Hear from Our Customers
Most homeowners don’t realize that the type of pool you choose determines how much maintenance you’ll deal with, how long it lasts, and whether it actually adds value to your property. Gunite and shotcrete pools aren’t the cheapest option upfront—but they’re the most durable, fully customizable, and built to handle Georgia’s red clay soil and climate extremes.
You’re not just getting a hole filled with water. You’re getting a structure engineered to stay level, resist cracking, and hold up through decades of heat, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles. That means fewer repairs, less resurfacing, and a pool that still looks good when you’re ready to sell.
The difference shows up in year five, year ten, and year twenty. Fiberglass pools crack. Vinyl liners tear and fade. Gunite pools? They age like concrete driveways—solid, repairable, and built to stay put. If you’re spending this kind of money, you want something that doesn’t become a liability down the road.
We work with homeowners in Bushnell, Douglas, and Coffee County who want custom inground pools designed around their land, not a catalog. We’ve been building gunite and shotcrete pools in South Georgia long enough to know what works here—and what doesn’t.
Georgia soil isn’t forgiving. Red clay shifts, holds water, and requires proper excavation and reinforcement or you’ll end up with settling and cracks within a few years. We test soil conditions before we dig, engineer the structure to match your property, and handle permitting and inspections so the job gets done right the first time.
You’ll work with the same crew from start to finish. No subcontractors you’ve never met. No surprise change orders because someone didn’t plan ahead. Just a clear timeline, transparent pricing, and a pool that’s built to last.
First, we walk your property and talk through what you actually want—size, shape, depth, features. We’re not trying to upsell you on waterfalls and LED lighting if that’s not your priority. We’re figuring out what fits your space, your budget, and how you’ll actually use the pool.
Next comes soil testing and site prep. We need to know what’s under your yard before we start digging—clay density, drainage patterns, underground utilities. This is where a lot of contractors cut corners and end up hitting problems halfway through the job. We handle this upfront so there aren’t delays or surprise costs later.
Once permits are pulled, we excavate and start the gunite or shotcrete shell. This is the foundation of your pool—steel rebar reinforcement and pneumatically applied concrete that forms one solid, monolithic structure. It’s not a drop-in mold. It’s custom-shaped to your design and engineered for your specific soil conditions.
After the shell cures, we install plumbing, filtration, electrical, and any water features or built-in elements. Then comes the interior finish—plaster, tile, coping—and finally, startup and water chemistry balancing. The whole process typically takes 8-12 weeks depending on weather, permitting, and design complexity. We’ll give you a realistic timeline upfront, not an optimistic one that falls apart when it rains.
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You’re getting full design and engineering services—not a template with three shape options. We draw up plans based on your property’s dimensions, grade, and drainage. If your yard slopes or has limited access, we figure out how to make it work before we start digging.
The pool shell itself is gunite or shotcrete—pneumatically applied concrete over steel reinforcement. This creates a watertight, structurally sound basin that’s shaped to your exact specifications. You’re not limited by pre-formed molds. Want a beach entry, swim-up bar, or integrated spa? We build it into the shell.
We handle all plumbing, filtration, and electrical work. That includes main drains, skimmers, return jets, pump and filter systems, heaters if you want them, and lighting. Everything gets installed to code and inspected by the county. You’re not dealing with separate contractors for each trade—we manage the whole build.
Interior finishes, coping, and decking come next. You’ll choose plaster color, tile style, and coping material. We work with natural stone, pavers, and concrete depending on your budget and aesthetic. If you want a backyard oasis with waterfalls, rock features, or landscaping integration, we can build that too. But if you just want a clean, functional pool, that’s what we’ll give you.
In Bushnell and the Douglas area, we’re also accounting for Georgia-specific factors—proper drainage so your pool doesn’t flood during heavy rain, reinforcement that handles clay soil movement, and equipment that runs efficiently in hot, humid summers. These aren’t extras. They’re part of building a pool that works in this climate.
Most custom gunite pool projects take 8-12 weeks from excavation to startup. That’s not a guarantee—it’s a realistic range based on normal conditions. Weather is the biggest variable. Heavy rain delays concrete curing, flooding can halt excavation, and extreme heat affects material application. We can’t control that, but we plan around it.
Permitting also affects timing. Coffee County requires soil tests, engineered drawings, and inspections at multiple stages. If your property needs a variance or has easement restrictions, that adds time. We handle all permitting and inspections, but the county sets the schedule, not us.
Design complexity matters too. A simple rectangular pool with standard finishes moves faster than a freeform design with a spa, beach entry, and custom rock features. More intricate builds require more labor, more materials, and more precision. We’ll give you a project timeline during the design phase based on your specific plans—not a generic estimate that doesn’t account for what you’re actually building.
