About $90,000 to $140,000: That’s how much you can expect to spend on a quality in-ground gunite swimming pool, depending on the number of features included and the size of your pool. If you’ve been considering building a custom concrete or gunite pool in your backyard, you’ll want to understand the cost of gunite pools to make a more informed purchasing decision.
With plenty of decisions to make, such as water features, tiling and coping, and more, understanding the final cost can sometimes be a challenge. Not to worry, though. We’ve got your back.
Legacy Pools here. Over the last 9+ years, our team has designed, built, and priced gunite pools throughout the Lowcountry.
If you’re looking for the bottom-line cost of gunite pools, you’ve come to the right place. In this brief article, we’ll break down the cost of gunite pools to help you understand what your money can buy you, including:
- What’s the average cost of a gunite pool?
- What makes gunite pools more expensive?
- Factors that influence the cost of gunite pools
- The cost of water features and pool features in a gunite pool
- How the cost of gunite pools compares to fiberglass pools and vinyl liner pools
- Surprise, hidden costs that can affect the total dollar amount of a gunite pool
- How to save money on your gunite pool
- Why should you work with a professional pool contractor for your next backyard pool project
What’s the average cost of a gunite pool?
The average cost of a gunite pool is about $60,000 to $180,000, depending on the pool type, size, shape, and added water features. Most projects tend to weigh in at about $90,000 to $140,000, depending on the location, soil conditions, and local permit requirements.
The cost may vary with the size of the pool, the accessibility to the site, the design features, soil conditions, and permit requirements. What’s more, cocktail pools or smaller in-ground pools tend to cost about $30,000 to $65,000.
As a general rule of thumb, expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $300 per square foot, depending on the scope of the project. While this is a pretty large spread, we’ll walk you through what’s included in said cost in the next sections.
What factors make gunite pools more costly?
You might be staring at the prices in the section above with wide eyes, wondering, “Why does the cost of a gunite pool include such a wide range?”
We like to answer this question by starting with how a gunite pool is built. It’s built using a dry concrete mix sprayed over a steel rebar frame with pressurized air.
This technique helps create a durable pool structure that’s long-lasting and incredibly strong. This gunite pool also gives you full freedom in shaping your pool, whereas fiberglass pools or vinyl pools come in pre-fabricated molds.
With gunite pools, you can add fire features and feature walls, sun shelves and tanning ledges, and even pool waterfalls, among other outsized and awesome features. Though you may pay more upfront, concrete pools are some of the longest-lasting pools, lasting up to 50 years in some cases.
As a result, you may be paying more for your pool, but you also get more.
5 Major factors that influence the cost of gunite pools
So, which factors influence the cost of gunite pools most?
- The size and shape of the pool: The more square feet, the higher the price of the pool. To add, larger pools require more materials, labor, and longer curing processes. What’s more, curved or geometric designs tend to cost more than rectangular or circular pools.
- Excavation and site preparation: The cost to prepare a backyard can also affect the final dollar amount. Creating retaining walls, grading, or removing ledges can cost upwards of $200 per cubic yard, depending on the soil and extent of the dig. If trees need to be removed, the cost of the pool installation can also rise.
- Labor costs: Since labor tends to make up a solid chunk of the total cost, budgeting for specialized electrical, plumbing, tile-setting, and gunite work is key.
- Materials: For a mid-sized pool, for example, materials like pumps, filters, and interior finishes can account for upwards of $60,000. The more you move into specialized pool automation and upgrades, the higher the cost.
- Permits and inspections: Municipal permits and inspections are an important element of finalizing a pool build. Expect to pay upwards of $450 to cover building permits, final inspections, and additional approvals for water features and pool features.
Speaking of water features, let’s look at some of the most relevant water features that add to the total cost of a gunite pool.
Water features and pool features that affect gunite pool costs
Many homeowners in the Grand Strand and the Midlands often opt for extra design features that help complete their backyard pool. Below, we’ve included price ranges for some of the most common pool features installed on a gunite pool:
- Pool waterfalls: Anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000+
- In-pool LED pool lighting: $200 to $2,000+
- Pool heaters: $1,700 to $6,500+
- Concrete or paver pool decking: $3,000 to $12,000+
- Infinity-edge pools: $15,000 to $30,000+
- Automatic pool covers: $8,000 to $20,000+
- Tile and coping upgrades, fire features, benches, and sunshelves: Depends on the level of customization
We always recommend homeowners do their research before opting for additional features. Choose only the features you think you’ll use often, as you’ll want to budget for the cost of maintenance on said features.
Gunite pool costs versus fiberglass pool costs versus vinyl liner pool costs
I have a pretty good idea of how much pool features cost in a gunite pool, but how do gunite pools compare to other pools? You might be wondering.
The answer depends on the size, depth, and complexity of the build. In general, though, here’s what you can expect with gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl liner pools:
- Gunite: The longest-lasting pools on the market, these pools are fully customizable. With that being said, maintenance tends to cost more, and you’ll pay a higher upfront cost for a gunite pool.
- Fiberglass pools: They tend to install faster, and homeowners often say the surface of the pool is quite smooth. They require lower pool maintenance but are also less customizable and come in prefabricated molds.
- Vinyl liner pools: Though vinyl liner pools are the most affordable upfront, the liners in the pool need to be replaced about every 10 years, which adds to their lifetime cost.
The most durable, customizable, and longest-lasting pool is a concrete pool. Given its longevity and customizability, gunite pool construction tends to offer the best bang for your buck long-term.
