The Anatomy of a Gilbert Pool Build

Published July 1, 2026

Watching a bare Gilbert backyard turn into a finished pool is a genuinely satisfying process, but it happens in a specific order for good reasons. Knowing the stages ahead of time makes the eight to twelve week timeline of a custom pool feel a lot less mysterious. Here is how a project moves from a sketch to a swim.

It Starts With Design and Layout

Before anyone digs, we walk your yard, talk through how you want to use the water, and mark the shell on the ground with paint and stakes. This is where we settle depth, shape, and where features like a tanning ledge or spillover spa will sit. We also confirm setbacks and pull the permit, because a pool near Higley Road has to respect property lines and the required safety barrier.

Excavation and Steel

Next comes the dig. Gilbert’s caliche can be stubborn, so excavation sometimes takes longer than the shape alone suggests. Once the hole is roughed out, we tie a steel rebar cage that gives the shell its strength. If you have chosen a fully custom concrete build, our gunite pool construction crew sprays the shell over that cage.

Plumbing, Shell, and the Bonding Grid

With the steel set, we rough in the skimmer, main drain, and return lines, then form or spray the shell. A step that homeowners rarely see but always matters is the equipotential bonding grid required by NEC 680.26. We tie the shell, deck steel, and equipment together with 8 AWG copper so the whole structure is electrically safe.

Tile, Deck, and Interior Finish

Now the pool starts to look like a pool. We set waterline tile and coping, pour the deck in concrete, travertine, or pavers, and apply the interior finish. A pebble finish costs a little more than plaster but can last 15 to 25 years, which is why many of our Power Ranch clients choose it.

Startup and Handover

Finally we fill the pool, balance the water, and start the equipment. We show you how to run the pump, filter, and any automation, then schedule the final inspection. From that point the backyard is yours.

If you are weighing a build and want straight answers about materials, timelines, and cost, contact us or call Dakotasungardenswinery at (480) 278-1424 for a free design consultation in Gilbert.