A plain-English guide to custom gunite pool pricing — what to expect, what drives the cost, and how to budget your backyard project. From an owner-builder with 22+ years in East Texas.
Call (903) 309-7578The question every homeowner asks first is “what will my pool cost?” — and anyone who gives you a firm number before seeing your yard is guessing. A custom gunite pool is built to your specific lot, so the price depends on size, design, site conditions, and the finishes you choose. What we can do is walk you through the ranges and the real cost drivers so you can budget with confidence.
As a rough starting point, a straightforward custom gunite pool in East Texas generally begins in the mid five figures, with larger pools, elaborate decking, spas, and water features moving the total up from there. The best way to get a real number is a free on-site quote.
Bigger pools use more excavation, steel, gunite, interior finish, and water — so square footage is the single biggest lever on price. Added depth for diving also increases material and labor.
The deck around the pool is often one of the largest line items. Broom-finish concrete is the most budget-friendly; stamped concrete, travertine, flagstone, and large paver patios cost more but transform the space.
Standard white plaster is the baseline. Upgraded aggregate finishes (like exposed-pebble) and full tile interiors last longer and look richer, at a higher cost.
Waterline tile, coping stone, and features like raised bond beams or spillways all add character — and cost. These are where a pool starts to look truly custom.
An attached spa, tanning ledge, bubblers, sheer-descent waterfalls, or a grotto each add to the build. They’re also what make a backyard feel like a resort.
Pumps, filters, heaters, saltwater systems, LED lighting, and smartphone automation vary widely in price. Energy-efficient equipment costs more up front but saves over time.
Access for equipment, slope, soil, tree removal, and retaining walls all affect cost. East Texas clay and sloped or wooded lots sometimes require extra engineering — which is exactly where custom gunite earns its keep.
Fiberglass shells can be cheaper up front, but they come in fixed shapes and sizes and can be difficult to place on sloped or tight lots. A custom gunite pool is built in place to any shape, handles our regional soils, and — critically — can be resurfaced and modernized years down the road instead of ripped out. Over the life of the pool, that flexibility usually makes gunite the better value.
Start with a realistic range for the pool itself, then add for decking, finishes, and features in priority order. Decide which upgrades matter most to you — a spa, a bigger deck, premium finish — and build the budget around those. When you’re ready, we’ll come out, measure, listen, and give you a clear, itemized quote so there are no surprises.
Most custom gunite pools start in the mid five figures for a straightforward build and rise with size, depth, decking, finishes, spas, and water features. The only accurate number comes from an on-site visit and an itemized quote.
Size and depth, decking, interior finish, tile and coping, spas and water features, equipment and automation, and site conditions like access, slope, and soil.
Gunite can cost more up front but builds to any shape, handles East Texas soils and slopes, and can be resurfaced for decades rather than replaced — usually the better long-term value for a true custom pool.
Call or text (903) 309-7578 for a free on-site consultation and an itemized quote with no hidden costs.
Talk to Dustan directly about your East Texas backyard. No pressure, no runaround.
Backyard Luxury Pool Designs · Dustan Bell, Owner · East Texas