Concrete and Gunite Pool Build — What to Know Before You Start
Building an inground pool involves a lot more than just the pool itself. There's excavation, forming, the pool shell, coping, and a deck that has to be poured around the finished structure. When those pieces come from different contractors, the schedule gets complicated fast. One crew finishes late and the next one can't start. You end up managing the gap.
We build concrete and gunite pools and pour the surrounding deck in the same project, with our own equipment. That means the dig, the pool, and the concrete around it come from one crew on one timeline. If you're planning an inground pool anywhere in the Metro East, that's worth knowing before you start making calls.
What a Concrete or Gunite Pool Build Actually Involves
Gunite is a type of concrete applied pneumatically — it's sprayed onto a rebar framework to form the pool shell. It's a durable, long-lasting method that allows for custom shapes, depths, and features that aren't possible with a prefab liner pool.
A concrete or gunite pool build follows a specific sequence: excavation, rebar framing and shaping, gunite application, plumbing rough-in, surface finishing, coping installation, and finally the surrounding deck pour. Each step has to be done right before the next one can start.
Because we do in-house excavation and run our own dump trucks, we control the dig from the start. The hole goes in on our schedule. We don't wait on a subcontractor to free up a machine or haul off the displaced dirt. Once the shell is built and finished, we pour the pool deck with the same crew that's been on-site the whole time.
This matters for a few reasons. The deck has to account for the pool's exact dimensions and edge detail. When the same contractor pours it, those measurements are already in hand. You don't end up with a gap, a misal-igned coping line, or a contractor who hasn't seen what the other crew left behind.
We build pools to hold a custom shape and hold up over time. Gunite pools are considered the most durable option available, and when the base work and deck are done correctly alongside the shell, the whole structure performs as it should.
When Homeowners Start Looking for a Gunite Pool Contractor
Most people reach out about a pool build when one of these situations applies:
You want a pool that fits your yard, not a catalog size. Gunite is poured and shaped on-site, so the pool can follow the contours of your lot, fit a tight backyard, or accommodate a specific depth or feature you have in mind.
You've gotten separate bids for the pool and the deck and the numbers don't add up. When you hire one company to build the pool and another to pour the concrete around it, both have to build margin into their portion. And if the two crews don't coordinate, you may end up with a deck that doesn't sit flush, or delays that push your summer timeline into fall.
You want the deck done at the same time as the pool. A pool without a finished deck isn't usable. When the deck pour is part of the same project, the job finishes as a unit and you're ready to use it.
You've been told inground pools are "too complicated" for smaller contractors. We've been doing this work for 20 years. We own the excavation equipment and the concrete trucks. The complexity is something we handle, not something we hand off.
Our Pool Build Process, Start to Finish
Estimate and design consultation. We come out, walk the yard, and talk through what you're picturing. We discuss shape, depth, features, coping options, and deck finish. You get a written price before any work begins.
Excavation. We dig the pool with our own equipment and haul the displaced material with our own trucks. No waiting on outside haulers.
Rebar and forming. We frame the shell, set the rebar to spec, and shape the pool to the agreed dimensions before the gunite goes in.
Gunite application. The concrete is applied pneumatically over the rebar framework. This forms the structural shell of the pool.
Plumbing rough-in. Return lines, main drains, and skimmer connections are set before the interior finish work begins.
Interior finish and coping. The surface finish and coping are installed before the deck pour. Getting this done in the right order keeps the deck edge clean.
Pool deck pour. We pour the surrounding concrete deck with slip-resistant or stamped finish options. The deck is built to handle foot traffic, sun, water, and the movement that comes with a pool environment.
Final cleanup. We haul off the job site debris with our own trucks. The yard is left clean before we're done.
What a Pool Build Costs — and What Affects the Number
Inground gunite pool builds vary considerably in price based on size, depth, features like steps or benches built into the shell, interior finish selection, coping material, and the scope of the deck. A smaller pool on a straightforward site costs less than a larger pool on a lot that requires significant grading or retaining work.
We don't publish flat rates because the variables matter too much. What we do is come out, look at the site, understand what you want, and give you a written price that covers excavation, the pool build, and the deck — so you know the full number before committing to anything.
If you're comparing bids, make sure each one includes the same scope. A lower pool price that doesn't include the deck pour or haul-away isn't a fair comparison to a number that does.
Call us or request a free estimate. We'll come out, take measurements, walk through your options, and give you a clear price with no pressure.
Where We Build Pools in the Metro East
We work across St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe County, including O'Fallon, Belleville, Shiloh, Swansea, Fairview Heights, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, Troy, Waterloo, Columbia, and the surrounding areas. If you're not sure whether we cover your town, give us a call.
Service area pages:
Related Services
If you're planning a pool build or are already thinking about the property work around it, these services are part of what we do:
- Inground Pool Construction — Full inground pool builds from excavation to finished shell, using our own equipment and crew.
- Site Prep & Grading — Grading and base prep handled in-house before the dig or pour starts.
- Concrete Demolition & Haul-Away — Old concrete removed and hauled off with our own trucks before new work goes in.
- Dump Truck Hauling Service — Gravel, dirt, and debris hauling across the Metro East, the truck side of our operation that keeps every job moving.