With normal backyard conditions and weather that allows for the construction to proceed, builders in many areas of the country usually need eight to 10 weeks from excavation to complete a typical residential gunite pool.

In some geographic markets, build times average a few weeks longer. In general, the more complex the design and the more special features it has, the more time your project will take.

Other variables often extend build times. Among them: time of year, permits/variances, difficult building conditions (e.g., property access, hitting groundwater, subterranean rock, or unmarked utility lines), addendums to change the design or features customer payment progress adjacent outdoor features under construction, and custom material choices requiring a special order.

Above all, weather conditions, such as rain or extreme heat and humidity, can cause delays.

Gunite construction is multiphase—requiring a series of steps using various tradesmen for each. Reputable pool builders adhere to the timelines and terms outlined in the sales contract.

Because gunite pools are custom projects—each with unique specifications and site conditions, and built with materials and craftsmen that vary by markets around the country—it’s very difficult to cite an average cost.

One major consideration will be whether or not the project includes a spa. This popular feature may add around 15 to 25 percent of the cost of the basic pool.

Other determining factors that affect the final price include size (often measured in perimeter feet), depth, shape, design elements, functional features, equipment and technology options (e.g., pool automation), material choices, accessories (e.g., a pool slide), local construction costs, local labor costs, and specific backyard building conditions.

Contact us today for a free estimate. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and provide you a detailed estimate.

Yes, sources are available for pool loans, and some pool builders help arrange pool financing for buyers.

Our offices draw on a national network of home-improvement lenders to help clients obtain financing (on approved credit). Contact us today to learn about our financing options.

To check your creditworthiness for a pool loan, the best approach is to begin with a credit evaluation. Contact us to complete a single or joint application to run a free credit check for review.

A finance specialist can evaluate the credit report for your overall creditworthiness, and he or she can look for lenders with criteria that best aligns with your credit profile.

Beneath the ground in the Corpus Christi region, several conditions can slow or impede pool construction.

Examples include underground rock, extended tree roots, a high local water table (in which water from the earth seeps into an excavated hole), and buried utility lines that utility-reporting services did not identify.

While qualified pool contractors use strategies to overcome most of these subterranean hurdles, build schedules often must be extended. Learn more: Backyard Conditions that Impact Building Costs

Depending on the backyard configuration, you will likely need a rough minimum of 500 square feet for an inground pool.

However, the final minimum number will vary with the shape of the property. That’s because gunite pools allow builders to develop shrewd designs to maximize use of available space.

Enormous versatility for pool size and shape is possible. A builder may even configure a pool that will use space from both your backyard and side yard.

Other factors may enter the equation and influence how much backyard space you can use and where the pool may be positioned. One is building codes, which vary by city. For example, most codes require pools to be 3 to 5 feet away from the house and the property line.

Keep in mind, you will need some area around the pool for decking. You may want to include other backyard features as well. Your builder will advise you of other considerations—as well as opportunities—for space-saving design solutions.

Often, the answer is yes. Because a gunite pool provides maximum design versatility, the chances are good that a builder can configure your pool’s size and shape to fit within tight dimensions.

Keep in mind that property setbacks, building codes, minimum deck requirements, and other backyard conditions can limit the ultimate square footage that can go to the pool. You also will want to have room for a pool deck.

Experienced pool builders can develop clever—often surprising—design solutions for making the most of available real estate.

For efficient inground pool construction, property access is essential. That’s because heavy equipment, such as excavators, dump trucks, and gunite or shotcrete rigs, must enter the backyard.

Adjacent homes, fences, trees, or hardscape may be in the way. Narrow side yards—such as those with a protruding gas meter or air conditioning unit—can also limit access. Other kinds of obstacles may exist.

In these cases, pool builders can usually find a solution. They range from fence removal and restoration to using smaller excavation equipment.

With a gunite pool’s design versatility, shape options are virtually unlimited.

Favorites fall into four broad categories: classic, Greco-Roman designs; straight-edge/geometric options such as rectangles or L-shapes; curvy, flowing silhouettes like a figure-8, “cloud,” and organic, free-form shapes; and custom configurations that mix curves and straight lines.

However, you can also request a modified version of any shape—even “set,” traditional ones like a Roman or a rectangle. Professional designers can surprise you with a creative, tailored shape.

Soil that expands, contracts, shifts, or is unstable for other reasons can impact a pool’s construction and long-term stability. For example, in an open excavated hole, sandy soil may cause the walls to collapse. Soil with a high clay content may expand or contract with seasonal temperature or moisture changes.

We are accustomed to these kinds of challenges and have solutions for the majority of them. Tactics vary by the nature of the challenge and building practices in the local market.

We use a variety of techniques to overcome soil challenges for gunite pool construction. Methods often vary by region of the country.

For example, to address unstable earth, they may lay a bed of compacted fill with pea gravel in the excavated hole or increase the amount of gunite and steel in the pool shell. To address sandy soil, they may frame the excavated hole with plywood to hold its shape until gunite is applied.

In certain cases, an analysis by a soil engineer may be needed, and more extensive tactics may be required.

Gunite spas are custom builds that are popular among pool buyers because they serve as a lovely focal point in the pool and offer so many health and lifestyle benefits.

Particularly when the spa is elevated, its façade and spillway provide superb design opportunities and also serve as a distinctive water feature.

Beyond its beauty, a spa brings added value to your lifestyle. It’s an ideal amenity for unwinding mentally and physically, offering warm hydrotherapy for sore muscles, a place for low-impact exercise, support for enhancing blood circulation, promotion of better sleep patterns, general relaxation and serenity, and a setting for socializing and conversation.

This feature also provides a fun spot to hang out or play—even when it’s cooler at night or after swim season ends.

The most popular gunite spa shape is circular, since a circle or a rounded shape makes conversation and interaction easy. These shapes are also most efficient for holding the most people.

However, some pool buyers opt for custom geometric options with straight lines—squares, rectangles, triangles, or modified versions of them. Other custom designs may incorporate curves and organic shapes.