Building an inground gunite swimming pool in Texas requires engineered reinforcement to handle intense soil shear, thermal expansion, and torrential weather.
Phase-by-Phase Gunite Pool Construction Milestones
| Phase | Work Description | Duration | Critical Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Dig & Steel | Excavation, grading, box layout & #4 rebar cage grid | 3 – 6 Days | City steel & bonding inspection |
| Phase 2: Rough Plumbing | Schedule 40 PVC returns, suction mains, spa jets & manifolds | 2 – 3 Days | Plumbing pressure test (35+ PSI) |
| Phase 3: Gunite Shoot | Pneumatic dry-mix concrete application (4,000+ PSI shell) | 1 – 2 Days | Watering cure (2x daily for 14 days) |
| Phase 4: Coping & Tile | Natural travertine or limestone coping + 6" waterline tile | 1 – 2 Weeks | Bonding & level checks |
| Phase 5: Decking & Equipment | Surrounding patio pour, pumps, cartridge filter & salt system | 1 – 2 Weeks | Electric final & bonding grid |
| Phase 6: Plaster & Fill | Pebble / quartz interior finish, acid wash, immediate water fill | 2 – 3 Days | Pool startup & chemical balancing |
Equipment Selection for Texas Summers
Equip pools with variable-speed pumps (Pentair IntelliFlo or Hayward TriStar) for significant energy efficiency, oversized cartridge filters (420 to 520 sq ft) to handle spring pollen and summer dust, and salt-chlorine generators to eliminate harsh chlorine odor and skin irritation.