Most custom gunite pools take about 8 to 14 weeks of active construction from the first dig to your first swim, with design and permitting adding a few weeks before that. Weather, inspections, and feature complexity all move the number. Here is what each stage actually involves.
Before the dig: design & permitting (2–6 weeks)
Every great pool starts on paper. We finalize your custom 3D design, agree on finishes and features, then handle engineering, permits, and any HOA approvals. This phase varies the most — city and county permitting and HOA review timelines are partly out of any builder's hands, which is why starting early matters.
Week 1–2 — Layout & excavation
We stake out the pool, confirm the design on the ground, and excavate. On Hill Country lots this is where limestone or rock can add time, but it also gives a stable base. By the end of this stage the shape of your pool is literally in the ground.
Week 2–4 — Steel, plumbing & gunite
Crews tie the steel rebar cage, rough in the plumbing and electrical conduit, and then spray the gunite shell. After the shell is sprayed it has to cure for several weeks — this curing window is essential to a durable pool and cannot be rushed.
Week 4–8 — Tile, coping & decking
While the shell cures, the build moves to the finishes that define the look: waterline tile, coping, and your decking — travertine, pavers, or stamped concrete. Any outdoor living elements like an outdoor kitchen, fire features, or a pergola come together in this stretch.
Week 8–12 — Equipment, plaster & startup
The equipment pad — pump, filter, heater, and automation — is set and wired. Then the interior finish (plaster or PebbleTec) goes on, the pool is filled, and we begin the startup and water-balancing process. This is the home stretch before your first swim.
What can change the timeline
- Weather — heavy Texas rain pauses excavation, gunite, and plaster.
- Permits & HOA — approval times vary by city, county, and neighborhood.
- Site conditions — rock, slope, and access can add excavation time.
- Feature complexity — vanishing edges, raised spas, and grottos add stages.
At J. Oliver Pools we keep you informed at every phase, so you always know what is happening this week and what comes next. A realistic schedule set up front — and communicated clearly — is one of the biggest differences between a smooth build and a stressful one.
Ready to start your build?
The sooner we start design and permitting, the sooner you're swimming. Tell us about your project and we'll map out a realistic timeline for your backyard.