Quick Summary
- Concrete pools are built by spraying gunite or shotcrete over a steel rebar framework, then finishing with plaster, tile, and coping, a process that takes 3–6 months from excavation to swimming
- Concrete cures for 28 days to reach full strength, and new pool owners must brush the surface twice daily for the first 10 days after filling
- Costs typically start around $85,000+ with long-term maintenance adding $20,000 or more over the life of the pool
- The biggest advantage is nearly unlimited customization in shape, size, and design
- Porous plaster surfaces require weekly steel brush scrubbing, more chemicals, and resurfacing every 10–15 years
- Salt water systems can accelerate plaster wear, and the rough surface is harder on skin and swimsuits than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools
A pool is a pool is a pool… right?
Not exactly.
When you start researching inground pools, you quickly realize there’s a pretty big difference between concrete pools, fiberglass pools, and vinyl liner pools. Each comes with its own construction process, maintenance needs, costs, and long-term ownership experience.
At River Pools, we specialize in fiberglass pools, but we also believe homeowners deserve honest information about all pool types so they can make the best decision for their backyard and budget. And for many homeowners, concrete pools are absolutely the right fit.
Let’s start with the basics.
What Is a Concrete Pool?
Even though people often use the words interchangeably, cement and concrete are not actually the same thing. Concrete is made from a mixture of water, cement, sand, and coarse aggregate like gravel or stone.
Concrete pools are typically built using either gunite or shotcrete. Gunite is a dry mix where water is added at the nozzle, while shotcrete is pre-mixed with water before application. When installed correctly, both methods create a strong and durable concrete pool shell.
After the concrete is sprayed on, it needs time to reach its full potential. It doesn’t dry, per se. It hardens and strengthens in a long process called curing. For concrete pools, this takes about 28 days.
The strength of concrete is measured by psi (pounds per square inch), which refers to the amount of pressure the concrete can withstand before crushing. Most concrete pools are built using concrete with a strength of roughly 3,500–4,000 psi.
Concrete is extremely strong under compression, but it has relatively low tensile strength, meaning it can crack when bent or flexed. To help compensate for this, builders reinforce concrete pools with steel rebar. Together, the steel and concrete create a structure capable of withstanding the forces of water, gravity, and surrounding soil.
What Is the Average Cost of Concrete Pools?
Concrete pools typically cost between 85,000-200,000+ depending on your region, backyard conditions, and the level of customization involved.
Long-term maintenance is another important cost consideration. Over the life of the pool, maintenance expenses can add $20,000 or more to the total cost of ownership.
That doesn’t necessarily make concrete pools a bad investment, but it does mean homeowners should understand both the upfront and long-term costs before moving forward.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Concrete Pools?
The pros and cons of concrete pools really come down to one thing: customization versus maintenance.
Concrete pools offer nearly unlimited design flexibility and a timeless look, but maintaining that appearance takes more time, money, and effort than many homeowners expect.
Concrete Pool Pros
Customizable
The primary advantage of concrete is that it’s highly customizable. Concrete pools give you the ability to customize the size, shape, or any other features you may be looking for. It could be in the shape of a car if you want; that would be super expensive but potentially doable. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend it… but hey, you do you.
Durable
Concrete pools are also very durable. Sharp objects, pets, and general wear aren’t likely to damage the shell itself the way they might with a vinyl liner pool.
As a side note, the plaster of the pool (the interior finish) is not as durable as the concrete structure itself and requires refinishing, which makes up part of the lifetime cost.
Attractive Appearance
Concrete pools have a classic, high-end appearance that many homeowners love. If properly maintained, they can look beautiful for decades.
You also don’t have to worry about liner wrinkles or seams, which is one reason some homeowners prefer the look of concrete pools over vinyl liner pools.
Concrete Pool Cons
Long Installation Time
Concrete pools take significantly longer to install than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools. While fiberglass and vinyl liner pools can often be completed in a matter of weeks, concrete pools typically take 3–6 months from excavation to startup.
Remember, the curing process alone takes almost a month, and a lot more goes into the construction process than just that. And if weather delays or scheduling issues arise, the process can stretch even longer.
Rough Surface
The interior of a concrete pool is durable, but it's rough on feet, hands, elbows, and swimsuits. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about that texture, even with refinishing the plaster regularly.
High Maintenance
Concrete pools require more hands-on maintenance than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools.
Because concrete is porous, algae can attach and grow more easily on the surface. Once algae embeds itself into the plaster, it can be difficult to remove. That’s why concrete pool owners often need to brush the pool walls regularly, sometimes as often as once a week with a steel brush.
Concrete pools also require more chemical use. Since concrete is alkaline-based, it naturally raises the pH of the pool water over time, which means homeowners usually need to test and adjust the water more frequently.
For some homeowners, this maintenance routine isn’t a big deal. Others eventually hire a professional pool service company to handle the upkeep, which can save time but adds to the overall cost of ownership.
Higher Long-Term Costs
Concrete pools are typically the most expensive inground pools to maintain over time.
Because of the porous surface, concrete pools often require:
- more chemicals
- longer filtration times
- more electricity
- occasional acid washing
Most concrete pools also need resurfacing every 10–15 years, especially if the pool uses a salt water system, which can wear down plaster finishes more quickly over time.
