Malibu pool work splits two ways right now. Along the coast and in the canyons, owners are rebuilding after the Palisades and Franklin fires and need the pool rehabbed alongside the house. Elsewhere, new pools and remodels on hillside and ocean-view lots never stopped. This page covers both, and the City of Malibu permits behind them.
Who Builds and Rehabs Pools in Malibu?
Spear Pool Equipment & Repair builds, rehabs and remodels pools across Malibu, from Point Dume to the east-end neighborhoods rebuilding after the Palisades Fire. The company is licensed under CSLB #1041272, handles permits through the City of Malibu, and gives a written, itemized estimate before any work starts.
Pool Rehab After the Palisades and Franklin Fires
The Palisades Fire destroyed 720 structures inside Malibu city limits, including 322 coastal homes, according to the City of Malibu. The Franklin Fire a month earlier burned 4,037 acres around Serra Retreat and Pepperdine and destroyed 20 structures.
On those lots the pool is often the one thing still standing. What we usually find:
- Ash and debris that stained the finish and filled the skimmers and lines.
- Heat damage to tile and coping near the house.
- A lost equipment pad, with melted plumbing and no power.
- A shell that sat full of ash water, or empty through a wet winter.
Where owners joined the government debris-removal program, the Army Corps of Engineers cleared fire debris from pools inside the ash footprint, but it does not drain, refill or remove the pool. Rehab is the next step.
“Spears was the only who provided me with a written outline of the services to be performed. I made a good decision by hiring them and you will to.”
★★★★★ Ms. Rita Harris, Los Angeles, verified Google review
How We Bring a Malibu Pool Back
- Inspect the shell for cracks and movement, especially on slopes and bluff lots.
- Pressure-test every line before anything is rebuilt around it.
- Replace the pad and the pool electrical work that powers it, sized to the pool.
- Resurface and retile where ash and heat did their damage.
- Start up the pool once the water is balanced.
If the shell did not survive, the job becomes new pool construction, often on the original footprint.
Malibu Permits and the Coastal Zone
Malibu is its own city, so permits go through the City of Malibu rather than Los Angeles. Its rebuild rules allow replacement structures within 110% of the original height, bulk and square footage, and its coastal program exempts many disaster replacement structures from a coastal development permit.
A pool that goes beyond like-for-like, such as a new location or a much larger pool, can fall outside those shortcuts. We check where a project lands before it is designed, not after.
For insurance, the estimate is itemized by shell, finish, tile and coping, plumbing, equipment and electrical, which is the breakdown adjusters work from.
Rehab, Resurface or Build New?
Malibu pools sort into three paths, and the site visit decides which:
| Option | What you are seeing | Cost | How long it holds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehab | Fire or long idle time, shell still sound | Quoted per project | Keeps the shell, replaces what failed |
| Resurface | Stained, etched or rough finish on a sound pool | $6,000 to $15,000 | 5 to 10 yrs plaster, 20+ pebble |
| Build new | Shell lost, or a lot that never had a pool | $44,300 to $86,500 in-ground, higher for concrete | A pool designed for the lot |
Pool Work We Handle in Malibu
Rebuild or not, Malibu pools share the same demands: views, slopes, salt air and long seasons of use.
Our pool renovation services cover finishes, tile, coping and decks, with equipment on its own track.
Resurfacing, Plaster and Tile
Sun, salt air and ash all wear on a finish. We handle pool resurfacing in plaster, quartz or pebble, and pebble is the common choice on coastal homes owners plan to keep.
| Finish | Lifespan | Upfront cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaster | 5 to 10 years | Lowest | A straight refresh on a budget |
| Quartz | 15 to 20 years | Middle | Longer life without pebble pricing |
| Pebble | 20+ years | Highest | Coastal homes kept long term |
Lifespans from HomeAdvisor and finish makers Pebble Technology International and SGM. Plaster is quoted at 5 to 10 years by cost guides and 7 to 10 by manufacturers, and water chemistry decides where a pool lands in that range.
Glass mosaic and porcelain both hold up at the waterline, and waterline tile replacement goes in while the pool is drained.
“Highly recommend Mike and his team for anyone looking to upgrade pool equipment, relocate equipment, new installs and much more.”
★★★★★ Scott Law, San Fernando Valley, verified Google review
New Pools on Hillside and Ocean-View Lots
Many Malibu lots slope toward the view, and a pool there needs engineering for the soil and the slope before it needs a design. Infinity edges, raised spas and glass tile are common requests, and each adds structure and plumbing to plan for.
We also handle adding a jacuzzi to an existing pool.
Waterfalls, fire bowls and lighting fall under special pool features.
“Richard was able to properly diagnose the problem within minutes, had the part in his truck, and completed the repair faster than I expected.”
★★★★★ Raffi C. Donoyan, Los Angeles, verified Google review
Equipment, Plumbing and Automation
Salt air corrodes metal at the pad, so equipment on the coast wears faster than inland. We handle pump, filter and heater repair, and replacement pumps are variable-speed under California rules for most motors.
