 'Extreme' water shortage now runs through 31 March 2027 in Sarasota and Manatee counties, among others. They list limits on lawn watering, pressure washing, car washing, fountains and restaurants. Neither document mentions swimming pools, filling or topping off a pool.The district's fact sheet and FAQ do not mention filling a pool. Ask your utility before refilling.	pool filling not named	[9] October 12, 2026
Pebble Technology International (Pebble Tec) says its pebble finish lasts over 20 years with proper maintenance and pool chemistry, and often up to three decades with good care (vendor).A manufacturer's claim from a company that sells pebble finishes, not an independent or Florida-specific figure.	20+ years (manufacturer claim)	[18] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
On the same page, Pebble Technology International says plaster needs resurfacing every 5 to 10 years (vendor, a pebble maker describing a competing finish).A manufacturer's claim about a competing finish, not an independent or Florida-specific figure.	5-10 years (manufacturer claim)	[18] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
Pebble Technology International's plaster-versus-pebble page gives plaster a 'relatively short lifespan' of 5 to 15 years and pebble 20-plus years with proper chemistry and maintenance (vendor). It gives no lifespan for quartz.A manufacturer's claim, not an independent or Florida-specific figure.	5-15 years (manufacturer claim)	[19] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
Pebble Tec's start-up guide says that during the first 28 days the finish develops most of its durability. Some white plaster dust releases into the water and raises pH and calcium hardness, and not testing, brushing and balancing the water leaves stains, blotchy color or roughness. It also says to wait 28 days before judging the final color.Manufacturer start-up guidance for its own finishes; follow the written instructions your installer gives you.	28 days (manufacturer procedure)	[13] 2024-05 (PDF creation date; file name dated 1.20.22)
Pebble Tec's start-up guide says to test the source water before filling, fill without interruption with clean potable water to the middle of the tile line or skimmer face, and not to fill with soft water (tell the installer if hose bibs supply soft water). It says stopping the flow causes a waterline mark, nobody including pets enters during filling, and no salt is added for the first 28 days.Manufacturer guidance. Ask your installer whether your tap water needs changes to the start-up plan.	do not fill with soft water; no stopping the fill; no salt for 28 days text (manufacturer procedure)	[13] 2024-05 (PDF creation date; file name dated 1.20.22)
Pebble Tec's start-up guide says to run the pump and filter continuously after the fill (at least 5 days, or 7 days or until no plaster dust remains, with a 72-hour minimum, in its checklist), brush the whole surface at least twice daily, and not use wheeled pool cleaners for 28 days. It says to keep chlorine out for 48 hours, keep the pool heater off for the first 14 days, and use nylon brushes only on its PebbleFina and PebbleBreeze finishes and nylon, combo (nylon and stainless steel) or polypropylene brushes on its other finishes.	brush at least twice daily; pump continuous 5 to 7 days; heater off 14 days text (manufacturer procedure)	[13] 2024-05 (PDF creation date; file name dated 1.20.22)
Pebble Tec's start-up range for the first 28 days is pH 7.0-7.4, total alkalinity 80-100 ppm, calcium hardness 150-250 ppm, total dissolved solids 400-600 ppm, free chlorine 1-3 ppm, cyanuric acid 20-30 ppm and a Langelier index between -0.3 and 0.3. After 28 days its ongoing range is pH 7.2-7.6, calcium hardness 200-300 ppm and cyanuric acid 20-30 ppm.	pH 7.0-7.4; TA 80-100; CH 150-250 (first 28 days) text (manufacturer ranges)	[13] 2024-05 (PDF creation date; file name dated 1.20.22)
The National Plasterers Council start-up card says to test fill water for pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and metals, and to fill to the middle of the skimmer without interruption, as rapidly as possible, with clean potable water to help prevent a bowl ring and shrinkage cracking. It says to put a cloth on the hose end in the deepest area, keep other water out and keep people and pets out during the fill, and start the filtration system as soon as the pool is full.Industry-body recommendation, not a rule. Your installer's written start-up sheet comes first.	fill without interruption; start filtration when full text (industry-body procedure)	[14] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org)
The NPC start-up card says to brush the whole plaster surface thoroughly at least twice daily on days 1 to 3 (and repeat the brushing and continuous pump running each day through day 7), run the pump and filter continuously for seven days or until the dust is gone (at least 72 hours), and keep wheeled cleaners out for 28 days. After day 7, once the dust is removed, brushing can be limited to visible debris or when chemicals are added.	brush at least twice daily; pump continuous 7 days text (industry-body procedure)	[14] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org)
The NPC start-up card sets day 1 alkalinity at 80-100 ppm and pH at 7.2-7.6, steps calcium hardness up from 80-100 ppm on day 1 to 100-150 ppm on day 2 and at least 200 ppm by days 4-7, adds chlorine to 1.5-3.0 ppm on day 3 (none for the first 48 hours) and begins cyanuric acid at 30-50 ppm on days 4-7. It says not to run the pool heater until the water is balanced and no plaster dust remains.	no chlorine for 48 hours; CH at least 200 ppm by day 4-7 text (industry-body procedure)	[14] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org)
The NPC start-up card says new plaster is especially prone to staining, scaling and discoloration in its first 28 days, and that salt-water pools should not add salt within the first 30 days. After the start-up it keeps the Langelier index between 0.0 and +0.3, with free chlorine 1-3 ppm, calcium hardness 200-400 ppm, cyanuric acid 30-50 ppm and pH 7.2-7.6.	28 days sensitive; no salt for 30 days; LSI 0.0 to +0.3 text (industry-body procedure)	[14] 2021 (copyright 2021; PDF created 2021-11-22; hosted by a plastering company, nptpool.com, not npconline.org)

