Hear from Our Customers
You’re not just getting a hole filled with water. You’re getting a backyard that finally works the way you’ve been picturing it—a place where your kids actually want to be home, where summer doesn’t mean driving somewhere else to cool off, and where your property value climbs while you’re enjoying it.
Custom gunite pool construction means the design fits your lot, not someone else’s template. It means the structure holds up in Ocilla’s soil conditions without cracking or shifting three years down the road. And it means you’re swimming by mid-summer, not waiting around wondering when the job will actually finish.
The difference shows up in how the pool looks, how long it lasts, and how much you actually use it. When the construction is handled right from permits to final inspection, you end up with a finished backyard, not a project you’re still dealing with next season.
We’ve been building inground pools in and around Ocilla for over 30 years. We’re licensed, insured, and we’ve worked with every soil type, permit office, and backyard challenge South Georgia throws at us.
We’re not the cheapest option, and that’s intentional. You’re paying for concrete that’s mixed right, rebar that’s placed where it should be, and a team that knows the difference between doing it fast and doing it right. Most of our work comes from referrals, which tells you something about how the finished product holds up.
If you’re in Ocilla, you know the summers are long and the soil can be tricky. We’ve built pools here long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. That experience shows up in how smooth the process runs and how well your pool performs year after year.
First, we meet at your property to talk through what you want and what’s realistic for your lot. We measure, assess the soil, and design something that fits your space and budget. No pressure, no upselling—just a clear plan.
Once you approve the design, we handle the permits. Georgia requires building permits for all residential pools, and we manage that entire process so you’re not calling the county office yourself. Permits typically take a few weeks, depending on the local building department’s schedule.
After permits clear, excavation starts. We dig, set the steel framework, and shoot the gunite or shotcrete to form the pool shell. Plumbing and electrical go in next, followed by decking and any patio work you’ve chosen. The whole process runs 8 to 12 weeks from permit approval to completion, weather depending.
You’ll know what’s happening at each stage. We don’t disappear for weeks at a time, and we don’t leave your yard looking like a construction zone when we’re done. When we say it’s finished, it’s finished—ready to fill and enjoy.
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Every project starts with custom design. We’re not handing you a brochure of pre-made shapes—we’re drawing something that works with your property lines, drainage, and how you’ll actually use the space.
You get full permit handling, which matters more than most people realize. Ocilla and the surrounding Douglas County area follow Georgia’s International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and there are local requirements on top of that. We know what the inspectors are looking for, so your project doesn’t get held up over missing paperwork or code violations.
The pool itself is gunite or shotcrete, which is the most durable option for South Georgia’s soil. Concrete pools handle ground movement better than fiberglass or vinyl, and they last decades when they’re built correctly. We also install all plumbing, filtration, and electrical systems to code, and we include safety features like proper barriers and covers.
If you want a full backyard transformation, we build patios, outdoor kitchens, and spa installations too. The goal is a finished space that’s ready to use the day we leave, not something you’re still figuring out how to complete on your own.
Plan on 8 to 12 weeks from the day permits are approved to the day you’re filling the pool. That timeline assumes normal weather and no major surprises underground, which is realistic for most Ocilla properties.
Permit approval adds a few weeks on the front end, depending on how busy the local building department is. We submit everything and handle the back-and-forth, so that part doesn’t fall on you. Once permits clear, excavation starts within days.
Weather is the biggest wildcard. Summer storms can delay concrete pours or decking work, and we’re not going to rush a critical step just to hit a date. But we also don’t drag things out—our crews stay on your project until it’s done, and we keep you updated if anything shifts the schedule.
Gunite handles South Georgia’s soil conditions better than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools. The soil around Ocilla can shift with rain and temperature changes, and gunite’s thick concrete shell flexes just enough to handle that movement without cracking.
Fiberglass pools are one-piece units that can pop out of the ground if the water table rises or the soil shifts underneath. Vinyl liners tear, fade, and need replacing every 7 to 10 years. Gunite pools, when they’re built right, last 30-plus years with normal maintenance.
You also get full design flexibility with gunite. We’re not limited to pre-made shapes or sizes—we can build around trees, slope the deep end where it makes sense for your lot, and integrate features like benches or swim-outs. That’s not possible with a fiberglass shell that shows up on a truck.
Yes. All residential swimming pools in Georgia require a building permit, and Ocilla is no exception. The permit process involves submitting site plans, engineering specs, and proof that the design meets Georgia’s pool code and local zoning requirements.
We handle the entire permit process for you. That means preparing the drawings, submitting the application, coordinating inspections, and making any adjustments the building department requests. You don’t need to take time off work to visit the county office or figure out what forms to fill out.
Permits typically take two to four weeks to get approved, depending on the building department’s workload. Trying to skip the permit process isn’t worth it—unpermitted pools create problems when you sell your home, and you can be forced to remove the pool or bring it up to code at your own expense.
A professionally installed inground pool typically increases your home’s value by 5% to 7%, depending on the overall quality of your property and the local market. In Ocilla, where summer heat is a given, pools are seen as a real amenity, not just a luxury.
That said, you won’t recoup 100% of the construction cost when you sell. Pools add value, but they’re not a pure financial investment—they’re something you build because you’ll use it and enjoy it. The value boost is a nice side benefit, not the main reason to build.
The increase in value is higher when the pool is well-maintained, properly permitted, and integrated into a finished backyard space. A pool surrounded by mud or sitting next to a chain-link fence doesn’t help your resale value much. A pool with a patio, landscaping, and safety features does.
Most custom gunite pools in the Ocilla area run between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on size, features, and site conditions. A basic rectangular pool with standard finishes and minimal decking sits on the lower end. A freeform pool with a spa, custom tile, outdoor kitchen, and extensive patio work pushes toward the higher end.
Your specific cost depends on your lot. If we’re dealing with a steep slope, high water table, or limited access for equipment, that adds to the labor and time. If your property is flat with easy access, the job moves faster and costs less.
We give you a detailed estimate after the on-site consultation, so you know exactly what you’re paying for before anything starts. No surprise charges halfway through the project, and no vague line items you can’t understand. You’ll know what the pool costs, what the decking costs, and what everything else adds up to.
You can swim comfortably from late April through October without heating the pool, thanks to South Georgia’s long warm season. If you add a heater, you can extend that window into early spring and late fall, though most Ocilla families don’t bother heating unless they’re using the pool for exercise or therapy.
Winter swimming is possible with a heater, but it’s not common here. Most people close their pools in November and reopen them in March or April. Closing a pool for winter in Georgia is simpler than it is up north—you’re mostly just balancing the chemicals and covering it, not draining it or worrying about freeze damage.
Even if you only swim six months a year, that’s still twice as long as families up north get to use their pools. The extended season is one of the biggest reasons inground pools make sense in Ocilla—you’re not paying for something that sits unused nine months a year.
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