You signed the contract. You're getting a pool. Now what? The number one question we hear from homeowners in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch is: "What's actually going to happen in my backyard, and when?"
Custom gunite pool construction in Southwest Florida typically takes 8–14 weeks from signed contract to first swim. The range depends on pool complexity, permitting speed, and weather. Before you start, make sure you've read our guide to choosing a pool builder in Florida. Here's what every week looks like so you know exactly what to expect.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Pool in Florida?
| Phase | Timeframe | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Design & 3D Rendering | Weeks 1–2 | 1–2 weeks |
| Permitting | Weeks 2–5 | 2–4 weeks |
| Excavation | Weeks 5–6 | 1–2 days |
| Steel & Plumbing | Weeks 6–7 | 1–2 weeks |
| Gunite Shell | Weeks 7–8 | 1 day |
| Curing Period | Weeks 8–9 | 7–10 days |
| Tile, Coping & Waterline | Weeks 9–10 | 1 week |
| Decking | Weeks 10–11 | 1 week |
| Interior Finish / Plaster | Weeks 11–12 | 1–2 days |
| Equipment Hookup & Fill | Weeks 12–13 | 3–5 days |
| Startup Chemistry & Pool School | Weeks 13–14 | 3–5 days |
What Happens During Pool Design and 3D Rendering? (Weeks 1–2)
Everything starts with a site visit. We come to your property, measure the yard, note setback requirements, check access for equipment, and look at soil and drainage conditions. Then we sit down with you and talk about how you actually want to use the pool — family hangouts, lap swimming, entertaining, a spa for the evenings, or all of the above.
From that conversation, we build a full 3D rendering of your pool in your actual backyard. Not a generic shape on a blank screen — your house, your fence line, your patio. You can rotate it, zoom in, see it from your kitchen window. This is where most design decisions get made, and it's where we catch problems before they become expensive change orders.
What you should do: Start thinking about features (spa, sun shelf, waterfall), finish preferences, and decking material. Browse our portfolio for inspiration. This is also a good time to talk to your HOA if you're in a community with pool approval requirements.
How Long Do Pool Permits Take in Florida? (Weeks 2–5)
This is often the longest wait in the entire process, and it has nothing to do with us or you — it's the county. In Manatee and Sarasota Counties, pool permits currently take 2–4 weeks depending on workload. We handle all the paperwork: structural engineering plans, site plans, setback documentation, electrical permits, and any HOA submissions.
We know this phase feels like nothing is happening. But the engineering and permit drawings are being prepared, reviewed, and approved during this window. Trying to rush a permit in Florida doesn't work — but having a builder who submits clean, complete applications the first time avoids costly resubmissions.
What you should do: Finalize your pool design during this window. Any changes after the permit is issued require a revision, which means more county review time. Check our Florida pool permits guide for details on what's required. Also a good time to get screen enclosure quotes if you're adding one.
What Happens on Pool Excavation Day? (Weeks 5–6)
This is the day it gets real. A full excavation crew arrives with heavy equipment — a track loader, an excavator, and dump trucks. In most cases, your pool is dug out in a single day. For larger or more complex pools with deep ends, retaining walls, or difficult access, it may take two days.
Your yard will look like a construction site after this. There's no way around it. Dirt gets moved, the lawn gets torn up, and there's a giant hole where your pool will be. This is normal.
What you should do: Move patio furniture, grills, potted plants, and anything fragile away from the pool area. Make sure the crew has clear access to the yard — we'll discuss the access point during the design phase. Keep kids and pets away from the excavation zone.
Pool Steel and Plumbing Installation (Weeks 6–7)
Once the hole is dug, the steel team comes in and builds the rebar cage that gives your pool its structural strength. This is a grid of #4 rebar (half-inch steel) tied together by hand, following the engineered structural plan. Every bar is placed according to spec, and the county inspector comes out to verify it before we can move forward.