When you combine resurfacing, chemicals, electricity, acid washing (every 3-5 years), and routine maintenance, the long-term ownership costs of concrete pools can add up significantly compared to fiberglass or vinyl liner pools.
How are concrete pools made?
As mentioned previously, concrete pools generally take 3-6 months to build. While every project is different, here's a simplified overview of how the concrete pool construction process works.
1. Excavation
Builders excavate the pool area and either remove the soil or redistribute it elsewhere on the property.
This can take several hours to two days.
2. Steel Placement
The builders tie together a cage of steel bars, called rebar, and eventually encase it in the concrete shell.
This creates a web of strength and helps prevent structural failure. Remember that adding steel to concrete structures, such as swimming pools, increases the structure's ability to flex and move with its environment.
This stage takes 1-2 days.
3. Plumbing Installation
Before placing the concrete shell, the builders install the pipe needed to circulate the pool water. They installed much of this plumbing before the steel phase; however, some plumbing is supported by the steel and therefore installed after.
The builders should cap and pressure test this plumbing during the placement of the concrete shell. Typically, a plumbing and steel inspection is required at this point before the placement of the concrete pool shell.
This will take 1-2 days.
4. Concrete Shell Placement
The builders shoot concrete (either gunite or shotcrete) into place with a nozzle, then shape it using straight edges and flat, round-edged trowels.
In 1-2 days, you’ll be able to see the shape of the pool come together.
5. 28-Day Cure Time
After placement, the concrete must cure properly to gain strength.
Curing is the process in which specific molecules within cement become hydrated with water. The more hydrated or cured concrete is, the stronger it becomes.
It takes concrete 28 days to achieve a relatively full cure.
6. Waterproofing
The builders may waterproof the pool shell. They smooth any rough areas of the shell, thoroughly clean the surface, and spray or roll on the waterproofing material. This helps protect the structure and prepare the surface for finishing.
This takes 1-3 days.
7. Tile and Coping
Tile is typically installed around the waterline to help protect against staining.
Coping is the concrete or stone border placed around the perimeter of the pool and provides the transition from the pool to the patio.
This phase can take anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks.
8. Patio Installation
The builders prepare the base beneath the patio area by placing and compacting stone, and they install the patio over the course of 1-2 weeks.
9. Plaster
In the final construction phase, the builders apply the interior surface of the concrete pool.
This is typically plaster, which is a mixture of cement, sand, marble dust, pigment, and water. The builders pump it through a hose, shoot it onto the pool shell, and trowel it to a flat finish.
This process is often completed within a day.
10. Concrete Pool Start-Up
The builders—or, more often, you—check and balance the water chemistry daily. You must also brush the pool twice per day for at least the first 10 days after filling to remove plaster dust from the surface. You should not start up pool heaters until you’ve removed all plaster dust. You shouldn’t introduce chlorine for at least 48 hours.
The pool start-up will take 10 days.
Final Thoughts on Concrete Pools
Concrete pools have been a popular inground pool option for decades, and it’s easy to see why. They offer nearly unlimited customization, a classic high-end appearance, and the ability to create a truly one-of-a-kind backyard design.
But they’re also one of the most labor-intensive pool types to build, with a construction process that takes several months from start to finish.
For many families, concrete pools are the perfect fit. By understanding how they’re made and what ownership may realistically look like over time, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what comes with owning a concrete pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are concrete pools made?
Concrete pools are typically built using either gunite or shotcrete. Builders excavate the pool area, install a steel rebar framework, add plumbing, and then spray the concrete shell into place. After the shell cures for about 28 days, the pool is finished with plaster, tile, coping, and startup procedures.
How long does it take to build a concrete pool?
Most concrete pools take about 3–6 months to complete from excavation to startup. Weather delays, permitting, customization, and the concrete curing process can all affect the timeline.
What are the pros and cons of concrete pools?
Concrete pools are known for their customization, durability, and classic appearance. However, they also typically require longer installation times, more maintenance, resurfacing over time, and more hands-on upkeep than fiberglass or vinyl liner pools.
Why do concrete pools require more maintenance?
Concrete pools require more maintenance because their porous plaster surfaces can harbor algae and affect water chemistry. This often leads to more brushing, more chemicals, longer filtration times, resurfacing, and higher overall maintenance costs over time.
From the Author
Concrete pools have been around for decades, but for many homeowners, the construction process and long-term ownership experience can still feel a little mysterious at first.
I’m Cristian Shirilla, Marketing Manager at River Pools and co-owner of a fiberglass pool installation company in Virginia. Over the years, I’ve helped create educational content for thousands of homeowners comparing different types of inground pools and trying to better understand the pros, cons, and realities of pool ownership.
I wrote this article to give you a straightforward overview of how concrete pools are made along with some of the biggest advantages and tradeoffs that come with them so you can better understand what sets concrete pools apart from other inground pool options.
From the Manufacturer
At River Pools, we know that researching inground pools can quickly become overwhelming, especially when you start comparing construction methods, maintenance needs, and long-term ownership differences between pool types.
If you’re researching concrete pools but wondering whether a lower-maintenance option might better fit what you’re looking for, speaking with a trusted independent fiberglass pool installer can help you explore additional options, compare pool types, and better understand what ownership may look like over time.
Ready to start the conversation?
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