Pool Surface Condition Check

Look at the pool on a bright day with the pump off, then answer each question. The result shows a stage and the answers that counted most. It is a starting point, not a price and not a diagnosis.

Start the Pool Surface Condition Check

Questions people ask

When should I resurface a pool in Sarasota?

Our reading is outside hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30¹. The months from late fall to late spring keep the drained part of the job away from the storm peak. Any time of year still needs a storm plan.

How long will my pool be out of use?

It depends on the finish, the repairs and the start-up plan. We have no sourced figure. Ask each contractor for the schedule in writing, including when you can swim again.

Where can I drain my pool water?

It depends on your city or county. Bradenton says never to the street or a storm drain ⁷. Sarasota County's code bars dumping anything other than stormwater into the county storm sewer, except exempt discharges ⁶. Ask your own city or county before the pool is drained.

Is it safe to fill a new finish with soft water?

Pebble Tec's start-up guide says not to fill with soft water, and to tell the installer if your hose bibs supply soft water ¹³. That is manufacturer guidance for its own finishes. Ask your installer how your tap water fits the start-up plan.

Sources

Tropical Cyclone Climatology, undated (retrieved October 18, 2026)
National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton (AL142024), March 31, 2025
Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-624.200 (Definitions), May 1, 2003
Florida DEP, Stormwater BMPs for the Hospitality Industry: Swimming Pool Discharges, 2017-08
City of Sarasota, SWFWMD extends water shortage restrictions through March 2027, September 23, 2026
Sarasota County Code, Water Pollution Control, Article VII (copy on the Sarasota County Water Atlas), 2012-01
City of Bradenton Stormwater, Pool Maintenance, October 19, 2026
Manatee County, Municipal Storm Sewer System Permits, October 19, 2026
Southwest Florida Water Management District, Phase III Water Shortage Order No. SWF 25-015 Fact Sheet, October 12, 2026
Southwest Florida Water Management District, Water Shortage Order Phase III Extension FAQs, October 12, 2026
City of Bradenton, Pool Fill Credit Request, October 19, 2026
Manatee County Utilities Department, Water Division, October 19, 2026
Pebble Technology International, Recommended Start-Up and Maintenance Procedures for All PebbleTec Brand Pool Finishes, 2024-05
National Plasterers Council, Recommended Start-up Procedures card (copy hosted by a plastering company), November 22, 2021
City of Sarasota Utilities, Your Drinking Water: 2025 Water Quality Report, 2026-05
How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Pool? 2026 Guide - Swimply Host Blog, February 9, 2026
Pool Resurfacing Cost: Project Budgeting Guide - Bob Vila, July 26, 2022
How long does a pebble pool finish last? (Pebble Technology International), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)
Plaster vs pebble swimming pool finishes (Pebble Technology International), undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)