The Pool Builder's Craft: Concrete, Steel, and Any Shape You Can Dream Up
Gunite is how you get a pool that exists nowhere else on earth. Unlike a fiberglass shell that arrives on a truck in a fixed shape, a gunite pool is built by hand inside the hole in your yard — a cage of steel rebar bent to your exact design, then coated in sprayed concrete that hardens into a single solid structure. If you want a freeform lagoon with a grotto, a razor-straight modern rectangle with a slot edge, or a kidney shape that wraps around your oak tree, gunite is the way it gets built. It is the most flexible — and the most crafted — way to build an inground pool.
How a Gunite Pool Gets Built: The Rebar and Shotcrete Process
The word "gunite" describes the application method: dry concrete mix is blown through a hose and mixed with water at the nozzle, then sprayed at high velocity onto the steel framework. The impact compacts the concrete as it lands, which is what gives gunite its strength. Here is the sequence a crew follows in your yard.
The steel cage
First, ironworkers tie a grid of steel rebar — typically half-inch bars spaced about 8 to 10 inches apart — following the pool's floor, walls, steps, benches, and any raised features. The rebar is the pool's skeleton. It is what lets the shell flex slightly with ground movement instead of cracking. Every bar is wired to the next so the whole cage acts as one piece of steel.
Plumbing before concrete
With the steel in place, the plumber runs PVC lines through the cage: skimmer lines, return lines, main drains, and dedicated lines for water features or an attached spa. These pipes get buried in the concrete permanently, so placement has to be exact. The county inspects the steel and plumbing together before a single ounce of gunite is sprayed — this inspection is the quality checkpoint of the whole build.
Shoot day
On shoot day, a crew sprays the gunite in layers, building the walls and floor to the engineered thickness — usually 8 to 12 inches on the walls. A skilled nozzleman shapes benches, steps, and curves by eye as he sprays, which is why gunite rewards experienced crews. The concrete starts setting within hours and reaches working strength in about a week, though full cure continues for roughly 28 days.
Interior finish
The gunite shell is structural, not pretty — so it gets a waterproof interior finish. Classic white plaster is the standard and the smoothest-feeling option. Pebble finishes (small polished stones set in cement) cost more but last longer and give the water a richer color. Tile is the premium choice for the waterline and can cover the whole interior on high-end builds. The finish goes on after the deck and coping are set, then the pool fills.
Why Homeowners Choose Gunite
- Total design freedom. Any shape, any depth profile, any combination of features — beach entries, swim-up bars, sunken seating areas, raised spas that spill over. If you can draw it, it can be shot in concrete.
- Longest lifespan. A gunite shell routinely lasts 30 to 50 years or more. Interior finishes get resurfaced every 10 to 20 years, but the structure itself is essentially permanent.
- Handles Florida's conditions. The steel-and-concrete structure stands up to Central Florida's sandy soil and high water table when it is engineered for them, and the mass of the shell resists the ground movement that lighter structures feel.
- Easiest to renovate later. Because the shell is custom, it is also the easiest type to remodel — new tile, new plaster, added features — without tearing anything out.
The Honest Trade-Offs
Gunite takes the longest to build — plan on 10 to 16 weeks of construction after permits, versus weeks for fiberglass. It is also the most expensive of the three pool types, because so much of the work is skilled hand labor in your yard. And the rougher interior finishes (pebble, exposed aggregate) can be tougher on bare feet than a fiberglass surface, though plaster is smooth. For a full comparison, see our gunite vs fiberglass vs vinyl guide.
Gunite and the Orlando Build Environment
Gunite pairs well with Central Florida's ground. The sprayed shell bonds into one monolithic piece, which handles sandy soil's tendency to shift better than a rigid pre-made shell. In neighborhoods with a high water table, the engineering accounts for hydrostatic pressure — the upward push of groundwater on an empty pool — with a thicker floor and, on some lots, a hydrostatic relief valve in the deep end. These are standard details for local crews, not special requests.
Cost Expectations
Custom gunite pools in the Orlando area are the premium inground option. Broadly, expect starting ranges in the upper five figures for a straightforward build, climbing well into six figures for larger pools with spas, water features, and high-end finishes. Every yard is different — access, soil, and your feature list move the number more than any online average can capture. The written quote from your design visit is the real number.
Gunite Finishes: Plaster, Pebble, and Tile
The interior finish is the surface you touch every day, so it deserves its own decision. Standard white plaster is the classic — smooth, bright, and the most affordable. It typically lasts 10 to 15 years before it needs resurfacing. Pebble finishes embed small polished stones in the plaster; they cost more but last 15 to 20+ years, resist staining better, and give the water a rich, natural color that plaster cannot match. Exposed aggregate (often sold under brand names) sits between the two in texture and price. Full tile interiors are the luxury option — stunning, extremely long-lasting, and priced accordingly. For most Orlando families, the real choice is plaster versus pebble: plaster for budget and silkiness, pebble for longevity and that lagoon-blue water color everyone photographs.
Start With the Design
Gunite rewards good design more than any other pool type, because the shape is permanent. Our custom pool design process includes 3D renderings so you can see your one-of-a-kind pool in your yard before construction starts. Fill out the form on our contact page to schedule your free design consultation.