Dragan Kostadinovic

Author

Dragan Kostadinovic

Founder & President, Beltway Pools

21 articles

Dragan Kostadinovic is the Founder and President of Beltway Pools, bringing over 15 years of hands-on experience in pool construction, renovation, and design to every project. He is one of the first pool professionals in the DC Metropolitan Region to earn the GENESIS Master Certified Builder and Designer Certification — the highest level of education offered through the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). Dragan leads the company with a commitment to precision, craftsmanship, and helping homeowners across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC create backyards that last for decades.

Desk with permits, blueprints, and a construction schedule overlooking an unfinished pool excavation.
Build & Design

Why Pool Builds Take Longer Than Expected (And What You Can Do About It)

HOA reviews, permit queues, subsurface surprises, and weather — here's an honest look at the factors that extend pool project timelines in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC, and how to manage them.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jul 8, 20265 min read
Pool permit coordinator at a home office desk reviewing an approved site plan blueprint with a pencil and ruler while a laptop shows a project Gantt chart schedule, beside clipboards holding a permit application form and project management documents, with a suburban backyard visible through the window
Build & Design

DMV Pool Permit Timeline: What Homeowners Should Really Expect

Pool permits are required across the DMV, but the review path and approval timing vary by jurisdiction. Here's what homeowners in Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC should plan for.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 24, 20266 min read
Pool renovation material samples — pebble aggregate, stone coping, and glass and porcelain tile — on wood decking beside a pool.
Cost & Financing

Pool Renovation Cost Guide for Virginia, Maryland & DC

What a pool renovation costs in the DMV: real 2026 price ranges for resurfacing, coping, tile, and deck work, what drives the number, and how to budget.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 23, 20268 min read
Residential swimming pool with worn tile, cracked coping, inspection tools, and renovation material samples
Renovation

Pool Repair vs. Renovation: How to Decide Which Scope You Actually Need

A practical DMV homeowner guide to pool repair vs renovation, including when targeted fixes make sense, when broader renovation is smarter, and how to compare cost, timing, and risk.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 22, 202610 min read
Pool contractor pointing to a luxury pool project photo in an open portfolio book during a client consultation, with stone, marble, and wood finish samples, gold and silver hardware fixtures, a tablet showing blueprints, and pool plans on a dark wood table
Build & Design

How to Choose a Pool Contractor in Virginia, Maryland, and DC

Not all pool contractors are equal — and in the DMV, licensure, insurance, and certification vary significantly. Here's what to look for and ask before signing a pool construction contract.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 19, 20265 min read
Three pool finish samples — classic plaster, premium quartz, and natural pebble — on wood stands beside an inground backyard pool
Renovation

Plaster vs. Pebble vs. Quartz Finish: Which Surface Is Right for Your Pool?

Compare plaster, pebble, and quartz pool finishes by cost, lifespan, texture, appearance, and maintenance so you can choose the right resurfacing option.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 17, 202612 min read
Side-by-side comparison: left panel shows a gunite pool interior with pebble plaster finish, blue glass mosaic tile, and travertine coping samples; right panel shows smooth pale blue fiberglass pool steps with blue color swatch cards, pebble stones, pencil, and rolled blueprints on the coping
Build & Design

Gunite vs. Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Pools: Which Is Right for You?

Compare gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl liner inground pools by cost, customization, maintenance, installation speed, and long-term ownership to see which type fits your property and priorities.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jun 15, 20268 min read
Family relaxing under a flower-covered pergola beside a backyard pool and patio seating area.
Health & Wellness

How a Backyard Pool Can Improve Your Family's Quality of Life

The real backyard pool family benefits go beyond resale value: more time together, easier entertaining, and outdoor living. Here is what to expect in the DMV.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Apr 30, 20265 min read
Elegant pool freshly opened for spring in front of a large white farmhouse with stone outdoor living area and lounge chairs
Seasonal Care

Is Your Pool Ready for the Season Ahead? 5 Things to Check This Spring

Use this spring pool checklist to check water, equipment, and timing so your pool is ready for a smoother season in Virginia and Maryland.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Apr 5, 20267 min read
Well-organized pool equipment pad with pump motor, sand filter, and PVC plumbing against an exterior wall
Service & Repairs

