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Pool Builders in Gilbert, AZ

Decades of Pool Craft in the Arizona Desert

Custom gunite swimming pool built in Gilbert, AZ

Custom gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-liner pools built to last through Gilbert summers. Seasoned crews, real credentials, and a written plan before the first cut of the excavator.

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  • Experienced local crews
  • Code-compliant barriers and bonding
  • Free design consultations

From the Deck

Field notes and hard-won lessons from decades of building pools under the Arizona sun.

Gunite pool shell being sprayed over rebar in Gilbert, AZ

The Stages of a Gunite Pool Build, Explained

July 1, 2026

People often ask why a custom pool takes longer than dropping in a shell, and the honest answer is that a gunite build is a sequence of separate trades that each need to happen in order. After years of building in the Gilbert heat, we have learned that setting expectations up front makes the whole project smoother. Here is how a gunite pool comes together, stage by stage.

Layout and Excavation

It starts with paint on the dirt. We stake the shape, confirm setbacks and the bonding perimeter, then bring in the excavator to dig to plan depth. Desert caliche can be stubborn, so access and soil conditions off Higley Road often set the pace of this first stage.

Steel and Plumbing

Next comes the rebar cage, tied to the engineered spacing that gives the shell its strength. The rough plumbing goes in at the same time: skimmer, main drain, and return lines that form the circulation loop. Getting the pitch right here is what keeps the water clear later.

The Gunite Shell

Now the shell gets sprayed. A pneumatic crew applies gunite over the steel, and finishers shape the floor, walls, steps, and bond beam. The shell then cures for several days, kept damp so the concrete gains full strength before anything else touches it.

Tile, Coping, and Deck

With the shell cured, we set waterline tile and coping, then form and pour the surrounding deck with slope for drainage. This is also when the shell perimeter is tied into the bonding grid and the gunite pool construction detailing really shows, from clean tile lines to tight coping joints.

Interior Finish and Startup

Finally we trowel the quartz or pebble interior, acid-wash, and fill. Startup balances the chemistry over the first days so the new finish cures evenly. From here the pool is yours. If your older pool needs the same care, our pool remodeling and resurfacing crew handles that too.

Thinking about a custom build or want to walk your yard with a seasoned crew? Contact us or call Hivcorrections at (480) 700-1440 for a free consultation.

Read the full article

Hivcorrections provides pool builders in Gilbert, AZ, building custom gunite pools, fiberglass shells, vinyl-liner pools, attached spas, pool decking, saltwater chlorination systems, and variable-speed equipment for homes across the East Valley. We handle the full build, from layout and excavation through steel, plumbing, the shotcrete shell, waterline tile, coping, interior finish, and startup. Families near Agritopia, Power Ranch, and the newer streets off Germann Road (85296) call us because we do every stage in-house.

Experience is the first thing to look at when you hire a pool builder, and it is where we lead. Our lead crews have shaped gunite shells over rebar cages, set one-piece fiberglass shells on compacted gravel, and troweled pebble interior finishes for years across Maricopa County. That track record shows up in the small things: a bond beam that sits dead level, a skimmer plumbed with the right pitch, and a deck that drains away from the shell every time it rains on Val Vista Drive.

Credentials protect your investment, so we build to the standards that matter. We follow the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) construction practices, the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and NEC Article 680 for the equipotential bonding grid around the water. Every main drain we set carries an ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7 anti-entrapment cover, and every barrier meets the 48 inch minimum height with a self-closing, self-latching gate. A pool built to code near Higley Road is a pool that passes inspection and keeps your family safe.

A new pool reshapes how a Gilbert backyard feels for the next twenty years, and it is one of the upgrades buyers in this market notice first. We think that is worth doing right, so we template the site carefully, size the variable-speed pump to the 2021 Department of Energy rule, and finish every tile line and coping joint so the pool looks like it was always part of the home. One local team stands behind the whole build, and a real person answers when you call about a job off Cooper Road.

  1. Years in the groundOur crews have built gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-liner pools across Gilbert and the wider East Valley, not just sold them.
  2. Built to codePHTA practices, ISPSC barrier rules, and NEC 680 bonding on every job, so your pool passes inspection the first time.
  3. Written plansYou get a clear scope and price in writing before we break ground, with no vague allowances buried in the estimate.
  4. One accountable crewThe same team runs steel, plumbing, shell, and finish, so nothing falls through the cracks between trades.

