Lauderdale Lakes was developed primarily during the 1960s and 1970s housing boom that built much of western Broward County’s dense urban residential fabric. Many of the homes built during this era came with in-ground pools — gunite and concrete pools that have now been in service for five decades.
At Pool Service Fort Lauderdale, we service and maintain pools throughout Lauderdale Lakes and regularly advise homeowners on renovation planning for aging pool systems. A 50-year-old pool is not necessarily a failing pool — the gunite shell itself can last 100 years with proper maintenance — but nearly every other system in a 1960s-70s pool is past its design life and approaching replacement.
What a 50-Year-Old Lauderdale Lakes Pool Actually Looks Like
Before planning a renovation, it helps to understand what typically survives 50 years in good condition and what doesn’t:
What Usually Survives: The Gunite Shell
Gunite (pneumatically applied concrete) shells built in the 1960s and 1970s were typically installed by contractors who operated by feel and experience — not the precise engineering specifications of modern construction — but the material itself is durable. A properly installed gunite shell in Lauderdale Lakes with no major structural cracks can continue serving for decades more after renovation.
Surface inspection (looking for cracks that penetrate the shell thickness, not just surface crazing) and a pressure test (to verify no structural leak paths exist) are the first steps in any renovation assessment. If the shell is structurally sound, it becomes the foundation for renovation. If it has active structural cracks or severe settling, the cost and approach change significantly.
What Needs Replacement: The Plaster Surface
Pool plaster lasts 10-15 years. A 50-year-old pool has had the original plaster replaced at least twice. The current surface may be approaching or past its end of life. Surface condition — roughness, staining, surface crazing, calcium deposits, visible hollow spots — determines whether the surface can continue another season or needs immediate resurfacing.
For most Lauderdale Lakes renovation projects, resurfacing is the first priority because it determines everything else: the pool cannot be properly filled, operated, and chemistry-maintained without a sound surface. Resurfacing cost: $4,500-$12,000+ depending on size and material choice (see our resurfacing guide for material options).
What Needs Replacement: The Equipment Pad
Pump motors typically last 8-12 years; a 50-year-old pool has had 4-6 pump generations. The current pump may be near the end of its cycle. Under the DOE’s 2021 pool pump efficiency rule, any new pump replacement above 1 HP must be variable speed — so equipment replacement at any point now means a variable speed upgrade (see our VSP guide).
Filter tanks (sand or DE) typically last 20-25 years; the current filter may be original from the last major renovation or approaching end of life. Pool heaters (if present) last 8-15 years. Automation controllers (if any) may be outdated or incompatible with modern smart home systems.
What Needs Assessment: The Electrical Infrastructure
1960s and 1970s pool electrical installations may predate current NEC and NFPA 70E requirements for pool electrical safety — specifically GFCI protection at all pool circuit breakers, proper bonding grid installation, and conduit specifications. A licensed electrician assessment is part of any responsible renovation plan for a 50-year-old Lauderdale Lakes pool.
What Needs Assessment: The Plumbing
Original plumbing in 1960s-70s pools used galvanized steel or early PVC that may be brittle, restricted, or misaligned from 50 years of soil movement. Hydraulic performance issues — a pool that can’t circulate water efficiently despite an adequate pump — often trace to undersized or degraded original plumbing. If renovation includes an equipment upgrade, a hydraulic assessment of the plumbing is worthwhile to ensure the new equipment can achieve its rated performance.
Planning a Phased vs. All-at-Once Renovation
For Lauderdale Lakes homeowners with aging pools, renovation can be phased over multiple years or executed all at once:
All-at-once advantage: One contractor mobilization, coordinated plumbing and electrical rough-in, no temporary service interruptions between phases, and the ability to optimize the total system design rather than adding components piecemeal.
Phased advantage: Distributes cost over multiple budget cycles; allows assessment of which components actually fail vs. those that remain functional longer than expected.
Our recommendation for most Lauderdale Lakes homeowners with 50-year-old pools: prioritize surface and structural work first (resurfacing, crack repair), then equipment in failure order (replace when the component fails rather than preemptively), and schedule electrical and plumbing assessment concurrently with the surface project so you have a complete picture of what’s needed.
Pool Service Fort Lauderdale provides renovation consultation and ongoing maintenance for aging pool systems throughout Lauderdale Lakes. Call (954) 501-2754 or visit our Lauderdale Lakes pool service page. Full coverage at poolservicefortlauderdale.us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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“text”: “Yes. The gunite shell of a 1960s-70s Lauderdale Lakes pool can last 100+ years if structurally sound. A full renovation — new surface, updated equipment, electrical compliance assessment — can bring a 50-year-old pool to modern operational standards. The key first step is a structural shell assessment to confirm the gunite is sound before investing in surface and equipment work.”
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“text”: “A complete renovation of a 1960s-70s Lauderdale Lakes pool — new surface, new equipment (variable speed pump, filter, heater), electrical compliance update, and plumbing assessment — typically costs $15,000-$30,000+. Resurfacing alone is $4,500-$12,000. Equipment replacement runs $2,000-$5,000+ depending on components. Electrical work varies based on what updates are needed.”
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“text”: “Pool plaster lasts 10-15 years. A pool built in 1965-1975 has had the original plaster replaced at least twice and possibly three times. The current surface may be in any condition from recently resurfaced and excellent to at or past its end of service life — surface inspection determines which.”
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“text”: “An electrical assessment is strongly recommended. 1960s-70s pool electrical installations predate current NEC requirements for GFCI protection, bonding grid specifications, and conduit standards. Whether updates are required depends on what’s in place — a licensed electrician inspection as part of the renovation planning is the only way to know.”
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Can a 50-year-old pool be restored? Yes — the gunite shell can last 100+ years. Surface, equipment, and electrical updates bring it to modern standards.
What does full renovation cost? $15,000-$30,000+ for resurfacing + equipment + electrical compliance. Resurfacing alone: $4,500-$12,000.
How many times has the plaster been replaced? At least twice on a 50-year-old pool. Current surface may be near end of life or recently redone — inspection determines this.
Need to update electrical? An assessment is strongly recommended — 1960s-70s installations predate GFCI, bonding, and conduit requirements.
All at once or phased? All-at-once is more efficient. If phasing, prioritize surface and structural work first, replace equipment when it fails.