Custom Gunite Pool Construction in North Texas
Bluefin Pools has built over 400 custom swimming pools across Texas and California. Every pool we build is a custom gunite or shotcrete structure. We don't do fiberglass shells or vinyl liners. Our team manages each project from the first phone call through fill-up, and every phase of construction is handled in-house. No handoffs to subcontractors, and you'll work directly with the people actually building your pool.
Based in Highland Village, we design and build custom pools for homeowners across North Texas, including Flower Mound, Argyle, Double Oak, Lewisville, Denton, Roanoke, McKinney, and Rockwall.
How We Build Your Pool: Our Construction Process
1. In-Home Consultation
Your project starts with a phone call. We'll schedule a visit to your home to walk your backyard, talk about what you want in a pool, go over features and budget, and figure out whether a spa makes sense for your space. This is a free, no-obligation conversation. We want to understand your property and your goals before we design anything.
2. 3D Pool Design
After the consultation, we design your pool using Structure Studios Pool Studio, an industry-leading 3D design platform. You'll see a realistic rendering of your pool from every angle, including how it sits in your actual backyard. We'll make as many revisions as it takes to get it right. There's no cap on changes. Once you approve the design, we provide detailed pricing and finalize the contract.
3. Permitting and Engineering
Bluefin Pools handles all engineering, city permitting, and HOA coordination. Every municipality in our service area has different permit requirements and inspection schedules. Highland Village, Flower Mound, Argyle, Lewisville, Denton, and the surrounding cities all have their own processes, and we manage all of it so you don't have to.
4. Excavation and Grading
Once permits are approved, we schedule excavation. Our crew digs the pool shell and grades the surrounding yard to establish proper drainage. This is one of the two major milestones in the build.
5. Steel (Rebar) Installation
After excavation, we install the rebar framework that gives your pool its structural integrity. The steel is tied and shaped to match the exact contours of your approved design, then inspected before we move on.
6. Plumbing and Equipment
With the rebar in place, we run all plumbing lines and install pool equipment. We're a Hayward Preferred Builder and also spec Jandy equipment. That includes variable-speed pumps, automation systems, salt chlorine generators, and multicolor LED lighting.
7. Gunite or Shotcrete Shell
This is the second major milestone. We apply gunite or shotcrete (both are pneumatically applied concrete, and functionally identical) to build the structural shell of your pool. This is what separates a custom in-ground pool from a prefab fiberglass shell. Your pool is built on-site, to your exact design, with no limitations on shape, size, or features.
8. Tile, Coping, and Decking
After the shell cures, we install waterline tile, coping (the finished edge around the pool), and your concrete or stone decking. Bluefin builds everything around the pool as well. We handle the complete backyard build, including decking, coping, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, and fencing.
9. Plaster and Fill
The final step is applying a pebble finish or standard plaster to the pool interior, then filling the pool with water. We balance the chemistry, commission all equipment, and schedule your Pool School orientation where we walk you through everything you need to know about running and maintaining your new pool.
What Does a Custom Pool Cost in North Texas?
The average cost for a custom pool and spa (pool and spa only, before additional features) is $75,000 to $90,000. When you add decking, outdoor living features, and other site work, a complete backyard build typically comes in around $150,000. Every project is different. Lot size, soil conditions, access, design complexity, and feature selection all factor into the final number.
We provide detailed pricing after the 3D design consultation so you know exactly what you're getting before you sign anything. We also work with Viking Capital and HFS Financial for pool financing.
Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Build a Pool?
A typical build takes about two months from permit to completion. Depending on weather, scope of work, and feature complexity, some projects run three to four months. North Texas weather, especially spring rain and summer heat, can shift the schedule. We'll give you a realistic timeline during the design consultation, not an optimistic guess.
Pool Types and Popular Features
Bluefin Pools builds every style of custom in-ground pool. That includes geometric pools, freeform designs, infinity edge (vanishing edge) pools, spools for smaller lots, and standalone spas. Every pool is custom designed and built to fit your backyard and how you plan to use it.
The features we're building most right now are baja shelves (tanning ledges), waterfall features, pool automation systems, and multicolor LED lighting. We also build fire bowls, water slides, grottos, beach entries, and outdoor kitchens as part of complete backyard projects.
Why Gunite Instead of Fiberglass?
We exclusively build gunite and shotcrete pools. A gunite pool is built on your property to your exact design, with no restrictions on shape, size, depth, or features. A fiberglass pool is a prefabricated shell that gets manufactured off-site and dropped into a hole. You're stuck with whatever shapes and sizes that manufacturer offers. If you want a pool that's actually designed around your backyard and how your family uses it, gunite is the way to go.
About Bluefin Pools
Bluefin Pools, Inc. is an owner-operated, insured pool construction company based in Highland Village, TX. We've built over 400 pools in Texas and California. We are a Hayward Preferred Builder and a fully insured Texas corporation.
Most of our customers are families building their first pool or upgrading their backyard. We do plenty of high-end luxury builds as well. Regardless of the scale, every pool gets the same level of attention. We offer competitive pricing but never cut corners on materials or workmanship. We're not the most expensive and definitely not the cheapest.
We've done a lot of work in Flower Mound and Highland Village specifically, and serve homeowners across Argyle, Double Oak, Lewisville, Denton, Roanoke, McKinney, and Rockwall.
Get Started With a Free In-Home Consultation
Ready to start your pool project? Call us at (972) 800-1981 or submit our estimate form to schedule a free in-home consultation. We'll walk your backyard, talk through what you're looking for, and get started on the 3D design.