Variable-Speed Pool Pumps: Federal Law & Energy Savings

Federal law now requires variable-speed pool pumps on most replacements. Learn what the DOE rule means for your pool and how to save up to 80% on energy costs.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Mar 28, 20265 min read
Pool inspector in a blue polo shirt and cap writing notes on a clipboard while standing beside a sand filter with multiport valve and pressure gauge connected to a pump motor, with a clear freeform inground pool and lounge chairs visible in the suburban backyard behind him
Service & Repairs

Why You Need a Pool Inspection When Buying or Selling a Home

Clear water doesn't mean a healthy pool. Learn what a professional pool inspection covers and why it matters for buyers and sellers in Virginia and Maryland.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Mar 14, 20269 min read
Luxury stone-clad home at dusk with an elaborate backyard featuring a pool, built-in fire pit lounge, outdoor kitchen pavilion, and landscape lighting on a large travertine patio
Cost & Financing

Pool Cost vs. Pool Value: Is an Inground Pool Worth the Money?

See how pool cost compares to pool value for DMV homeowners, including lifestyle benefits, resale realities, and long-term planning.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Mar 11, 20266 min read
Close-up of severely cracked and stained aging pool plaster in need of resurfacing
Renovation

Cracked Pool? Fading Finish? Here's When You Need a Renovation

Cracks, rough finish, and unexplained water loss aren't just eyesores. Learn the key signs your pool needs renovation and why acting early always costs less.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Mar 10, 20266 min read
Oval inground pool covered with a dark mesh winter safety cover weighed down by snow and ice after a winter storm, with snow blanketing the stone deck, patio furniture, and ice-coated trees surrounding a suburban Maryland or Virginia home
Seasonal Care

How to Check Your Pool After a Winter Storm in Virginia or Maryland

Not sure if your pool survived the last winter storm? Here's exactly what to inspect after a freeze event in Northern Virginia or Maryland — and when to call a pro.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Mar 7, 20269 min read
Aerial view of a luxury brick and stone colonial home in a Virginia or Maryland suburb with a rectangular inground pool and attached spa on a travertine patio, a pool house pavilion, outdoor seating area, and manicured gardens enclosed by a black iron fence surrounded by mature trees
Service & Repairs

How Pool Condition Affects Your Home's Value in the DMV

A pool can add serious value to a DMV home — or cost you at closing. Learn what sellers, buyers, and Realtors in Virginia and Maryland need to know.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Feb 21, 20268 min read
Luxury inground pool with spa waterfall feature and travertine deck beside a large stone and shingle home in Virginia or Maryland
Cost & Financing

How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost in Virginia and Maryland?

See realistic inground pool cost ranges in Virginia and Maryland, plus the main budget factors that shape pricing for DMV homeowners.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jan 28, 20265 min read
White dog resting on lush green lawn in front of an upscale backyard pool with stone deck and lounge chairs
Safety

How to Make Your Pool Safer for Kids and Pets

Practical pool safety upgrades for families in Virginia and Maryland — fencing, covers, alarms, supervision rules, and pet-friendly features that reduce drowning risk.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jan 23, 20267 min read
Pool technician in uniform kneeling to service a pool pump motor with tools laid out on the ground
Service & Repairs

Pool Pump Failure: Warning Signs, Causes & Repair Costs

Pool pump failure warning signs, common causes, repair vs. replacement decisions, and realistic repair costs in Virginia and Maryland — a practical guide.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Jul 28, 20257 min read
Construction worker in safety gear spraying gunite concrete onto a rebar framework during pool construction
Build & Design

How Long Does It Take to Build a Pool?

A realistic breakdown of how long building a pool takes in Virginia and Maryland — from permits to first swim — including what causes delays and when to start.

Dragan Kostadinovic
May 20, 20256 min read
Backyard oasis with a rectangular pool, hardwood deck, lounge chair, and lush garden surrounding a suburban home
Build & Design

Inground vs. Above Ground Pools: Which Is Right for You?

Inground vs. above ground pools compared on cost, aesthetics, value, maintenance, and HOA rules — guidance for homeowners in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.

Dragan Kostadinovic
May 12, 20255 min read
Homeowner crouching at a freeform pool coping inspecting wet pavers with a yellow bucket test beside the water, inset panels showing a low waterline at tile level and a wet pool equipment pad with leaking pump plumbing
Service & Repairs

How to Detect a Pool Leak Early: Warning Signs, DIY Tests, and Repair Costs

Learn how to detect a pool leak early: the warning signs, the bucket test and pump on/off test, where pools most commonly leak, professional detection methods, and what repairs cost in Virginia and Maryland.

Dragan Kostadinovic
Apr 7, 20259 min read