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Georgia’s red clay isn’t like soil anywhere else. It’s dense, it shifts with moisture, and it can generate upward pressure exceeding 10,000 pounds per square foot. That’s not a problem you solve with a vinyl liner and good intentions.
Custom gunite pool construction gives you a structure engineered to handle what’s underneath your yard. Concrete flexes with soil movement instead of cracking against it. It holds up through summer storms and winter freezes. And when it’s done right, you’re not dealing with repairs three years in.
You also get design freedom. Your lot size, your landscape, your vision. Gunite molds to whatever shape makes sense for your property. Freeform curves, beach entries, integrated spas—it’s all on the table. That’s what happens when the material works with you instead of limiting you.
We’ve been building inground pools in Douglas County since 2014, but our experience goes back further. Over 30 years working with concrete, plumbing, and custom construction. That’s three decades of learning how Georgia soil behaves, which permits matter, and what actually holds up.
We’re a family-owned business. Every project gets treated like it’s going in our own backyard because that’s how you build a reputation that lasts. No shortcuts, no surprises, no excuses.
Pridgen and the surrounding Douglas County area come with specific challenges—soil composition, local permitting requirements, weather patterns that delay timelines. We’ve navigated all of it. You’re not getting a contractor learning on your dime. You’re getting someone who’s done this hundreds of times and knows what works.
It starts with a site evaluation. We look at your yard, test soil conditions, measure grade and drainage, and figure out what’s actually possible. Not what sounds good in a sales pitch—what works for your property.
Then comes design. You tell us what you want, we tell you what’s realistic, and we work out a plan that fits your lot and your budget. Once design is locked, we handle permits. Douglas County has specific requirements beyond state code, and we manage the entire process so you’re not stuck at the building department.
After permits clear, excavation begins. Heavy equipment, careful grading, and prep work for plumbing and electrical. Then we shoot the gunite—that’s the concrete shell that becomes your pool structure. It cures, we apply finish, install equipment, and fill it up.
Most projects take 10 to 20 weeks total. Design and permitting eat up 2 to 8 weeks. Construction runs another 8 to 12 weeks. Weather can add time, especially during summer storm season. We give you realistic timelines upfront, not best-case scenarios that fall apart.
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Every inground pool installation in Georgia starts with understanding what’s below ground. We handle soil analysis, engineering for your specific site conditions, and all permitting with local building departments. You’re not guessing whether it’ll pass inspection—we know the code.
You get custom design that fits your property. We’re not dropping a prefab shape into your yard and calling it done. Gunite construction means your pool matches your vision, whether that’s a lap pool, a freeform lagoon, or something with integrated water features.
We also include complete project management. Excavation, plumbing, electrical, gunite application, coping, decking, equipment installation, and startup. One contractor, one timeline, one point of contact. You’re not coordinating five different subcontractors and hoping they show up.
Safety matters. Every pool includes options for custom-fitted safety covers designed for family protection. Douglas County requires barrier fencing and compliant gates—we make sure you’re covered. And because Georgia’s soil can shift, we engineer every pool to handle long-term ground movement without cracking or leaking.
Most inground pool projects in Douglas County take between 10 and 20 weeks from start to finish. That breaks down into two phases: design and permitting, which usually runs 2 to 8 weeks, and construction, which takes another 8 to 12 weeks.
Weather plays a role. Georgia’s summer storm season can delay excavation and concrete work. Permit approval times vary depending on how backed up the local building department is. We give you a realistic timeline upfront based on current conditions, not a best-case scenario.
The actual construction sequence matters too. Excavation, plumbing and electrical rough-in, gunite application, curing time, tile and coping, decking, equipment installation, and startup all happen in order. Rushing any step creates problems down the road. You want it done right, not done fast.
Georgia’s red clay is dense, holds moisture, and generates serious upward pressure when it expands—sometimes over 10,000 pounds per square foot. Gunite pools handle that because the concrete shell is engineered to flex with soil movement instead of fighting it.
Vinyl liners and fiberglass shells don’t have that flexibility. When clay shifts, vinyl tears and fiberglass can crack or pop out of the ground entirely. Gunite is structural concrete reinforced with steel rebar. It moves with the soil, distributes pressure, and stays intact.
Red clay also requires proper drainage and backfill. We engineer every pool for the specific soil conditions on your property. That means soil testing, compaction analysis, and drainage planning before we ever break ground. It’s not optional—it’s how you avoid leaks, cracks, and costly repairs three years later.
Yes. All residential swimming pools in Georgia require a building permit, and Douglas County has additional local requirements on top of state code. You’ll need site plans, engineered drawings, barrier fencing details, and electrical plans that meet National Electric Code standards.
The permit process typically takes 2 to 8 weeks depending on how quickly the building department reviews your application and whether any revisions are needed. We handle the entire process—applications, drawings, code compliance, and communication with inspectors.
Douglas County also requires barrier fencing around pools, compliant gate latches, and specific setbacks from property lines. If you skip permits or try to DIY the paperwork, you risk failed inspections, fines, and having to tear out work that doesn’t meet code. It’s not worth the headache. Let us handle it—we know the process inside and out.
Inground gunite pools in Douglas County typically start around $50,000 and go up from there depending on size, features, and site conditions. A basic rectangular pool with standard finishes sits at the lower end. Add custom shapes, water features, integrated spas, or premium tile and you’re looking at $70,000 to $100,000 or more.
Site conditions affect cost too. If your yard has poor drainage, requires significant grading, or needs extra engineering for soil stability, that adds to the budget. Difficult access for equipment, rock excavation, or utility relocations also increase costs.
We give you transparent pricing upfront. No surprises halfway through the project. You’ll know what you’re paying for excavation, gunite, finishes, equipment, decking, and everything else before we start. If your budget is $60,000, we design a pool that works within that number—not one that forces you to cut corners or go into debt.
Gunite and shotcrete are both sprayed concrete, but they’re mixed differently. Gunite is a dry mix—sand and cement are combined at the nozzle when water is added during application. Shotcrete is pre-mixed with water before it’s sprayed. Both create a strong, durable pool shell when applied correctly.
In practical terms, the difference doesn’t matter much to you as the homeowner. What matters is the contractor’s experience with the application process, proper curing, and steel reinforcement. A poorly applied gunite pool and a poorly applied shotcrete pool will both have problems. A well-built pool using either method will last decades.
We use gunite for most projects because it allows tighter control over water content during application, which affects strength and finish quality. But the real key is proper technique—experienced crews, correct rebar placement, adequate curing time, and quality materials. That’s what separates a pool that lasts from one that cracks in five years.
An inground pool can increase your home’s value by up to 7% in Georgia, but it’s not automatic. Location matters. In areas where pools are common and desirable, you’ll see better returns. In neighborhoods where they’re rare, buyers might see it as a maintenance burden instead of an asset.
The quality of the pool matters too. A well-built gunite pool with modern equipment and good finishes adds value. A poorly maintained pool with outdated equipment and cracked decking hurts your resale appeal. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, homeowners recoup about 56% of their pool investment on average.
But here’s the thing—most people don’t build pools for resale value. They build them for family time, summer memories, and having a backyard retreat. If you’re planning to stay in your home for years, the value is in how you use it, not what it adds to your appraisal. If resale is your main concern, talk to a local realtor about buyer preferences in your specific neighborhood before you commit.
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