Frequently Asked Questions
Custom Pool Questions — Answered by a Builder
I get a lot of the same questions from people starting their first pool project. Below are answers to the ones that come up most. If yours isn’t here, reach out directly.
Getting Started
Planning Your Pool
How do I even start thinking about a pool? I've never done this before.+
Good. That means you don't have bad assumptions yet. Start by asking yourself: who are they for? Is it for your kids to swim in? For you to swim laps? For entertaining? For sitting and watching a movie night in the backyard? Who uses it every day shapes how it's designed.
My process starts with a conversation about your yard — its size, its shape, what you love about it already — and a conversation about your family. The pool design comes after both of those.
How long does the whole process take — from first call to swimming?+
About 8 weeks from design lock to water in the pool, and roughly 10-11 weeks total from our first conversation. That breakdown is:
- Week 1: Conversation, yard measurement, site assessment
- Week 2: Design
- Week 3: Permits and logistics
- Weeks 4-6: Excavation, steel, plumbing, electrical, gunite
- Weeks 7-8: Decking, tile, coping, equipment
- Week 9: Fill, chemicals, startup, walkthrough
- Weeks 10-11 (buffer): Landscaping restoration, seasonal adjustments
That's fast for a custom pool. Most companies take 12-16 weeks because they plan as they build. I plan before.
Do you handle permits and city approvals?+
Yes. Permit preparation and submission to the city is included in every quote. I know the requirements in Seguin and the rest of Guadalupe County. You don't have to make trips to city hall or figure out what plans need to be submitted.
Pricing
Cost and Budget
How much does a custom pool cost in Seguin?+
This is the most common question and the hardest to answer without seeing the property. A custom gunite pool isn't a product with a sticker price — it's a structure built for a specific piece of ground.
The factors that drive cost:
- Lot size and pool dimensions
- Slope — flat lots are cheapest; sloped lots need retaining walls and more excavation
- Soil — rock means a rock breaker, which adds cost
- Features — spa, waterfalls, Baja shelf, lighting, automation
- Decking material — stamped concrete, flagstone, travertine
- Equipment — heater, automation system, high-efficiency pump
I'd rather walk your property and give you a real number than guess on a website.
Why don't you list starting prices like other pool companies?+
Because starting prices are often misleading. A company quoting 'starting at $95K' might mean that covers only the most basic rectangular pool on a flat lot with no features and concrete decking — and then the rock, the slope, and the spa all get added as change orders.
My quotes are comprehensive. If we talked about it, it's in the number. No surprises.
Do you offer financing?+
I don't have an in-house financing program, but most of my clients work with a third-party lender that specializes in home improvement. I can point you to options that have come up as reasonable for other homeowners in the area.
Build Quality
Design and Construction
Why do you only build gunite? Can I choose fiberglass or vinyl?+
I don't build fiberglass or vinyl because gunite is the right structural choice for Hill Country soil.
Here's the difference in plain terms: fiberglass pools are factory-molded shells lifted by crane and set into a hole. They're fast to install but rigid — they don't flex when the ground shifts. Hill Country soil swells in wet seasons and cracks dry in summer. Fiberglass cracks under that stress.
Gunite is sprayed concrete over a steel rebar framework. It's shaped to your exact yard, it's thicker where it needs to be, and it moves with the ground instead of against it. The upfront investment is higher, but the lifespan is decades, not 15.
Can you build on a sloped or steep lot?+
Yes. This is actually one of Turner's strengths. Sloped lots are the norm for a lot of Hill Country properties, and custom home builders deal with slope all the time. Options include raised pools, multi-level designs with retaining walls, and pools set into the hillside.
Fiberglass pools can't handle slope — they're installed flat. Gunite has no such limitation.
What features can a custom pool have?+
Everything from basic to detailed:
- Size and shape — anything from a compact lap pool to a large resort-style design
- Depth zones — shallow for kids, deep for swimming, Baja shelf for sitting
- Integrated spa — built as part of the same shell, no seam
- Water features — rock falls, sheet falls, bubble barrels
- Fire features — fire bowls for cooler evenings
- Lighting — LED pool lights, deck lights
- Automation — control water temperature, lights, and features from your phone
- Decking — concrete, stamped concrete, flagstone, travertine
What's included in every pool build by default?+
Every build includes:
- Permit preparation and city submission
- Excavation and grading
- Steel reinforcement
- Plumbing and electrical rough-in
- Gunite application (shotcrete)
- Equipment setup (pump, filter, heater if chosen)
- Decking, coping, and tile
- Pool fill and chemical startup
- Walkthrough of all systems
- One-year warranty on structure and equipment
Who We Are
About Turner Custom Pools
What makes Turner different from other pool builders in the area?+
Three things:
- I'm a custom home builder, not a pool salesman. I bring 15+ years of construction experience to every pool — thick shells, smart materials, proper planning.
- Owner on site. Coy is your builder and project manager. You don't go through a sales floor or manage subcontractors.
- Slow is fast. I build 2-3 pools at a time. That's slower than a company juggling 20, but it means yours doesn't get delayed by someone else's timeline.
Can I reach you directly during the build?+
Yes. My phone number is your phone number. You don't go through a project manager or leave voicemails for someone working their second week. Call me.
Where do you build?+
Seguin (home base), McQueeney, Marion, La Vernia, and all of Guadalupe County.
Can you remodel or resurface an existing pool?+
Remodels are case-by-case. If it's a full backyard overhaul that includes removing an old pool and rebuilding from scratch, absolutely. For resurfacing or cosmetic updates to an existing gunite pool, it gets evaluated individually — every pool's condition is different.
Long-Term
Maintenance and Aftercare
What maintenance does a gunite pool need?+
Basic maintenance is standard for any pool: checking and adjusting chemical balance weekly in the swimming season, skimming debris, and running the pump. I'll walk you through everything during the startup walkthrough — how the equipment works, what to look for, and when to call me.
How long does a gunite pool last?+
30+ years if it's built right and maintained reasonably. The gunite shell is monolithic — one continuous structure. There's no gelcoat to blister or flex plate to crack. That's why I recommend gunite for Hill Country.
Do you provide warranty?+
Yes — one year on the structure and equipment. Beyond that, the quality of the build is what carries you through decades of use.
Still Have Questions?
Ask Coy directly.
No question is too basic. If the answer isn’t on this page, send me a message. I respond within 24 hours — usually sooner.
Send a question
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Drop your question below. If it’s easier to answer over the phone, I’ll call you.