New steps and easier entries
Wider entry steps, corner steps or a new entrance position where the existing shell allows it.
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Concrete pool redesign
Changing the shape of a swimming pool
Yes, when it is a concrete structure. The design depends on the existing shell, its reinforcement, water pressure, access and how new concrete can be tied in and finished.
Licensed, insured and family-owned
After
BeforeRemodel the pool around the way you use it
What a shape change can and cannot do
- New entry steps, corner steps or a completely new entrance where the shell allows it.
- Submerged seats, swim-out benches, ledges, Baja shelves and beach areas.
- Unused curves and bays taken back to a cleaner internal profile.
- The wall between an attached spa and the pool sometimes opened out.
- The floor raised in selected situations — more complex than a step or a seat.
- Making the pool bigger is a major structural project, not a routine renovation.
Refinements are made inward rather than by cutting the shell open and extending outward. The finished work should look deliberate and original, not like a concrete patch added later.
New concrete cannot be left as an isolated patch: the modified and original areas are prepared as one interior. We normally recommend full tiling, because render, waterproofing and tile give several coordinated layers across the cold joint and a small area can be repaired locally later. Read Pool Tiling Los Angeles, or the tiled pool information guide.
Photos and diagrams help explain an idea, but they cannot confirm hidden reinforcement, shell thickness, ground conditions, water-table pressure or the load the original pool can safely carry. The final answer is decided after inspection.
The crew
The people on the Los Angeles route
Four of us. The same faces every week, not whoever was free that morning.
Daniel RamirezOwner 
Jake MitchellRoute technician 
Robert AndersonRepair technician 
Emily CarterOffice & scheduling
This week on the job
Straight from the truck
Short clips from real visits. Nothing staged, nothing bought from a stock library.
Shape-change options
What can be changed
Some changes improve access. Others modernise an outdated shape, create a place to sit or reduce unused space.
Seats, benches and swim-outs
Submerged seating, a relaxation bench, a swim-out or custom concrete bar stools as part of the renovation.
Ledges, sun shelves and beach areas
A shallow ledge, Baja shelf, beach area or an Umbrella Lounge with a built-in umbrella sleeve.
Make the pool smaller or straighter
A reinforced wall tied into the original shell, rather than a large mass of concrete poured into one end.
A new shell inside the old one
Technically possible, but load transfer and hydrostatic pressure make it a new-build-level project, not a resurfacing job.
Reduce depth or rebuild wall sections
The floor can be raised in selected situations. Reinforcement, bonding and waterproofing are designed as one system.
What sits behind the finished shape
How a concrete pool is structurally modified
The visible shape is only the result. The cold joint between old and new concrete decides how long it holds.
- Inspect and define the change. The existing shape, shell, access, likely reinforcement, water pressure and the proposed new load.
- Expose structural concrete. Tile, render and weak finishing layers come off where the new work must connect. Finishes are not a structural connection.
- Reinforce and form the shape. Reinforcement, formwork and the details needed for the new wall, steps, seat, ledge or floor.
- Place and cure the concrete. Placed, compacted correctly and allowed to cure before the finishing system proceeds.
- Render, waterproof and tile. The modified and original areas are brought together as one interior rather than separate patches.
Documented projects
Shape changes we have finished
The structural work behind two reshaped pools.
Pool shape change
Reshaped pool with bluestone paving
The pool profile changed, then finished in pebble with bluestone around it.
Altadena
In-pool seating
Swim-up bar stools and seating
Three concrete bar stools poured into the shell, then resurfaced.
West Hollywood
Real Pool Care LA work
Shape-change project photos
The original shell exposed, then the wall, the steel and the finished concrete.
What our customers say
Collected from customers on the routes we run every week.
Thomas W.Verified review
Local Guide · 27 reviews · 9 photos
10 February 2025
Bought a house in Beverly Hills with an older pool and honestly had no idea how to maintain it. The equipment was old and everything was confusing. They walked me through what needed to be done first and what could wait. No pressure. That was appreciated.Read in fullCollapse
Raymond K.Verified review
Local Guide · 52 reviews · 26 photos
20 November 2025
House is on Kenneth Road, built in 1978, pool original to the property. As far as I know the plaster had never been done since the house was built. By the time I called it was in rough shape. Worn through in several spots, rough patches on the steps you could feel underfoot, staining that nothing touched, and chemistry that my pool service could never stabilize no matter what they added. Pool Care LA came out and explained the chemistry issue immediately. A porous, degraded plaster surface affects water balance in ways that are almost impossible to compensate for with chemicals alone. That connection had never been explained to me by anyone. They checked the shell structurally before quoting anything. The shell was sound. Equipment was aging but functional. The plaster was the problem. Replastering took a few days. They handled prep, application and walked me through the startup protocol. Daily brushing for two weeks while the surface cures, chemistry will fluctuate during that period, some cloudiness early on is normal. Having that context upfront made the whole process much less stressful. They came back twice during curing without me having to ask. The finished pool looks like it belongs to a different house. Water is genuinely clean and clear. My pool service commented that the chemistry holds now in a way it never did before. Should have done it years ago.Read in fullCollapse
Karen V.Verified review
15 August 2026
Our pool is from 1993 and the plaster was completely original. We're off Reseda between Ventura and Oxnard and the pool gets a lot of use from the kids. By this past summer it was rough underfoot, stained no matter what we put in the water and just looked worn out. 😬 We asked about upgrading to pebble instead of replastering with white again. The tech walked us through the aggregate options without it feeling like a pitch. Colors, textures, what each feels like barefoot, how they hold up over time, what the maintenance differences are. We went with a dark gray pebble. 🪨 Work was done on the schedule they gave us. They explained the startup process step by step and came back during the first week to check on the curing. Pool looks genuinely great. 💙 We've used the backyard more in the last five months than the previous few years combined.Read in fullCollapse