At the same time, the plumbing crew runs all the supply and return lines, skimmer pipes, main drain plumbing, spa jets, and any water features. All plumbing is pressure-tested before being buried in gunite.
What you should do: This is a good time to confirm any last-minute feature decisions (additional jets, bubblers, lighting locations). Once the steel and plumbing are set and inspected, changes become significantly more expensive.
How Is a Gunite Pool Shell Built? (Weeks 7–8)
Gunite day is one of the most impressive days of the build. A specialized crew sprays a high-pressure mixture of concrete and sand over the steel and plumbing framework, building up the shell of your pool. The entire shell is typically shot in one day.
It's loud, it's dusty, and there will be a concrete truck (or two) in your driveway. By the end of the day, you'll be looking at the actual shape of your pool for the first time — and it's a great feeling.
What you should do: Stay out of the work area. The crew needs full access, and the spray equipment is not something you want to be near. Close your windows to keep dust out of the house.
How Long Does Gunite Need to Cure? (Weeks 8–9)
Gunite needs to cure before any finish work can begin. During this 7–10 day period, the shell needs to be kept wet. We typically set up sprinklers or a hose on a timer to keep the surface moist. This prevents cracking and ensures the concrete reaches full strength.
Not much visible progress happens during curing, but it's a critical step. Skipping or rushing it leads to structural problems down the road.
What you should do: Make sure the hose stays running as directed. If it gets knocked off or the timer fails, let us know immediately. This is also a good window to finalize your tile and coping selections if you haven't already.
Pool Tile, Coping, and Waterline Installation (Weeks 9–10)
The tile crew installs your waterline tile (the decorative band around the top of the pool at water level) and the coping (the cap that sits on top of the pool wall and defines the edge between pool and deck). Coping can be brick, natural stone, travertine, or precast concrete, depending on your design.
This phase starts to give the pool its finished look. Color choices matter here — the tile and coping set the visual tone for the entire pool area.
What you should do: If you haven't locked in tile and coping selections, do it now. Delays in material selection are one of the most common causes of timeline slippage at this stage.
Pool Deck Pouring and Paver Installation (Weeks 10–11)
The deck crew comes in to pour or lay the pool deck — the surface surrounding your pool. In SW Florida, the most common options are brushed concrete, travertine pavers, or brick pavers. The deck is graded to slope away from the pool for drainage and away from your home's foundation.
This is a big visual transformation. Your backyard starts looking like the 3D rendering you approved months ago.
What you should do: Stay off the fresh deck. Concrete needs 24–48 hours to cure, and pavers need time to set. Plan for limited backyard access during this phase.
Pool Plaster and Interior Finish Application (Weeks 11–12)
The interior finish is the surface you'll see and feel inside the pool. Whether you chose white plaster, quartz aggregate, or pebble finish, the application process is similar: the crew trowels the material onto the gunite shell by hand. It's a one-day process, and the pool begins filling with water immediately after — the finish cannot be allowed to dry out.
Your pool will start filling as soon as the plaster crew finishes. Depending on pool size, filling takes 12–24 hours with a standard garden hose, or faster with a water delivery truck.
What you should do: Do not touch the interior surface, walk on it, or let anything fall into the pool during filling. The finish is soft and vulnerable for the first several days.
Pool Equipment Installation and Final Inspection (Weeks 12–13)
While the pool finishes filling, the equipment pad gets connected. This includes your variable-speed pump, filter, salt chlorine generator (if applicable), heater, automation system, and LED lighting. The electrician completes the final wiring to your home's panel. Everything gets tested: jets, returns, skimmers, lights, spa controls, automation app.
A final inspection from the county happens during this phase. The inspector checks electrical, plumbing, barrier compliance, and equipment installation.
What you should do: Download your pool automation app (Hayward OmniLogic, Pentair ScreenLogic, etc.) so we can pair it during the walkthrough. Make sure your Wi-Fi reaches the equipment pad.
