We won’t try to talk you out of it but we will make sure it’s done right. Urbano’s concrete pool contractors in Ottawa design and build pools that are architecturally considered as important as every other part of your home. Whether you’re building new, repairing cracks, or restoring an aging pool from the first excavation to the final finish, nothing is an afterthought.
Concrete pool installation in Ottawa is a different animal than anywhere else in Canada. The ground moves. Temperatures swing 60 degrees between seasons. Leda clay heaves. That’s not a problem, it’s just the reality of building here. After more than three decades working in this city including the concrete pool at Delta Hotels Ottawa our team has been solving it with the same discipline we bring to every surface we specify.
A pool is a long-term investment. You’re not just buying water and concrete. You’re buying 30, 40, even 50 years of backyard summers. We handle everything: new builds, concrete pool repair, full restorations, and everything in between.
Concrete Pool Installation | Custom-designed inground pools in any shape, depth, or finish. Rebar-reinforced gunite or shotcrete construction built to last decades, not seasons. |
Concrete Pool Repair | Cracks, spalling, leaking fittings, structural failures. We diagnose the cause, not just the symptom, then resolve it with modern flexible repair systems rated for Ottawa’s climate. |
Pool Restoration & Resurfacing | Full-scale concrete pool restoration Ottawa homeowners can rely on. New plaster, pebble, or tile finishes. Structural re-coating with polymer-modified systems. A restoration is often the most design-forward move you can make. |
Pool Renovation | Transforming an outdated pool into a considered outdoor space. New coping, decking, water features, automation, and energy-efficient circulation upgrades. Pool renovation Ottawa projects are integrated with the broader design of the property. |
Structural Assessments | Pre-purchase or annual condition inspections. An honest report, not a sales call. We find problems before they become expensive — and tell you exactly what they’ll cost to fix. |
Custom Pool Design | No templates. No catalog pools. Every design begins with your yard, your aesthetic, and Ottawa’s soil conditions. Lap pools, infinity edges, freeform each one designed from the ground up, and built to code. |
Fibreglass installs quickly. Vinyl is cheaper upfront. But custom concrete pools offer something neither can match: total design freedom and structural permanence. For the Ottawa homeowner who wants a pool that becomes part of the property not something you replace every 15 years, concrete is the answer.
Design Freedom | Kidney, L-shape, lap pool, infinity edge, free-form lagoon. No mold limits what concrete can do. Your pool should look like it was designed for your yard not selected from a lineup. |
Structural Permanence | Rebar-reinforced gunite walls handle Ottawa ground movement in a way pre-fabricated shells simply cannot match. |
50+ Year Lifespan | A well-maintained concrete pool outlasts every other type often by decades. It’s the original long game. |
Property Value | A quality concrete pool adds measurable appraisal value. Buyers notice. Agents notice. It’s not an amenity, it’s an asset. |
Premium Finishes | Diamond-bright pool plaster, exposed aggregate, luxury tile mosaics. The same material standards we bring to every surface in your home. |
Restorable Forever | Unlike fibreglass or vinyl, a concrete shell can be resurfaced, renovated, and reimagined indefinitely. The structure stays. The aesthetic evolves. |
Ottawa averages roughly 148 days of frost per year. The ground freezes hard in November and doesn’t truly thaw until April. That cycle freeze, expand, thaw, contract creates constant pressure on any pool structure. Most concrete pool contractors in Ottawa understand this. Not all build to account for it properly. Urbano does, because it’s the same discipline we bring to every surface we specify: the right material for the actual conditions, not the convenient ones.
Freeze-Thaw Crack Propagation | Water infiltrates micro-cracks in aging plaster, freezes, expands, and forces the crack wider each winter. We use polymer-modified mortars and flexible sealants engineered to move with the concrete rather than resist it. |
Leda Clay Heaving | The Leda clay common across Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley is notoriously unstable. Proper excavation, drainage planning, and rebar design aren’t optional they’re the foundation of every decision we make on site. |
Surface Spalling | Concentrated chemicals during partial operation periods accelerate plaster erosion. Annual surface inspections and correct closing chemistry make an appreciable difference in surface longevity. |
Deck & Coping Movement | Pool decking and coping crack and separate from pool shells each spring. We install expansion joints, use frost-rated materials, and set coping with flexible bedding compounds that accommodate seasonal movement without failing. |
Hydrostatic Pressure | In lower-lying Ottawa neighbourhoods parts of Orléans, Riverside South, Manotick high water tables create hydrostatic pressure on empty shells. Relief valves and backfill drainage are non-negotiable in these areas. |
Most pools built before 2000 weren’t constructed with modern materials or techniques. And Ottawa’s climate is unforgiving to anything substandard. The deterioration is predictable. It’s also largely preventable, if you know what to look for and act before it becomes structural.