Diane F.Verified review
6 reviews · 2 photos
6 January 2025
We bought the property four years ago. Pool was put in around 2001 by whoever owned it before us, pebble finish that had probably never been touched since. We're up off Bellagio. The surface had faded heavily and the mineral staining made the water look murky even when the chemistry was dialed in. A company we used early on looked at it and said we needed a full renovation, quoted us accordingly. Pool Care LA came out and did an actual assessment. They checked the shell condition, the existing surface, the tile, the equipment, the deck. Their read was that the shell was structurally solid and the equipment was aging but still serviceable. What was needed was a surface replacement and some targeted tile work. Not a tear-down. That distinction saved us a meaningful amount of money. They removed the old pebble finish and inspected the substrate underneath, which came back in good condition. We went with a quartz aggregate finish that works with the stone on the house. During removal they found a section of waterline tile where the adhesive behind the tiles had failed. That got handled as part of the same project. The startup phase after a new surface requires real attention and they managed it carefully. Daily brushing for the first two weeks, chemistry monitoring as the surface cured, several check-in visits. They responded quickly when I had questions. The finished pool is something we actually use every day now. The quartz finish gives the water a clarity the old faded pebble never had. If you've been told you need a full renovation on an older pool, get a second opinion before committing. The real scope of work might be considerably smaller than you've been quoted.Read in fullCollapse
Mark H.Verified review
Local Guide · 42 reviews · 18 photos
3 September 2025
Came home from a two-week vacation and our pool was basically green. The previous company told us we needed to drain it, which sounded crazy. Pool Care LA came out, tested everything, explained what was happening and started the cleanup. Took a little time but now the water looks better than it has in years.Read in fullCollapse
Linda R.Verified review
4 reviews
25 May 2026
We had another pool company for almost five years and slowly the service got worse. They would say they came but the pool was always dirty. Jake from Pool Care LA has been completely different. He actually checks the equipment and lets us know if something needs attention.Read in fullCollapse
Kevin B.Verified review
15 December 2025
Our pump stopped working on a Friday afternoon and we were worried because we had family coming over that weekend. Robert came out, found the problem and got everything running again. Honest guy, and he explained everything before doing the repair.Read in fullCollapse
Jason T.Verified review
25 February 2026
Great company. Always on time, pool looks amazing and communication is easy. Highly recommend.
Tell us about your pool and we will price it
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Green-to-clean, acid wash, plaster start-up and repair labor, plus priority on the schedule.
Where we work
Family owned, based in Studio City
Crews leave from Studio City every morning, across the Foothills and the neighborhoods next to them.
Office · Studio City
Pool Care LA
CSLB #970493Mon–Fri 6am–9pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm
Send your name, suburb, pool photos and a clear description of the part you want to change.
4121 Radford Ave, Ste. #214, Studio City, CA 91604Continue with the rest of your renovation
The pages that follow a structural change.
Service
Pool tiling Los Angeles
The preparation, waterproofing and tiling used after structural changes.
Guide
Concrete pool renovation FAQs
Concise answers about steps, benches, ledges, beach areas and planning.
Guide
Pool terms and parts glossary
Clear explanations of entry steps, ledges, swim-outs and pool components.
Services
All pool renovation services
The service hub for tiling, resurfacing, coping, lights and repairs.
Construction
New pool construction
If the idea is closer to a new pool than to reshaping the one you have.
Straight answers before design work begins
Can steps, seating, ledges or bar stools be added?
Yes — these are among the most common and practical concrete pool modifications. New steps, wide entries, submerged seats, swim-out benches, ledges, sun shelves, Baja shelves, beach areas and custom bar stools can be added to many existing concrete pools. The feature has to be reinforced and structurally connected to the original shell, and its size and position should suit circulation, water depth and the load the structure can accept.
Can an existing concrete swimming pool be made smaller?
Often. The usual conversation is a new reinforced wall or feature tied into the original shell, rather than filling a large area with concrete. How much can be reduced is decided from the actual pool construction rather than a generic measurement, and selected changes at both ends sometimes distribute the modification more sensibly than one very large build-up.
Can a freeform or kidney-shaped pool be reshaped?
Often. Curves can be softened, selected areas straightened, awkward indents removed, and old love seats, beach entries, steps or ledges taken out. These refinements are usually made inward rather than by cutting the shell open and extending outward. Larger build-ups need more conservative structural planning and may require additional engineering.
Can the wall between an attached spa and pool be removed?
Sometimes. Opening the spa into the pool can create a relaxation corner, a children's play area, a new entrance or more swimming space. The trade-off is that the spa generally loses its ability to be heated independently, and plumbing, water levels, structural connections and the final interior all need to be considered first.
Can the depth of a concrete pool be reduced?
Yes, but it is more complex than adding a step, seat or ledge. A raised floor has to manage bonding, internal water pressure and rising hydrostatic pressure beneath the work; if water migrates under a new floor, separation or movement can occur. Where the real aim is easier access, wide steps, a seat, a swim-out or a ledge often give the benefit with far less structural intervention.
Can a swimming pool be split with a dividing wall?
Not normally. A wall across the pool creates a permanent junction between old and new concrete while resisting water pressure continuously, and different movement between the materials increases the risk of cracking and interior failure. Changing selected ends, curves or internal features is a more reliable way to reduce usable pool size.
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Cleaning, recovery, repair and renovation across Los Angeles.
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Send the idea before committing to a design
Ready to change the shape of your concrete pool?
Name, suburb, pool photos and the part you want changed — we will say whether it is a common addition, a complex renovation or a new-build-level idea.