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Why Buy or Build From Us?

Welcome to Emerald Swimming Pools. We are your number one swimming pool installer resource for custom built swimming pools & spas in the North West since 1955. We specialize in the high quality construction of commercial and private custom in-ground swimming pools and spas. Before getting started on your new pool or spa design, it is helpful to answer a few questions. Questions regarding design, style, family’s lifestyle, activity preferences, and any challenging characteristics of your property or your home should be considered. The answers to these questions can help clarify your needs and make choosing shapes, sizes, and features easier!

Emerald Pools – Commitment & Beauty

Our project manager will walk you through the materials selection process and our friendly staff will teach you how to run your equipment and maintain your pool after construction. We believe that communication is the key to a successful relationship. You can expect to know the detail in the construction time lines. You have the ability to reach your project manager any time with your questions or concerns.

Our swimming pool installers have the passion to build beautiful, functional pools and spas only rivals our commitment to your complete satisfaction. Call us today to stop dreaming and start swimming! Here is a link to our pool gallery.

How Much Does It Cost?

swimming pool installerUnlike a factory-manufactured, a concrete gunite pool is a multiphase construction project with many variables—ranging from a backyard’s shape and elevation to equipment options. As a result, our team at Emerald Pool & Patio ask that we do a thorough evaluation process either in store or at your place of residence.

Asking “how much does an inground gunite pool or spa cost?” is like asking “how much does it cost to build a new home?” Before offering an estimate, it is critical for our pool and spa builders to understand all of the features and elements you want for your pool/spa and to account for all of the variables involved in construction. Giving “guesstimates” to customers would be a disservice; Emerald Pool and Patio believe in providing pricing information that leaves no room for surprises!

Let’s learn a bit more about why we choose to only build with Gunite Pools, and what is the process to get build them out.

New Builds

Before we get into the complexities of a custom-built gunite pool, let’s learn a little about why gunite pools are your best bang for your buck!

What Is a Gunite Swimming Pool?

As you research information on a potential new backyard swimming pool, you will often read or hear the term “gunite.” What exactly is gunite? and What makes it so popular in the pool building market?

Gunite is a dry mix—with water added to it with a hose at the job site; vs shotcrete is a “wet mix” that’s blended up beforehand.

A Gunite in-ground swimming pool utilizes a rebar framework which is sprayed over with a mixture of sand and cement under very high pressure. This high-pressure spray packs the mixture so you end up with more concrete material per cubic yard. This method is preferred above the alternative of pouring concrete which needs an entire wooden framework which holds the overall shape of the basin.

Gunite is made to be durable and robust, which is why Emerald Pool and Patio only uses Gunite, for custom built swimming pools made to last.

What’s most important to understand here is that both gunite and shotcrete are a form of concrete. Between the two, the term gunite is more widely used in reference to swimming pools. However, it’s worth nothing that gunite is actually a type of shotcrete.

Gunite’s proven track record spans decades and all parts of the country (and globe). The key to its performance lies in its tensile strength—its ability to endure external force over time.

Along with boasting an extremely high tensile fortitude, gunite brings something else to the table: flexibility. That’s right, being flexible makes gunite perform even better in a swimming pool.

The reason comes down to dirt—that is, shifting ground. Never entirely static, soil under and around a pool moves in place. It contracts and expands from factors like compaction, water intrusion, freezing and thawing, and dry conditions like drought. And of course, soil changes occur from earthquakes—even tiny ones we do not realize ever happened.

The lesson here is that a pool shell needs to “give” and be able to “go with the flow.” The structure—as tough and solid as it is—must have a dual personality so it can move and expand—and do it all without cracking!

Besides that, the gunite shell can handle the pressure that most any backyard can dish out.

This is hugely important for commercial pools. There’s a reason it’s rare to see any pool besides gunite at a hotel or resort. Businesses that own and maintain these properties know what works best and provides the most value. They need facilities that can be used by scores of guests and still hold up their appearance, safety, and durability.

Pool Added Features

In terms of additional features, there are many additions you can opt for when choosing Gunite as your type of swimming pool. These include:

  • Waterfalls
  • Full length entry steps
  • Baja entry (lounging ledge)
  • Entry step square or rounded
  • Shapes of pool (Square, Kidney Bean, FreeForm)
  • Diving boards
  • Swimout benches
  • Automatic safety covers

Whatever your backtyard style or budget, with a Gunite installation, you can extend the design of your existing space.

It is always best to consult with a Gunite pool expert to find the cost and see which features fit your backyard the best!

How Is a Gunite Swimming Pool Built?

After a hole is excavated for a new pool, crews install a network of steel bars, known as rebar. Carefully placed at specific intervals, these metal rods form a cage-like frame that extends throughout the entire stretch of the future pool, as well as the spa if there is one. Extra steel goes into areas requiring especially high levels of reinforcement, such as a deep end or free-standing raised wall.

How Long Does a Gunite Pool Take to Build?

The process of constructing a Gunite swimming pool includes the excavation, installation of rebar and plumbing, installation of the gunite, installing the tile and coping, installation of a concrete deck or pavers, installing the filter equipment and control system and finally the interior finish.

A Gunite swimming pool can take between 2 to 3 months for completion. Because each project has custom features, the timeframes can vary.

Pool Renovations

There will come a time when every pool will need a bit of a makeover, and the pool renovation and remodeling experts at Emerald Swimming Pools are here to help. Whether you are looking to modernize your poolscape, enhance its safety or want to add new and exciting features, we will transform your existing pool into one which meets your lifestyle and budget.

Before
After

Revitalize Your Poolscape

During your initial consultation with us, our experts will then explain the process of how we can transform your poolscape, such as adding energy-efficient equipment, a therapeutic spa, replacing broken tiles or plaster, and renovating your pool to include fun features like bubblers and deck jets.

Increase the Safety and Efficiency of Your Pool

Enhancing the appearance of your pool isn’t the only reason to give it an update. Emerald Pool and Patio makes sure that your pool is safe for you and your guests by replacing old fixtures and plumbing, installing pool lighting and safety covers, and solving any drainage issues you may be experiencing.

We also replace aged pool and inefficient components with the latest and most innovative pumps, heaters, chlorination systems and cleaning systems so that you can optimize energy use while reducing the amount of time and money you need to spend maintaining it.

Residential Pool Renovations and Repairs

From minor repairs and upgrades to large scale renovations, our team of seasoned renovation experts will work with you to keep your pool facilities safe, appealing, and on budget.

  • Leak Detection and Repair
  • Tile Repair or Replacement
  • Coping Repair or Replacement
  • Reshaping and Resizing
  • Features Additions and Upgrades (Water and Lighting Features, Splash Pads, Diving Boards)
  • Automatic Pool Cover Installation

Doughboy Pools - 70 Years of Family Fun

Doughboy pools are the single most adaptable pools on the market today. Whether you want an above ground pool or an inground look, Doughboy has the answer. Our pool’s unparalleled strength and quality are unmatched in the industry. It has always been our goal to give our consumers peace of mind about the longevity, maintenance, and safety of a Doughboy pool.

Interested in Pricing and Learning More?

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