01 | Outdated Plaster Finishes | Standard white plaster has a 10–15 year lifespan. After that, it becomes rough, stains easily, and creates the conditions for chronic algae. A resurfacing with a modern material solves years of chemical overuse. |
02 | Corroded Steel Fittings | Return jets, lights, and drain fittings from the 1990s were often mild steel. Chlorinated water corrodes them from inside. Rust staining on pool walls is the tell. |
03 | Bond Coat Failure | The adhesion layer between plaster and shell degrades over decades. Hollow spots form, chunks eventually detach. It’s a restorable problem, if addressed before it becomes structural. |
04 | Structural Shell Cracks | Deep cracks reaching the shell, not just the plaster signal structural movement. These require core repair, not cosmetic patching. Left unaddressed, they lead to water loss and progressive destabilisation. |
05 | Inefficient Equipment | Single-speed pumps consume three to five times the electricity of modern variable-speed units. A pump upgrade during renovation is often the lowest-cost, highest-return improvement we recommend. |
06 | Non-Code-Compliant Features | Older pools may not meet current Ontario fencing, drain cover, or electrical safety codes. A renovation is the right moment to address these before a sale, an insurance renewal, or something more serious. |
No surprises. No unexplained delays. Here is exactly what happens from your first consultation to your first swim with our Ottawa-based concrete pool contractors managing every phase.
Step 1 | Site Consultation & Soil Assessment We assess drainage, soil type, clay content, bedrock proximity, sun exposure, and utility locations. Ottawa’s ground conditions vary considerably neighbourhood to neighbourhood this step informs every decision that follows. |
Step 2 | Custom Design & Permit Application Our design team produces a 3D layout of the pool structure, coping, and decking. We manage permit applications to the City of Ottawa and coordinate with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) required for all inground installations. |
Step 3 | Excavation & Underground Utilities Ontario One Call precedes every dig. Drainage layers and engineered gravel beds are established at this stage foundational to managing Ottawa’s clay soil and groundwater over the long term. |
Step 4 | Steel Rebar Framework Structural rebar cage placed at engineered spacing typically a 6-inch grid for residential pools. All fittings, lights, and return jets are set within the rebar framework before the shell is applied. |
Step 5 | Gunite / Shotcrete Application High-pressure pneumatic application of the concrete shell at 4–6 inch wall thickness. Curing follows over 28 days minimum non-negotiable for structural integrity in Ottawa’s climate. |
Step 6 | Finishing, Decking & Commissioning Plaster or pebble finish applied. Coping and decking installed with frost-rated materials and properly engineered expansion joints. Equipment commissioned, water balanced, and a full walk-through with your team before we leave the site. |
We offer honest structural assessments no obligation, no upsell. You’ll know exactly what’s happening with your pool and what it will cost to address it before you commit to anything.
A full installation typically runs 8–14 weeks from permit approval to first swim. Excavation and shotcrete take 2–3 weeks. The shell then cures for 28 days minimum — non-negotiable for structural performance in Ottawa’s climate. Finishing, decking, and commissioning add another 2–4 weeks. Starting in fall or winter positions you for a July opening. Early booking is always worth it.
Costs vary significantly by severity. Surface crack patching starts around $800–$2,500. Full structural crack injection with polyurea systems runs $2,000–$6,000 depending on crack length and depth. A complete shell assessment before work begins ensures you’re addressing actual problems not assumed ones. Major structural rebuilds, common in pools over 30 years old, range from $15,000 to $40,000 and above.
Most concrete pools require resurfacing every 10–20 years, depending on finish type and water chemistry. Standard white plaster lasts 10–15 years. Polymer-modified plaster and pebble finishes regularly reach 20–30 years. Ottawa’s freeze-thaw cycles accelerate surface degradation when a pool is improperly winterized, professional closing each fall is one of the better investments a pool owner can make.
Yes. A building permit from the City of Ottawa is required for all inground pool construction, along with an ESA electrical inspection before energizing pool equipment. Permit timelines currently run 4–8 weeks for standard residential applications. Fencing compliant with Ontario’s Pool Enclosure Bylaw is also required before the pool can be used. Urbano manages the complete permit process as part of our service.
Ottawa homeowners have trusted our concrete pool contractors for over two decades. Whether you’re starting a custom concrete pool installation from scratch, restoring one that has seen better decades, or simply trying to understand what a repair will actually cost you’ll get a straight-talking assessment and honest quote. No pressure, no upsell, no runaround.
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM By appointment only
2318 Summerside Drive, Manotick, ON A4M 1B4