Guides & Resources

Gunite, explained.

Straight answers on gunite pools and shotcrete from a family crew that has shot shells on the Texas Gulf Coast for over 20 years.

Deciding what to build

Concrete against the alternatives, how long it lasts, and how it holds up to this coast.

Completed gunite pool and spa shell on a waterfront Gulf Coast lot with a canal and homes behind it

July 14, 2026 · 8 min read

Why Gunite Pools Survive Houston Hurricanes, Freezes, and Clay Soil

Expansive clay, the 2021 freeze, and hurricane season all test a pool shell. The failures are almost never the concrete itself. Here is what really goes wrong, and why.

Completed rectangular gunite pool with a tanning ledge beneath an elevated Gulf Coast home

July 14, 2026 · 10 min read

Gunite vs. Shotcrete vs. Fiberglass vs. Vinyl: The Complete Pool Comparison

We build gunite shells, not fiberglass or vinyl, so we can afford to be honest about all three. Here is how the pool types actually compare, and which one fits which buyer.

Crew applying sprayed concrete to a pool and structural project on the Gulf Coast

June 25, 2026 · 6 min read

Gunite vs. Shotcrete: What's the Difference?

People use the words interchangeably, but gunite and shotcrete are placed two different ways. Here is what actually separates them.

Completed gunite pool at a waterfront elevated Gulf Coast home

June 21, 2026 · 6 min read

How Long Does a Gunite Pool Last?

A well-built gunite shell is the longest-lasting pool structure there is. Here is what makes one last decades, and what makes one fail early.

What it costs

What actually drives the price of a shell, and how the yardage underneath the quote is worked out.

Freshly completed freeform gunite pool shell in a fenced suburban backyard, clean finish visible

July 30, 2026 · 7 min read

How Much Gunite Does a Pool Need? How Yardage Is Calculated

Yardage is the number underneath almost every gunite quote. Here is how it is actually worked out, and why two pools with the same footprint can need very different amounts of material.

Freshly shot gunite pool shell with steps and bench in a Houston backyard

June 11, 2026 · 6 min read

How Much Does a Gunite Pool Shell Cost in Houston?

The honest answer is that it depends. Here is what actually drives the price of a gunite pool and shell in the Houston area.

How it is built

The process end to end, the words the trade uses, and the step most often rushed.

Nozzleman spraying gunite from inside an oval pool shell with the rebar cage and wooden forms visible

July 14, 2026 · 7 min read

The Complete Glossary of Gunite and Shotcrete Terms

Bond beam, rebound, cold joint, nozzleman. Every gunite conversation is full of jargon. Here is the plain-English glossary, in one place.

Crew shooting gunite on a large pool and spa shell

June 16, 2026 · 7 min read

The Gunite Pool Construction Process, Step by Step

From steel and plumbing to a cured shell, here is how a gunite pool actually gets built.

Freshly gunited freeform pool interior showing a clean troweled surface

June 6, 2026 · 6 min read

Why Proper Gunite Curing Matters (and Common Mistakes)

Curing is the part nobody sees, and it decides how long your pool lasts. Here is why it matters and where crews get it wrong.

Choosing a crew

Who else shoots gunite in Houston, and what to ask before you hire any of them.

Two workers applying gunite on an L-shaped pool shell with rebar cage and formwork

July 30, 2026 · 8 min read

How to Choose a Gunite Subcontractor in Houston

The shell is the one part of a pool nobody sees again, which is exactly why the crew that shoots it decides how much of your warranty you spend. Here is how builders vet a gunite sub.

Freshly shot gunite pool and spa shell at a waterfront Gulf Coast home

July 13, 2026 · 9 min read

The Best Gunite Companies in Houston: An Honest Comparison

Houston has a handful of serious gunite contractors, and they are not interchangeable. Here is who does what, including us, with every fact checkable.

When something is wrong

Reading a crack, and the one thing not to do while you work out what it is.

Pool renovation in progress showing fresh gunite repair

July 31, 2026 · 8 min read

That Crack in Your Pool: Cosmetic or Structural?

Most cracks people panic about are in the plaster, not the shell. A few are the other thing. Here is how to tell which one you are looking at, and why draining the pool to find out is the worst move available.

Get In Touch

Planning a pool?

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