What Quality Construction Costs

Pool pricing depends mostly on the build type, the size, and the finishes you choose. Vinyl-liner pools carry the lowest first cost, custom gunite runs highest with the most design freedom, and a resurface brings an older shell back to life for far less than a full rebuild. Decking, spas, water features, and premium stone add to the total. The ranges below are typical for the Gilbert area, and we put the firm number in writing after a free design consultation.

Vinyl-liner in-ground pool$35,000 to $65,000 turn-key
  • Lowest first cost
  • Liner replaced every 7 to 12 years
Get a quote
Custom gunite pool$60,000 to $150,000 built to order
  • Any shape, depth, or feature
  • Pebble finish lasts 15 to 25 years
Get a quote
Pool resurface and replaster$6,500 to $15,000 per pool
  • New quartz or pebble interior
  • Fresh tile and drain covers
Get a quote

Our Full Range of Construction Work

One experienced crew for every build type and every stage, from the first shovel to the day you swim.

Custom Gunite Pool Construction

Fully custom in-ground pools with a pneumatically applied gunite shell over a steel rebar cage, shaped for any depth, tanning ledge, or vanishing edge you want.

Fiberglass Pool Installation

Factory-molded one-piece fiberglass shells set on a compacted gravel base, plumbed and backfinished with coping and deck, often swimming in weeks rather than months.

Vinyl-Liner Pool Installation

In-ground vinyl-liner pools on steel or polymer wall panels with a troweled floor and a custom-fit membrane, the lowest first cost of the three build types.

Remodeling and Replastering

Chip-out and refinish of aging pools with new quartz or pebble interior, fresh waterline tile, updated coping, and current anti-entrapment drain covers.

Spa and Hot Tub Integration

Attached raised spas and spillover water features tied into a dedicated heater, blower, and jets, controlled from the same automation panel as the pool.

Equipment and Automation

Variable-speed pumps, cartridge or sand filters, heaters, salt chlorinators, and smart controllers that run pumps, lights, and heat from a phone app.

Questions About Our Expertise

How long has your crew been building pools?
Our lead builders have years of hands-on work across Gilbert and Maricopa County, shaping gunite shells, setting fiberglass, and troweling pebble finishes. Experience is the first thing we point to, because it is what keeps a bond beam level and a skimmer plumbed right.
What is the difference between gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-liner pools?
Gunite is a custom concrete shell sprayed over rebar, so it takes any shape and lasts decades. Fiberglass is a one-piece molded shell that installs fast with a smooth gelcoat. Vinyl-liner uses wall panels and a membrane for the lowest first cost, with the liner replaced every 7 to 12 years.
Do you build to code, and does the pool pass inspection?
Yes. We follow PHTA construction practices, the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and NEC Article 680 bonding. Every main drain gets an ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7 anti-entrapment cover, and we build the barrier and gate to code so the job passes the first inspection near Warner Road or anywhere in town.
How tall does the pool fence have to be in Gilbert?
The barrier has to stand at least 48 inches high with a self-closing, self-latching gate that opens away from the pool, and openings must reject a 4 inch sphere. We handle the fence, gate, and any required alarms as part of the build.
How long does it take to build a pool?
A fiberglass shell can be swimming in a few weeks. A custom gunite build runs longer because of the multi-stage process: excavation, steel, plumbing, shell cure, tile and coping, deck, and interior finish. We give you a stage-by-stage schedule up front.
Do you install variable-speed pumps and saltwater systems?
Yes. Every dedicated-purpose pump we install meets the 2021 Department of Energy efficiency rule, and we set salt chlorine generators inline after the filter for softer water and steadier sanitizer than manual dosing.
Do you serve my area?
We build across Gilbert ZIP codes including 85233, 85234, and 85295, plus Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Tempe, and San Tan Valley. Call (480) 700-1440 if you are just outside and we will confirm.

Where Our Reputation Reaches

Our work and word of mouth carry across Gilbert and the surrounding Maricopa County communities, from the master-planned neighborhoods to the nearby valley towns.

  • Gilbert, AZ (85233, 85234, 85295)
  • Chandler, AZ
  • Mesa, AZ
  • Queen Creek, AZ
  • Scottsdale, AZ
  • Tempe, AZ
  • San Tan Valley, AZ

Not sure if we reach your backyard? Call (480) 700-1440 and we will let you know.

Talk to a Seasoned Pool Builder

Ready to build? We will walk your yard, compare gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl-liner for how you live, and hand you a clear written plan with the barrier, bonding, and equipment spelled out. No pressure, no vague allowances, just an experienced crew that stands behind the whole build from excavation off Lindsay Road to the day you swim.

Call (480) 700-1440