Gunite and shotcrete are both pneumatically applied concrete, but the mixing process is slightly different. Gunite is dry-mixed and water is added at the nozzle. Shotcrete is pre-mixed with water before application. Both create a strong, durable, monolithic shell. Both work well for custom pool construction.
The practical difference for you? Almost none. Both methods produce a structurally sound pool that can be shaped to any design, reinforced with steel rebar, and finished with plaster or tile. Some contractors prefer one method over the other based on equipment and crew experience. We use both depending on the project.
What matters more than gunite vs. shotcrete is the quality of the installation—proper steel reinforcement, correct concrete mix ratios, adequate curing time, and skilled application. A poorly built gunite pool will crack just like a poorly built shotcrete pool. The construction process and crew expertise matter more than the specific material name. Either way, you’re getting a concrete pool that’s built to last decades if it’s done right.
The average inground gunite pool in Georgia runs around $65,000, but that number moves up or down based on size, features, and site conditions. A basic 14×28 rectangular pool with standard finishes and equipment might come in under that. A large freeform pool with a spa, waterfall, custom tile, and upgraded automation will cost more.
Your property also affects pricing. If we’re dealing with difficult access, heavy clay that requires extra excavation equipment, or a sloped yard that needs retaining walls, that adds cost. Soil testing usually reveals these issues before we start, so there aren’t surprise charges halfway through the job.
Here’s what’s typically included in that base cost: excavation, steel and gunite shell, plumbing, filtration system, pump, basic lighting, standard plaster finish, coping, and startup. Not included: decking, fencing, landscaping, heaters, automation systems, or high-end finishes like glass tile or pebble interiors. We’ll break down exactly what’s in your quote so you know what you’re paying for. No line items labeled “miscellaneous” or “site prep” without explanation.
A well-built inground pool can increase your home’s value by up to 7%, but that’s not automatic. It depends on your neighborhood, the quality of the installation, and whether buyers in your area actually want pools. In South Georgia, where summers are long and hot, pools are generally seen as desirable amenities—not liabilities.
The key is building a pool that fits your property and looks like it belongs there. An oversized pool that dominates a small yard or a poorly maintained pool with cracked plaster and outdated equipment won’t add value. But a professionally installed gunite pool with modern finishes, proper landscaping integration, and functioning equipment? That’s an asset when you sell.
Buyers also care about maintenance costs. Gunite pools with energy-efficient pumps, LED lighting, and saltwater systems are easier to sell than older pools with outdated equipment and high operating costs. If you’re thinking about resale value, invest in quality construction and efficient systems upfront. You’ll recoup more of that investment than if you go cheap now and have to upgrade later just to make the pool marketable.
You’re looking at weekly water testing and chemical balancing, regular skimming and brushing, and filter cleaning every few weeks. Most homeowners spend 2-4 hours per week on basic maintenance, or they hire a pool service to handle it. Annual costs for chemicals, electricity, water, and routine upkeep typically run $3,000-$6,000 depending on pool size and usage.
Georgia’s climate means you’ll deal with pollen in spring, algae growth in hot summers, and occasional freeze protection in winter. Your filtration system runs more in summer when the pool’s in use and water temperature is high. You’ll also need to monitor calcium hardness and pH levels—Georgia water tends to be hard, which can cause scaling on plaster and tile if not managed.
Every 10-15 years, gunite pools need resurfacing. The plaster interior wears down from chemicals, brushing, and normal use. Resurfacing costs $5,000-$10,000 depending on the finish you choose. Tile and coping last longer but may need occasional repairs. Equipment like pumps, heaters, and automation systems have a lifespan of 8-12 years. These aren’t surprises—they’re normal maintenance costs for any inground pool. We’ll walk you through what to expect during startup so you’re not caught off guard by routine upkeep.
Yes, but Georgia’s red clay requires proper engineering and site prep. Clay soil holds water, shifts with moisture changes, and compacts unevenly—all of which can cause settling and cracking if the pool isn’t built correctly. That’s why we do soil testing before excavation and engineer the pool structure to match your specific ground conditions.
The process involves over-excavating the pool area, compacting the base, and sometimes adding gravel or drainage systems to manage groundwater. We also use heavier steel reinforcement in the gunite shell to resist movement. This isn’t optional—it’s how you build a pool in clay soil that doesn’t develop structural problems within a few years.
Some properties have additional challenges—high water tables, underground springs, or bedrock close to the surface. Soil testing reveals these issues early so we can plan around them. In some cases, we’ll recommend a shallower pool design or additional drainage work. In others, the site is fine as-is and we proceed with standard construction. Either way, you’ll know what you’re dealing with before we start digging, not after.
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