Gunite pools in the Golden Triangle

Why gunite dominates here

Every local builder we found leads with concrete. Blue Haven's Beaumont branch builds only gunite (Blue Haven), and Platinum and Acadian both sell custom shapes with sun shelves, raised spas and water features. Concrete also lets an engineer thicken the shell and add steel where the clay moves most.

What the price buys

From Acadian Pools' pricing page, checked 1 November 2026. Whether decking and fencing are included isn't stated.

The build, step by step

1. Design, contract, survey and permits
2. Excavation, with extra depth for a stone or select-fill base on clay
3. Rebar, plumbing and the sprayed shell, then about a week of curing
4. Tile, coping, equipment pad, electrical and deck
5. Interior finish, fill and start-up

Expect roughly 6–10 weeks from dig to swim (our estimate), longer if it rains for days or the yard holds water.

Finishes

White plaster costs least and shows wear soonest. Quartz and pebble blends cost more, hide stains and last longer. Plan to refinish a plaster pool every 10–15 years (estimate). In our heat, a light finish keeps the water cooler and the color bright.

Ask about water under the shell

Concrete is heavy, but wet ground still pushes on it. Ask for a hydrostatic relief valve in the main drain, and for the plan if the hole fills while they dig. USDA notes perched water within 6–30 in in League clay from January to March (USDA).