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The Journal
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Pool building, demystified.

Costs, design ideas, and straight answers for building a custom pool in the Texas Hill Country.

Exposed limestone rock shelf beside a New Braunfels pool excavation — the hidden cost behind vague rock clauses
Buyer's Guide · New

Vague Contract Language: What Other Pool Builders Don't Spell Out

Uncapped rock clauses, hidden fees, and front-loaded payment schedules — what to catch before you sign with a Hill Country pool builder.

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Aerial view of a new custom geometric pool, spa, and covered outdoor pavilion built by J. Oliver Pools in New Braunfels, Texas
Cost Guide · Featured

How Much Does a Custom Pool Cost in New Braunfels, TX? (2026 Guide)

A transparent breakdown of what drives custom gunite pool pricing in the Hill Country — and what a realistic budget looks like in 2026.

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Compact rectangular gunite pool with a raised stacked-stone spa and spillway, stamped concrete deck and turf-joint pavers, built by J. Oliver Pools near New Braunfels, Texas
Small Yards

Small Backyard Pools: Plunge Pools, Spools & Water Features

What fits on a tight lot, why moving water helps a yard feel calm, and the small-space pool trends worth building.

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Old plaster chipped out of a pool interior during a remodel by J. Oliver Pools in New Braunfels, TX
Cost Guide

How Much Does a Pool Remodel Cost in New Braunfels? (2026)

Resurfacing, tile, coping, decking and full remodels, with the 2026 price ranges we actually quote in New Braunfels and San Antonio.

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Infinity edge custom gunite pool overlooking the Texas Hill Country in Vintage Oaks, New Braunfels, built by J. Oliver Pools
Home Value

Do Pools Add Value in New Braunfels, Bulverde & Boerne?

What the national studies actually say, appraised value vs. buyer demand, and which features hold value at resale — city by city.

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PAL WaterSphere bubbler orb churning with water beside a custom pool with iridescent glass tile, built by J. Oliver Pools near New Braunfels, Texas
Water Features

The PAL WaterSphere: A Sphere of Moving Water in Your Pool

An acrylic orb of churning water, lit in color at night — what it takes to plumb one into a Hill Country pool.

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Crew troweling a new interior finish over a gunite pool shell, the same step used in a pool replaster, on a J. Oliver Pools project in the Texas Hill Country
Materials

PebbleTec vs. Plaster: Which Pool Finish Is Worth It?

Durability, look and cost compared — plus how to verify your builder is a registered PebbleTec Elite builder.

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Comparison graphic: a gunite pool shell under construction beside a finished fiberglass pool with a flagstone deck
Materials

Gunite vs. Fiberglass vs. Vinyl: Which Pool Is Right for Texas?

Why gunite dominates custom builds in the Hill Country, and how the three pool types really compare.

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Gunite pool shell mid-construction behind a new Texas home, before tile, coping, and interior plaster go in
Process

How Long Does It Take to Build a Pool? A Week-by-Week Timeline

From permits to plaster, here is what a typical custom build schedule looks like.

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Hill Country pool design concept: vanishing-edge pool with a raised stone spa, spillways, and covered outdoor living overlooking a valley at dusk
Design

7 Custom Pool Design Ideas for Hill Country Backyards

Infinity edges, tanning ledges, grottos and more — design moves that suit Texas lots.

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Saltwater vs. chlorine comparison graphic over a Hill Country pool with stone spillways and a vanishing edge
Maintenance

Saltwater vs. Chlorine Pools: Which Costs Less to Own?

Upfront cost, upkeep, and feel — an honest comparison for new pool owners.

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Infinity-edge gunite pool with sun shelf and spa built by J. Oliver Pools in Boerne, Texas
Local Guide

Pool Building Costs & Terrain, City by City

How terrain, permitting, and HOA review compare across New Braunfels, Boerne, San Antonio and the rest of the Hill Country.

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Custom pool in a Texas Hill Country neighborhood built by J. Oliver Pools
Local Guide

Best Neighborhoods for a Custom Pool

A local’s guide to the communities where a custom pool tends to shine, from gated ranch estates to lakeside lots.

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Custom pool a new pool build by J. Oliver Pools in the Texas Hill Country
Buyer’s Guide

Pool Financing Options in Texas

Loan types, what lenders check, and monthly payment vs. total cost when financing a custom pool.

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Custom pool and outdoor pavilion built by J. Oliver Pools near San Antonio, Texas
Buyer’s Guide

How to Choose a Pool Builder Near Me

The checklist to use before hiring any pool builder, and the red flags that mean you should walk away.

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