New Pool Water Chemistry and Startup Process (Weeks 13–14)
The final phase. We balance your water chemistry — pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine levels, and stabilizer — and run the system through several cycles to make sure everything is dialed in. See our water chemistry guide for a deeper look at what each measurement means. For plaster finishes, the first 28 days of chemistry are critical to curing the surface properly. We'll handle the initial startup and give you a clear maintenance schedule.
Then comes Pool School. We sit down with you poolside and walk through everything: how to test your water, how to adjust chemicals, how the equipment works, what the automation system does, when to clean the filter, and what to look for. You'll get a printed guide, but the hands-on walkthrough is what makes the difference.
What you should do: Be present for Pool School. Bring your phone for the automation setup. Ask every question you have. This is your pool now — we want you to feel confident maintaining it.
Common Pool Construction Questions and Concerns
Your yard will be a construction zone
There's no sugarcoating this. For 8–14 weeks, your backyard will have equipment, materials, dirt piles, and crews coming and going. It's temporary, and it's worth it — but set expectations with your family and neighbors.
Expect noise
Excavation day and gunite day are the loudest. Steel and plumbing are moderately noisy. Tile and decking are relatively quiet. Most work happens between 7 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Saturday.
Multiple inspections happen throughout
County inspectors visit at several points: after excavation, after steel/plumbing, after electrical, and at final completion. These inspections protect you — they verify that everything meets Florida building code. Occasionally an inspector requires a correction, which can add a day or two.
Weather delays are normal in Florida
Summer afternoon thunderstorms, tropical weather, and heavy rain can delay certain phases — especially excavation, gunite, and decking. We can't pour concrete in the rain. A typical summer build might add 1–2 weeks of weather delays. Winter builds generally move faster.
How we keep you updated
You get a single point of contact from design through completion. Not a rotating cast of project managers who don't know your name. Your builder knows your project because they designed it, sold it, and are managing it. You'll get progress updates, photos, and heads-up calls before each major phase.
"The worst part of pool construction is not knowing what's happening. We fix that by keeping you in the loop every step of the way."
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a gunite pool in Florida?
A custom gunite pool in Southwest Florida typically takes 8–14 weeks from signed contract to first swim. Simpler designs with quick permits finish closer to 8 weeks, while complex builds with spas, water features, and custom decking take closer to 14 weeks.
What is the longest phase of pool construction?
Permitting is usually the longest single phase, taking 2–4 weeks in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Your builder has no control over county review timelines, but submitting complete, accurate applications the first time avoids costly delays.
Can you build a pool in Florida during the rainy season?
Yes, pools are built year-round in SW Florida. Summer afternoon thunderstorms can delay certain phases like excavation, gunite, and decking by 1–2 weeks, but experienced Gulf Coast builders plan around seasonal weather patterns.
How much does it cost to build a pool in Southwest Florida?
Custom gunite pool costs vary widely based on size, features, and finishes. For a detailed breakdown, see our complete pool cost guide for Florida.
Start Planning Your Pool Build
Building a custom pool is a process — but it doesn't have to be a stressful one. When you know what's coming each week, when you have a builder who communicates proactively, and when the design is locked in before the first shovel hits dirt, the build goes smoothly.
Most of our pools in Bradenton, Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch are completed in 8–14 weeks. Simpler designs with quick permits come in closer to 8. Complex builds with spas, water features, and custom decking land closer to 14. Either way, you'll know the plan before we start.
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- Gunite curing requirements: American Concrete Institute (ACI 308) — Standard Practice for Curing Concrete
- Florida building permit timelines: Manatee County & Sarasota County Building Departments (2025–2026)
- Pool construction phases: National Plasterers Council & Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP)
- Plaster startup chemistry: per National Plasterers Council guidelines
- Florida residential pool code: Florida Building Code, Residential, Chapter 41 — Swimming Pools
Timeline estimates reflect typical custom gunite pool construction in Southwest Florida and may vary based on pool complexity, permitting, and weather. Contact us for a project-specific timeline.