Not-so-surprising, long-term gunite pool costs
Just as a car needs regular maintenance and repairs, gunite pools are no exception. As such, some of the not-so-surprising, regular costs that are associated with gunite pools include:
- Annual maintenance: Expect to pay about $2,700 to $4,000+ a year on pool cleaning, chemical balancing, equipment repairs, and electrical work.
- Pool resurfacing: Though concrete tends to cure over time, you’ll still need to resurface your gunite pool every eight to 15 years, depending on the size and finish of the pool. Pool resurfacing tends to cost anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000+.
- Pool repairs: Cracks in the surface of the pool that need repairs (cost about $75 per linear foot), equipment needing replacement (such as pumps and filters, which can cost between $3,000 and $8,000+), and acid washing (about $250 to $1,000+) are all common pool repairs that must be completed every few years.
Hidden surprise costs of backyard gunite pools
Sometimes, the most surprising costs with gunite swimming pool construction include:
- Pool fencing: Often required by local municipal laws, fencing can cost $2,000 to $13,500+
- Backyard landscaping: $1,300 to $6,000+
- Utility upgrades: $1,000 to $5,000+
- Gaining accessibility to tight backyard spaces: Crane rentals and the labor needed to operate them can often increase the cost of the build.
With your pool builder, you always want to make sure you’re receiving a detailed estimate so you know what’s included before you sign contracts. That’s how we operate.
We always provide our clients with the details of their pool build in writing before any digging or excavation begins. It’s one of the ways we like to help you save money, time, and stress on your new swimming pool.
Ways to save money on your gunite pool
No article on gunite pool costs would be complete without a section that discusses a handful of ways you can help lower costs without sacrificing quality, time, or value.
A handful of smart ways to save money on a gunite pool include:
- Starting pool construction during the off-season: Fall and winter tend to be slower times for pool companies, making this time ideal for your new pool installation. As such, labor and material costs tend to be lower during the cooler seasons of the year.
- Build small, with plans for upgrades later: If you’re building on a budget, consider opting for more compact pool designs. You’ll still enjoy a beautiful new pool, but have the option to add features like sun shelves, spas, or extra tiling at a later date.
- Choose a rectangular design: Standard rectangular pool shapes tend to cost less than curved or custom-shaped pools. Consider pool shapes that aren’t huge on angles or curves, or that don’t require extra labor and resources.
- Build pool lighting or automation systems as part of initial construction: Installing pool lighting and automation tends to be more affordable during initial construction, as retrofitting pool lights and automation systems post-pool-installation can be more costly.
- Consider standard finishes now, and upgrade to luxury finishes later: If you’re looking to install and save money without sacrificing premium quality, consider installing your pool with basic plaster finishes. If you’re looking to save money upfront, installing pebble, quartz, and glass tile finishes, for example, can wait until your next pool maintenance cycle.
- Shop around: Getting multiple quotes and estimates is key to ensuring the right fit for your pool build. Get at least three quotes from three separate pool contractors, and ask them to show you their past work. By doing your research, you’ll feel more confident about your investment, knowing you vetted your pool professional according to their experience and reputation.
A professional pool contractor will walk you through your options to ensure you’re getting the most out of your pool installation. In other words, the right pool builder will work with you to achieve your dream pool without affecting timelines, quality, safety, budgets, or the functionality of your new gunite pool.
Why work with a professional pool contractor for your backyard pool?
Because planning a swimming pool can be stressful. Because planning a swimming pool requires a million different moving pieces. Because planning a swimming pool is tough.
However, just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it needs to be. That’s where a luxury pool builder can help.
A professional luxury pool builder can take the guesswork out of building a beautiful in-ground swimming pool, simply by helping you design and build a custom pool every step of the way.
- Permits
- Design
- Excavation
- Construction
- Final finishes
- Pool maintenance
A professional pool builder can handle all of these aspects. That’s what we believe.
With our Legacy Pool pool contractors in Myrtle Beach and Columbia, you’ll receive full design-build service with custom 3D plans, guidance on the permit process, and thoughtful & luxurious pool options for features like spas, sun shelves, lighting, and more.
Having built more than 1,500 custom pools in the South Carolina region in the last nine years alone, our team can handle it all. From pool construction to pool remodels, we provide clear plans and timelines and handle all the stress so you don’t have to.
Whether you’re opting for a small cocktail pool or a pool fit for royalty, we invite you to schedule a consultation and discover what your backyard space can look like. To inquire about a custom gunite pool for your backyard, please contact us today.
Quick gunite pool fact: did you know?
Did you know that one of the best ways to increase the value of your pool is with water features? They add movement to the pool, create the relaxing sound of running water, and can completely change the feel of a backyard.
🔁Curious to see the synergy created with pool features? Check out exquisite water features on our Instagram page. 👈🏼
Frequently asked questions about the cost of backyard gunite pools
1. What’s the biggest factor that affects gunite pool installation costs?
The largest factor that affects the cost of a gunite pool is the scope of the pool project, specifically the cost to excavate the area, set the equipment, complete interior finishes, and set up decking, drainage, and grading.
2. What’s the average life of a gunite pool?
The average life of a gunite pool is about 30 to 50 years when well maintained throughout its lifetime.
3. Which is cheaper, gunite or fiberglass pools?
Fiberglass pools tend to cost less than gunite pools over their lifetime, and they often require a lower upfront investment. With that being said, gunite pools last longer and are fully customizable, making them a worthwhile long-term investment.
☀️Legacy Pools: Transformative Pools Built for Luxury Outdoor Living💧