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
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.
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.
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 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.
Step 2: Design, Engineering, and Permit
A custom pool plan is drawn with dimensions, rebar specifications, and material selections. DSH submits permits and engineering stamps.
Step 3: Excavation and Steel
The pool shape is excavated, plumbing is rough-set, and the rebar framework is tied according to the engineering plan. This is inspected before the gunite pour.
Step 4: Gunite Pour and Cure
The gunite crew applies concrete over the rebar in one continuous session. The shell then cures for 7 to 10 days with daily watering to prevent surface cracking.
Step 5: Tile, Coping, Deck, and Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
Gunite pools in the DFW area typically start at $60,000 to $80,000 for a standard build and range upward of $150,000 to $200,000 for large, feature-rich designs. Final cost depends on size, depth, shape, features, and site conditions. DSH provides a written estimate before any work begins.
Most gunite pool builds take 8 to 14 weeks from excavation to swim day. The gunite pour itself takes one day, but the full construction timeline includes excavation, steel, plumbing, curing, tile, decking, and equipment installation.
Gunite and shotcrete are both pneumatically applied concrete. Gunite uses a dry mix that is hydrated at the nozzle. Shotcrete uses a pre-mixed wet batch. Both produce a strong monolithic shell. DSH uses whichever application method best suits the project specifications.
The gunite shell itself can last 50 years or more with proper maintenance. The interior surface (plaster, quartz, or pebble) needs resurfacing every 10 to 15 years depending on the finish material and chemical maintenance.
Gunite allows a fully custom rebar framework that can be engineered specifically for the expansive clay conditions on your lot. Fiberglass shells are pre-formed in a factory and cannot be structurally modified to match your soil report. In a region where the active zone of clay movement extends 10 feet or more below grade, that customization matters.
Spas are poured as part of the gunite shell, structurally tied to the main pool with shared or independent plumbing and heating. Learn more at /spas/.
Weekly brushing to prevent algae adhesion (gunite surfaces are slightly porous), chemical balancing, filter cleaning, and equipment checks. Resurfacing is needed every 10 to 15 years depending on the interior finish.
DSH works with financing partners on qualifying pool projects. Details are discussed during your free consultation.
DSH builds gunite pools across McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Prosper, Plano, Celina, Van Alstyne, Anna, Melissa, Sherman, and surrounding North Texas communities.
DSH builds both custom homes and gunite pools under one company. Building together means the pool foundation, plumbing, electrical, and outdoor design are coordinated from day one. Learn more at /custom-homes/.
DSH Homes and Pools builds custom homes from two North Texas locations. The McKinney office serves McKinney, Frisco, Allen, and Prosper. The Van Alstyne office covers Van Alstyne, Anna, Melissa, and Sherman. DSH has completed home builds as far south as Plano and on acreage properties throughout Grayson County. Call (903) 321-3172 to discuss your lot and project.
Financing Available on Qualifying Pool Projects
Ask about payment options during your free consultation.
BBB Accredited, A Rating . 30+ Years in North Texas
REVIEWS
Related Services
Pool Construction
You have a backyard and a vision, but turning that into a finished gunite pool takes engineering, excavation, plumbing, and electrical coordinated on a single timeline. DSH handles every phase from permit to plaster, building custom inground pools designed for North Texas clay soil conditions.
Pool Remodeling
Cracked plaster, outdated tile, or a pool that just does not match the house you have now. DSH resurfaces, retiles, replumbs, and redesigns existing pools to look and function like new, including deck upgrades, coping replacement, and modern water features.
Custom Home Building
Building from the ground up on your own lot gives you control over layout, materials, and finishes down to the last outlet. DSH designs and builds custom homes across North Texas, from modern ranch plans to multi-story estates, managing permits, engineering, and construction in one contract.
Plunge Pools
Not every backyard needs a 40-foot pool. Plunge pools fit smaller lots and tighter budgets while still giving you a place to cool off from May through October. DSH builds custom plunge pools with options for heating, jets, bench seating, and integrated spas.
Spas and Hot Tubs
A standalone spa or a pool-attached hot tub extends your backyard season past pool weather. DSH builds custom spas with adjustable jets, LED lighting, and heating systems that run independently from the main pool, so you can use them year-round.
Get a Free Gunite Pool Estimate Today
Gunite is the standard for custom pools in North Texas, and DSH has been building them for 30 years. Call (903) 321-3172 for a free on-site consultation. One crew, one estimate, one point of contact from rebar to swim day.