Here are the 10 steps in building your gunite pool. Understanding the process will make the process easier (and less stressful for you). Here are the 10 steps a Cincinnati gunite pool contractor will take in building your dream pool!

1. Design Your Pool. Great design is where the process starts. Thinking through how you will use the pool will impact size, shape, and perhaps, most importantly, depth. Placement of the pool in your yard is also a major decision. All these decisions will be made before you make any progress on actually building the pool. There is not a right or wrong answer to design questions. The goal is creating a custom gunite pool that best meets your needs so you are happy with your pool for years to come!
2. Mark Off the Pool Location. Your Cincinnati gunite pool contractor will mark off the area where the pool will be dug. Pay close attention to this phase. It is not expensive to make adjustments at this point. It will be expensive if you choose to “adjust” the location of your gunite pool later in the process.
3. Dig the Pool. The hole dug for your gunite pool will be approximately one foot deeper than the actual pool will be to allow room for the “foundation” of the pool. A lip will also be left around the perimeter of your future pool site to allow adequate room to place forms for the concrete.
4. Install Plumbing, Electric, and Gas. The plumbing will consist of PVC pipe. This will be the basis for water flow to keep your gunite pool clean after construction. It will typically include a drain (or two), as well as the pipes to allow the water to move to and from your filtration system. Any additional water features (like waterfalls or water streams) will also typically be plumbed by a gunite pool contractor or plumber at this time. Electric power will be critical for pool operation and lighting and gas will be utilized to heat the pool, if you plan to heat your gunite pool. Your pool contractor will help you contract for these services. You can also utilize your own service providers for these functions, but coordination with your pool contractor is critical or you’ll lose valuable time in the pool construction process.
5. Install a Rebar Frame. A rebar frame will help ensure that the pool will have the shape you want and that it stays strong over time. A “grid” pattern is the typical pattern for the rebar in gunite pool construction. Local building codes will play a role in the specifics of the configuration of the rebar. Any other custom features, like stairs, ledges, or sitting areas in your pool, will also be framed at this point in the gunite pool construction process. A quality gunite pool contractor will know the local requirements and in many places, like Cincinnati or Dayton, a local building inspector will sign off on the pool construction process at several point along the way.
6. Spray the Gunite. At this point in the process, concrete trucks will arrive on the scene and the gunite (concrete) will be sprayed into the rebar grid with a very powerful sprayer. This process will take many hours, and quality work is important here to make sure you have a sturdy, long-lasting pool. Once applied, the gunite will be sprayed down periodically during the curing process to ensure the strongest possible frame for your gunite pool. When this process is complete, you will see the basic shape of your pool. In most cases, your pool contractor will also pour a concrete pad for your pool filters and equipment at this time.
7. “Finish” the Pool. There are a broad range of finishes for your pool, with a broad range of associated costs. Your gunite pool contractor can talk to you about the advantages for each in Cincinnati, Dayton, or Northern Kentucky. Make sure to spend time online looking at pool images on Google or elsewhere to actually see how the finishes look. Your pool contractor may also have other pools they have built in the Cincinnati or Dayton area so you can actually “see” how the finish looks on a sunny or cloudy day.
8. Install the Edge (Coping) Around the Pool. This edge is decorative but also important in terms of the functionality of your gunite pool. Again, there are a wide range of products and pricing, from limestone to stamped/colored concrete that can be used here. Make sure you think in terms of color coordination between your pool finish and planned coping (pool edge) and deck in making this selection.
9. Fill the Pool. You can use your spigot to fill the pool or have water shipped in to complete this process. The most economical choice can depend on the size or your pool, and the cost of water in your area. In Cincinnati, most gunite pool owners fill their pools with their spigot. Again, consult your gunite pool contractor for direction on this one.
10. Add Any Necessary Chemicals. You’ll want to add the necessary chemicals, depending on the type of system you are installing, from salt, to chlorine, etc. Always safety test the water before swimming in it. A quality gunite pool contractor should manage this process for you and also show you how to test the chemicals yourself on an ongoing basis. You’ll want to purchase both chemicals and test kits to utilize on an ongoing basis.

Building your gunite pool in Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky or anywhere in the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky areas can be a very exciting process. Choosing the right gunite pool contractor can make all the difference.

Call Tri-State Gunite Pools at 513-526-4436 FREE for a free consultation and estimate. We want to be your Cincinnati Gunite Pool contactor!