Buried leaks get pool plumbing repair once the leak is located, not before.
Get a Free Malibu Pool Estimate
Tell us about the pool, or the lot if you are starting fresh. Estimates are free, and we can meet your architect, builder or adjuster on site.
Free visit. Written price. No obligation.
Malibu Pools by the Numbers
- 720 structures inside Malibu city limits were destroyed by the Palisades Fire, including 322 coastal homes, per the City of Malibu.
- 110% is the size limit for like-for-like disaster rebuilds under Malibu’s rules, measured against the original height, bulk and square footage.
- $44,300 to $86,500 is HomeAdvisor’s 2026 range for a new in-ground pool, with concrete and gunite at $65,000 to $120,000. Hillside engineering and access push Malibu builds higher.
Neighborhoods and Local Conditions in Malibu
We work along the full 90265 stretch of Pacific Coast Highway: Point Dume and Malibu Park in the west, Malibu West and Malibu Road, the Malibu Colony, Serra Retreat, and the east-end neighborhoods of Carbon Beach, Big Rock and Las Flores that the Palisades Fire hit hardest.
Three conditions shape pool work here. Salt air shortens the life of metal equipment and fittings. Steep canyon and bluff lots need engineering and careful drainage. And much of the city sits in high fire hazard areas, which shapes what goes around the pool as much as the pool itself.
Access on narrow canyon roads and along Pacific Coast Highway also sets the schedule for deliveries and equipment.
“Our 32 year old waterfall pump was a challenge but he found parts for it, savings us big $$ if we had to get a new pump.”
★★★★★ Eric V., Los Angeles, verified Yelp review
What Drives the Price of Pool Work in Malibu
Malibu quotes run wider than most, for four reasons:
- Slope and soil. Engineering and foundations on hillside lots add real cost.
- Access. Canyon roads and tight coastal lots slow every delivery.
- What survived the fire. A sound shell changes the whole budget.
- Finishes and features. Infinity edges, glass tile and raised spas add structure and labor.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Pump motor repair | $50 to $300 |
| Heater repair | $160 to $730 |
| In-ground leak repair | $350 to $2,700 |
| Full resurfacing | $6,000 to $15,000 |
| New in-ground pool | $44,300 to $86,500 |
National ranges from HomeAdvisor 2026 cost data. Malibu quotes depend on access and what we find once the pool is drained.
“The techs were knowledgeable and did the job quickly and cleanly.”
★★★★★ Alvin Brown, Los Angeles, verified Google review
Meet the Owner
Ran Neuman owns Spear Pools, Inc. and brings 18 years of hands-on pool repair and construction experience.
On rebuilds and new pools he meets the homeowner and the builder, explains each step and stays involved through start-up. Connect with Ran on LinkedIn.
Read what our customers say on our Google Business Profile.
Nearby Areas We Serve
Down the coast we handle pool rehab in Pacific Palisades, where the same fire did its worst damage.
Over the mountains we cover Calabasas pool remodeling.
Farther inland we handle pool service in Agoura Hills.
Browse every pool service area we cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will home insurance cover pool damage?
Home insurance covers pool damage when it comes from a covered peril such as fire, but not from wear or lack of maintenance. Many policies list an in-ground pool as an other structure with its own coverage limit, which can be lower than owners expect on a large Malibu pool. Read that section of your policy, and give the adjuster an itemized estimate.
Do I need a coastal development permit to rebuild a pool in Malibu?
A coastal development permit is often not needed to rebuild in Malibu after a fire, because the city’s coastal program exempts many disaster replacement structures. The rebuild generally has to stay within 110% of the original height, bulk and square footage. A pool in a new location or much larger than before can fall outside the exemption, so confirm scope before design.
What is the most expensive part of a pool?
The most expensive part of a pool is usually the shell itself: excavation, steel and gunite. On Malibu’s hillside and bluff lots, engineering and foundations can rival that cost, because the pool has to be supported on sloping ground. Finishes, tile and features like infinity edges add to it, while equipment is a smaller share of a new build.
Is it cheaper to remodel a pool or build a new one?
Remodeling a pool costs far less than building a new one if the shell is sound. HomeAdvisor’s 2026 data puts a full resurfacing at $6,000 to $15,000 and a new in-ground pool at $44,300 to $86,500, with concrete at $65,000 to $120,000. After a fire, an inspection of the shell decides which side of that line a Malibu pool falls on.
What is the best time of year to build a pool?
The best time of year to build a pool is usually fall or winter, when contractors are less booked and the pool is ready by spring. Malibu’s mild coastal weather allows work most of the year. Rain can pause excavation and concrete work, and permits add lead time, so starting the design and permit early matters more than the season.
Ready to rebuild, remodel or add a pool in Malibu? Call (818) 719-9059 and Ran will look at the pool, the lot and the plans with you.