Inside a Cinco Ranch Gunite Build, Stage by Stage

Published July 1, 2026

People ask why a custom pool takes longer than dropping in a shell, so we pulled the file on a recent gunite build off Cinco Ranch Boulevard and walked it stage by stage. The owners wanted a raised spillover spa, a tanning ledge, and a pebble interior, and watching the project unfold is the clearest way to understand where the weeks go and why each phase matters.

Layout and Excavation

Everything starts with paint on the grass. We staked the shape in the yard, confirmed the setbacks, and only then brought in the excavator. Digging a custom shape near 77494 is not the same as a rectangular hole, so the operator followed the layout closely to protect the tanning ledge and the deep end contour. A clean dig saves time at every stage that follows.

Steel, Plumbing, and the Gunite Shell

Next came the rebar cage, tied by hand to form the skeleton of the shell, followed by the Schedule 40 PVC plumbing runs for the skimmer, main drains, and returns. With steel and plumbing inspected, the gunite crew sprayed the concrete shell in a single long day. That shell then cures, and no amount of pushing shortens concrete cure time. If you are weighing this against a faster option, our fiberglass pool installation page explains the trade-off.

Tile, Coping, and Deck

Once the shell cured, we set the glass waterline tile and the travertine coping that frames the water. The surrounding deck was poured and tied into the NEC 680.26 bonding grid, the copper loop required within three feet of the pool. This is also the stage where the spa’s raised bond beam took shape so it could spill back into the main pool.

Interior Finish and Startup

The pebble aggregate interior went on last, troweled and washed to expose the stone. Pebble is the finish we recommend for a build like this because it holds up 15 to 25 years, far longer than standard plaster. After it cured, we filled the pool, balanced the chemistry, and started the variable-speed equipment. The main drains carry ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7 anti-entrapment covers, and the 48-inch barrier passed inspection the first time.

What It Means for Your Timeline

Each stage in a gunite build has its own cure or inspection window, which is why the honest answer is two to three months, not two weeks. What you get for the wait is a pool shaped exactly to your yard, with features a molded shell cannot match. If that trade sounds right for your backyard, the best next step is a walk-through on site. Read more about the process on our gunite pool construction page, or contact us to get on the schedule.

Thinking about a custom pool for your Katy backyard? Call Cryptidspodcast at (713) 873-0726 for a free on-site design.