WHY
GUNITE?
Why Homeowners Choose Gunite
Over Fiberglass and Vinyl
- You want a pool shape that fits your backyard instead of picking from a catalog of pre-made shells
- Your property has slopes, tight access, or an irregular lot line that a fiberglass mold cannot accommodate
- You want a depth, bench, tanning ledge, or spa configuration that only a poured-in-place pool can achieve
- You live in North Texas where expansive clay soil makes structural reinforcement a requirement, and gunite allows custom rebar engineering
- You plan to add water features, rock formations, or a grotto that need to be integrated into the shell during construction
- You want a pool that lasts 30 to 50 years with proper maintenance, compared to 15 to 25 years for fiberglass or vinyl
- You are building a custom home and want the pool foundation engineered alongside the house foundation
- You care about resale value, and gunite pools consistently appraise higher than fiberglass alternatives
GUNITE EXPLAINED
What Is a Gunite Pool and
Why Does It Matter in North Texas
Gunite is a dry-mix concrete that is pneumatically applied (sprayed at high pressure) over a steel rebar framework to form the pool shell. The builder shapes the rebar to your exact design, then the gunite crew coats it in a continuous pour that creates a monolithic shell with no joints or seams.
The structural advantage of gunite over fiberglass is straightforward: the rebar can be engineered to match the soil conditions on your specific lot. In North Texas, where more than 90 percent of the ground is expansive clay, that engineering is the difference between a pool that holds its shape for decades and one that cracks within a few years. The montmorillonite clays in Collin and Denton counties expand when wet and shrink when dry, and the active zone extends 10 feet or more below the surface. A fiberglass shell is manufactured in a factory to a fixed specification. It cannot be modified on-site to add reinforcement where the soil report shows you need it. A gunite pool can.
DSH Homes and Pools builds gunite pools exclusively. Derek Humphreys has 30 years of construction experience and every pool DSH builds is engineered for the soil conditions found during excavation. Call (903) 321-3172 for a free consultation.
COMPARISON
Gunite vs. Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Liner
Customization Gunite: any shape, depth, size, or feature. Fiberglass: limited to manufacturer mold catalog. Vinyl: any shape but limited depth and structural capability.
Durability Gunite: 30 to 50 year shell lifespan with resurfacing every 10 to 15 years. Fiberglass: 15 to 25 year shell, cannot be resurfaced in the same way. Vinyl: liner replacement every 5 to 9 years.
Soil Adaptability Gunite: rebar framework engineered for your specific soil conditions. Fiberglass: factory-set, cannot be reinforced on site. Vinyl: steel or polymer wall panels with limited structural adjustment.
Cost Gunite: highest upfront cost, lowest cost over 30 years when accounting for maintenance and longevity. Fiberglass: moderate upfront, moderate long-term. Vinyl: lowest upfront, highest long-term due to liner replacements.
- North Texas Recommendation For lots with expansive clay soil, gunite is the standard recommendation among reputable pool builders in the DFW market. The ability to customize the rebar framework based on a soil report is not a luxury. It is a structural necessity.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Services We Offer
Soil Evaluation and Engineering
Before excavation, DSH evaluates your lot and coordinates with structural engineers to design the rebar framework for your soil conditions.
Custom Rebar Framework
Steel rebar is shaped to your exact pool design, with spacing and gauge adjusted based on the engineering specifications for your lot.
High-Pressure Gunite Application
DSH uses experienced gunite crews who apply the concrete in a single continuous session to create a seamless, monolithic shell with no cold joints.
Interior Finish Options
White plaster, quartz aggregate, pebble finish, or glass bead applied over the cured gunite shell. Each has different texture, color, and lifespan characteristics.
Waterline Tile and Coping
Porcelain, glass mosaic, or natural stone tile at the waterline, with matching coping stones that cap the pool edge and transition to the deck.
Equipment and Automation
Variable-speed pumps, filtration, heating, salt chlorination, LED lighting, and smart automation installed and tested before water fill.
Integrated Features
Water features, fire bowls, tanning ledges, bench seats, grottos, and spa attachments are built into the gunite shell during construction.
HOW IT WORKS
How DSH Builds a Gunite Pool
Step 1: Consultation and Soil Review
Derek walks your property, discusses your design goals, and reviews soil conditions to determine what level of structural reinforcement your pool needs.