Gunite and shotcrete pools
Any shape, any depth, built in place. The most customizable kind of inground pool, and the one most shaped by what's under your yard.
A gunite or shotcrete pool is a concrete pool built on site. The builder digs the hole, sets a cage of steel rebar, sprays concrete over it, and then finishes the shell with plaster, quartz or pebble and adds tile and coping. Gunite is mixed with water at the nozzle; shotcrete arrives already mixed. For Huntsville-area homeowners who want a custom shape, a tanning ledge, an attached spa, a deep end or a design that fits an odd lot, concrete is the most flexible choice.
Is a concrete pool right for you?
- You want a shape or size no fiberglass shell comes in
- You want a sun shelf, beach entry, spa or water features
- Your yard is sloped and needs a raised wall or vanishing edge
- You plan to keep the pool for decades
- You're fine with a longer build schedule
- You're comfortable with resurfacing every so often
How the ground around Huntsville affects concrete pools
Huntsville sits in what Alabama Cooperative Extension calls the Limestone Valleys soil area. Soils there formed from limestone and are typically deep, red and clayey, but on some hillsides the limestone is close to the surface. Extension also notes that caves and sinkholes are common in these valleys. For a pool, that can mean digging through sticky clay that holds water after storms in one yard, and hitting rock a few feet down in the next. Rock may need a hammer or saw, and clay may need drainage behind the walls and a plan for groundwater under the floor. Ask the builder how they handle both, and whether a soil or site check makes sense on your lot.
Finish options
- White or colored plaster. The classic, smooth finish. Lowest cost, shortest life.
- Quartz. Plaster blended with quartz for more color and durability.
- Pebble. Exposed small stones; textured, long-lasting and the priciest.
- Waterline tile and coping in stone, brick or precast concrete.
What to expect for upkeep
Concrete pools need balanced water to protect the finish, regular brushing, and eventually resurfacing. Huntsville's long, hot summers mean a long swim season and heavy chemical demand. National Weather Service normals put the average July high at about 91.5°F. Ask the builder about variable-speed pumps and automation to keep running costs down.
What drives the price?
- Size, depth and shape of the shell
- Excavation conditions, especially rock and wet clay
- Access for equipment into the back yard
- Finish, tile and coping choices
- Features such as a spa, ledge, lighting and water features
- Decking, fencing and equipment
We don't price pools. The builder you're connected with quotes after seeing the yard. Our Madison County pool guide lists typical national ranges by pool type.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
What is the difference between gunite and shotcrete?
Both are sprayed concrete. Gunite is dry mix that gets water at the nozzle, while shotcrete is delivered wet. Both make strong pool shells when applied well.
How long does a gunite pool take to build?
It depends on design, weather, inspections and the builder schedule. Concrete pools generally take longer than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools because the shell and finish are built on site.
Does rock in my yard rule out a concrete pool?
Usually not. Rock can often be broken out or worked around, but it adds time and cost, so the builder should look at it before quoting.
Related services
More background: Madison County pool guide.
Ready to plan a pool?
Call to get connected with a Huntsville-area pool builder who can look at your yard and talk through options.