Pool resurfacing warranties in Arizona, and what to do if the job goes wrong

Two warranties, two different problems

1. Material warranty. This comes from the finish manufacturer and covers defects in the product itself. Pebble Technology International (PTI), the Scottsdale maker of Pebble Tec finishes, says defects in its materials are covered for a minimum of 5 years from installation, and those claims go to PTI.
2. Workmanship warranty. This comes from the installer and covers how the finish was applied. PTI says workmanship defects are covered for a minimum of 5 years by the Authorized Installer, and those claims go straight to the builder or Authorized Installer who put the finish in.
3. Not every line is the same. PTI's PebbleQuartz carries a 1-year warranty from installation, which becomes 2 years on workmanship from the installer and 5 years on material from PTI if you register the finish within 30 days of installation.
4. Other brands and plain plaster have their own terms. Ask for each warranty in writing and read it before you pick a finish.

Pebble Tec prices, lines and warranty

What can void or limit a finish warranty

Using PTI's warranty page as the example:

1. Who installs it. PTI's pool finish warranty applies only when a PTI Authorized Installer applied the finish. Ask the contractor to confirm that status in writing if you're paying for a Pebble Tec product.
2. Water chemistry records. PTI says all of your water chemistry maintenance records should be provided with a material claim. Keep a simple log from day one: date, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine and anything you added.
3. Selling the house. PTI's limited warranty is not transferable. It only covers the homeowner who originally bought the finish.
4. Start-up. The first weeks shape how a new surface wears, so follow the start-up your contractor gives you and write down what you did.

The first 28 days after a resurface

Get the warranty into the quote and the contract

1. Ask each contractor to put on paper: the finish brand and line, the material warranty (who gives it, how long), the workmanship warranty (how long, what it covers, what it excludes), any registration deadline, and who handles start-up chemistry..
2. Arizona law (A.R.S. 32-1158) requires a written contract for jobs over $1,000. It has to include the contractor's name, business address and license number, a description of the work, the total price including taxes, any deposit and progress payments, an estimated completion date, and a notice, in bold, of your right to file a written complaint with the ROC.
3. The law doesn't require any particular warranty, so the warranty is only what you get in writing..

How to choose a resurfacing contractor

If something goes wrong

1. 1. Call the installer first. Most finish problems are workmanship claims, and the installer is the one who has to fix them. Put the request in writing and keep photos with dates.
2. 2. Material defect? For a Pebble Tec finish, PTI wants the claim in writing, describing the defect, sent using the contact details on PTI's warranty page. Include your chemistry log. PTI says it must get a chance to evaluate the claim, and if it confirms the defect is in the material, it coordinates repair or replacement at its discretion.
3. 3. File a complaint with the ROC. Arizona lets you file a written complaint with the Registrar of Contractors against a licensed contractor. For a project like a resurface, the deadline is two years after the project is completed (A.R.S. 32-1162).
4. 4. The Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, as a last resort. The ROC says the fund is only for people who own and occupy, or intend to occupy, the home, and the contractor must have been licensed when the contract was signed, the first payment was made or the work began. Before you file, you generally need a formal ROC complaint that led to the contractor's license being suspended or revoked (for an administrative claim) and a claim against the contractor's license bond with a final determination. The most you can recover is $30,000 per residence, and the fund pays at most $200,000 per residential contractor's license. There are two-year filing deadlines, so don't wait.

Why the license matters before you sign

Hiring a licensed contractor is what keeps the complaint process and the Recovery Fund on the table. Look up the license number and class on the ROC's online contractor search before you sign, and keep a copy of the contract, your payment records and your chemistry log together in case you ever need them.

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