Remodel · Learning Center
Honest, technical answers — before you sign a remodel bid.
Every guide is written by AE field staff, with real 2026 Phoenix-metro pricing and the spec details most contractors won't put in writing.
Pool Equipment
Variable-Speed Pumps Explained — Arizona Code & Real Savings
Why AZ Rev Stat 44-1377 made VS pumps mandatory, how much you actually save, and how to size one correctly for your pool.
Read the guidePool Finishes
Pebble vs. Quartz vs. Plaster — The Honest 2026 Comparison
Lifespan, feel, cost, color stability, and the 28-day startup process that protects whichever finish you choose.
Read the guidePool Automation
Pentair vs. Jandy vs. Hayward Automation — Which Should You Pick?
When IntelliCenter wins, when iAquaLink is easier, when OmniLogic makes sense — and why brand-matching your pad matters.
Read the guideBackyard Remodel
Phasing a Full Backyard Remodel — What to Do First, Second, Last
Drainage and grading first, structural pool work next, finishes last. Real sequencing that prevents tearing out new work.
Read the guideFront Yard
Desert Conversion Rebates — SRP, City, and How to Stack Them
How much you can actually get back, which plant lists qualify, and the front-yard scopes that pay for themselves fastest.
Read the guideLandscape
Drainage Fixes During a Remodel — Why It's Not Optional
Most yard problems are drainage problems in disguise. How AE corrects grading, swales, and french drains during a remodel.
Read the guideDecking
Why Pavers Fail — and the ABC + Sand Spec That Makes Them Last
Canonical base depths, sand bedding, polymeric joint sand, and why quarter minus is never used under pavers.
Read the guidePool Decking
Travertine vs. Porcelain vs. Concrete Pavers Around a Pool
Heat, slip resistance, color stability, repairability, and the shell-edge protection that has to happen during demo.
Read the guideGlass Fencing
Frameless Glass Pool Fence — Cost, Code, and HOA Approval in Phoenix
Phoenix-metro pool barrier code, real installed cost, and the approval pattern that works with almost every HOA.
Read the guidePool
Choosing a Pool Builder in Arizona — How to Read a Real Bid
Specs that matter, line items that should always be there, and the apples-to-apples comparison that exposes cheap bids.
Read the guideReady to plan the actual project?
Two minutes — scope, budget, timing, and a real next step.