Updated October 2026
Murrumba Downs was the first of the modern estates out this way, built through the 1990s and into the 2000s, and it has aged well. The blocks are larger than what came after, the gardens are mature, and the streets look settled rather than new. The pools reflect that too. These were the first wave of estate pools in the corridor, and at 25 to 30 years old a good number of them are now genuinely due.
Not failing, due. There is a difference, and it is worth knowing which one you are looking at before you spend anything.
Telling a tired pool from a failing one
A pool at this age usually shows the same handful of signs. The interior feels rough underfoot, it stains in patches no matter how well the water is balanced, and the colour has gone patchy and pale. That is a finish at the end of its service life. The shell underneath is almost always fine.
The signs that point to something more are different: water loss that is not evaporation, cracking that moves, or an equipment pad that has been patched more than once. If the level keeps dropping, get leak detection done before you commit to a resurface, because there is no sense putting a new interior over an unresolved leak.
The resurface and what goes with it
A resurface on a 1990s Murrumba Downs pool is the core job, and the sensible approach is to do everything that needs the pool empty in the same drain-down. That means the waterline tiles, any coping that has lifted or cracked, and the light and fittings. Doing it in one go is cheaper than three separate visits and it is far less disruptive. See tiling and coping.
Guide pricing only: a pebble resurface on a standard family pool typically runs roughly $8,000 to $15,000. The cost guide breaks down what sits above and below that.
The equipment pad is the other half
This is the part owners underestimate. A pad that is 25 years old has usually had the pump replaced once, the chlorinator twice, and the plumbing cut into and rejoined each time. The result is a tangle of mismatched pipework that leaks at the unions and restricts flow.
Renewing the pad properly, with a single clean plumbing run and current equipment, is often the change that makes the biggest practical difference to how the pool runs day to day. Guide pricing for an equipment renewal is roughly $3,000 to $6,000. See equipment upgrades. Any electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Is 28 years too old to be worth renovating?
Not at all. A well-built concrete shell from the 1990s will outlast several interiors. Renovating is nearly always better value than replacing.
Should I resurface or paint?
If the shell is sound and the budget is tight, painting gives a few good years for much less. If you intend to stay, resurfacing is the longer answer.
How long will the pool be out of action?
Commonly three to five weeks for a full resurface including tiles and a proper cure before refilling. Weather pushes that out.
Larger blocks here usually mean decent access, which keeps the price sensible. Get a fast quote