Gunite Pool Builder in Michigan
Gunite is the pool type that gives you the most freedom to design around the property instead of choosing from a manufactured shell.
It is also the most involved of the three pool types we build.
DRS Pool & Spa builds custom gunite pools in Michigan for homeowners who need more flexibility in shape, size, depth, layout, or integrated features than fiberglass or vinyl construction can provide.
A gunite pool requires more on-site construction, a longer build process, and a larger investment in many cases. The advantage is that the pool can be shaped around the home, the yard, and the way you want to use it.
When Gunite Makes Sense
Gunite is not automatically the best pool simply because it offers the most customization.
It makes sense when you need that flexibility.
01
Custom Shapes
Gunite allows the pool to respond closely to the available space and architecture of the home.
That can include geometric layouts, freeform designs, or more unusual configurations that would be difficult to achieve with a manufactured fiberglass shell.
02
Custom Depths and Dimensions
The pool can be designed around how you plan to use it rather than selecting from predetermined dimensions.
That can be especially useful when swimming, entertaining, deeper water, or site-specific design considerations are priorities.
03
Integrated Features
Gunite works well for projects that include features such as attached inground spas, tanning ledges, custom steps, benches, raised walls, water features, and more complex elevations.
The key is deciding which features genuinely improve the way you will use the pool rather than adding complexity for its own sake.
A More Involved
Construction Process
Gunite construction happens in stages.
Unlike fiberglass, the structural shell is created at the property rather than arriving manufactured.
The process typically includes site layout, excavation, steel reinforcement, plumbing, gunite application, curing, tile and coping, interior finish, decking, equipment, fill, and start-up.
That longer process is part of what creates the design freedom gunite offers.
DRS Pool & Spa also pulls the required permits for the projects we manage, so homeowners are not left to navigate that part of the build alone.
What Gunite Lets You Customize
A gunite pool can be designed around details that are difficult or impossible to alter in a manufactured shell.
From clean geometric lines to softer freeform layouts, the pool can be configured around the available property.
Shape
Depth transitions can be designed according to how you intend to use the water.
Depth
Entry steps, benches, tanning ledges, and other built-in elements can become part of the pool structure.
Steps and Ledges
An attached inground spa can be incorporated into the pool design so the two elements work together as one project.
Attached Spas
Gunite gives homeowners more choice over the visible interior and perimeter finishes than the other construction methods.
Tile, Coping, and Interior Finish
Gunite vs. Vinyl Liner and Fiberglass
Each type of inground pool solves a different set of priorities.
Gunite
Gunite makes sense when customization is the highest priority and you are comfortable with a longer, more involved construction process.
Vinyl Liner
Vinyl liner is often a better fit when you want greater shape flexibility than fiberglass with a lower initial investment than many gunite projects.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass can be a strong fit when installation speed, a smooth surface, and straightforward model selection matter more than fully custom dimensions.
DRS Pool & Spa builds all three, so the goal is not to steer every homeowner toward gunite.
It is to help determine whether the extra flexibility is actually useful for your property and project.
Built Honestly, Without
Inflating the Portfolio
DRS Pool & Spa has been family-owned and based in Oxford, Michigan since 2013.
Gunite is a growing part of what we build.
Rather than claiming a massive gunite portfolio we do not have, we would rather show you the actual process, the crew doing the work, the materials going into the pool, and the projects being built now.
That means understanding the property, defining the design, pulling the permits, following the construction sequence, and keeping the homeowner informed as the pool takes shape.
The finished photo matters.
So does everything underneath it.
What Happens
After the Design
Is Approved?
Once the pool design and scope are finalized, the project moves into permitting and construction.
STEP 1
Permits and Layout
DRS Pool & Spa handles the required permits. The pool is then laid out on the property so placement can be confirmed before excavation begins.
STEP 2
Excavation and Steel
The pool is excavated and the reinforcing steel is installed to create the framework for the structure.
STEP 3
Plumbing and Gunite
Plumbing is installed and gunite is applied to form the pool shell.
STEP 4
Finishes and Surrounding Work
Tile, coping, interior finish, equipment, decking, and other contracted elements bring the pool toward completion.
STEP 5
Fill and Start-Up
The pool is filled and the equipment is started so the system can begin operating as intended.
Gunite Pool FAQs
Is gunite better than fiberglass or vinyl?
Not necessarily. Gunite offers the most design freedom, but fiberglass and vinyl liner pools have advantages in areas such as installation speed, initial investment, and surface characteristics. The right choice depends on your property and priorities.
How long does a gunite pool take to build?
Gunite generally takes longer than fiberglass or vinyl liner construction because the shell and finish are built in multiple stages on-site. The actual schedule depends on permitting, weather, inspections, curing, site conditions, and project complexity.
Can a gunite pool include an attached spa?
Yes. Attached inground spas can be incorporated into gunite pool designs.
Does DRS Pool & Spa handle permits?
Yes. DRS Pool & Spa pulls the required permits for the pool construction projects we manage.
Can gunite pools be resurfaced later?
Yes. The interior finish of a gunite pool eventually requires resurfacing as it ages. DRS Pool & Spa also provides gunite pool repair and resurfacing for qualifying existing pools.
Build Gunite When the Property Calls for It
If your design needs more freedom than a manufactured shell or standard structural system can provide, gunite may be the right path.
DRS Pool & Spa will look at the property, talk through what you want from the pool, and help you understand whether that added customization is worth the longer construction process and investment.
