Planning a 2027 Pool? Here Is Why Your Custom Gunite Build Needs to Start Now

The Backyard You Picture for Next Summer Starts With a Decision You Make This Fall

It happens every year. As soon as temperatures climb into the eighties, our phones start ringing with homeowners hoping to have a brand new pool ready before the season ends. Unfortunately, a custom gunite pool is not something that can be built in a few weeks. It is a multi phase construction project involving design, permitting, excavation, curing, and finishing, each of which takes real time to do correctly. If your goal is to be swimming by summer 2027, the planning process needs to begin well before the ground ever freezes this year.

What Actually Goes Into a Custom Gunite Pool Timeline

Architectural Design and 3D Visualization

Every project starts with a custom design phase, where our team works with you to translate your vision into a detailed 3D rendering. This step accounts for your yard’s topography, your home’s architecture, and the specific features you want, whether that is a tanning ledge, an attached spa, or a vanishing edge. Rushing this phase leads to regret later, so we take the time to get it right before moving forward.

Township Zoning and Permitting

Once a design is finalized, it has to be reviewed against local zoning ordinances, setback requirements, and permitting rules, which vary from township to township across Chester County, Montgomery County, and Bucks County. Depending on the municipality, this review and approval process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months, and it is entirely outside of our control once it is submitted.

Site Excavation and Steel Installation

After permits are approved, excavation begins, followed by the installation of the steel rebar framework that will support the entire gunite shell. This phase is weather dependent and requires dry, workable ground conditions, which is one more reason winter and early spring scheduling matters so much for a summer completion.

Gunite Application and Curing

Once the shell is shot, gunite needs adequate time to cure properly before plumbing, tile, and coping work can continue. Skipping or rushing the cure time compromises the long term strength of the shell, so this phase is never shortened just to hit a calendar date.

Tile, Coping, and Surrounding Hardscape

The final phase includes interior finish application, tile and coping installation, and any surrounding hardscape or patio work that ties the pool into your outdoor living space. This is where the design truly comes together, and it is worth protecting the time this phase requires.

Why Late 2026 Is the Ideal Time to Start Designing

Because permitting timelines are unpredictable and weather dependent phases cannot be forced, starting your design process in late 2026 gives your project the best possible chance of reaching completion in time for summer 2027. Waiting until spring means competing for limited construction slots against every other homeowner who had the same idea, and it often pushes completion into the following year entirely.

Secure Your Spot on Our Schedule

Our design and construction calendar fills on a first come, first served basis, and slots for the 2027 season are already being reserved. If a summer 2027 pool is part of your plan, now is the time to act.

Schedule Your Free Design Consultation

Arista Pool and Spa offers free estimates and design consultations for every prospective client. Stop by our state of the art showroom to explore finish options and design possibilities in person, or contact us today to schedule your appointment and lock in your place in our 2027 build schedule.