For an estimate or if you have a question please contact us at (602) 569-6336
ROC Licenses: #094365, #352932, #352933, #361088
New Pool Construction
New Pool Construction in Surprise, AZ
Custom gunite pools designed and built for Surprise properties, from initial site evaluation through final walkthrough — coordinated entirely through Dolphin Pools' Surprise office.
Built for Your Surprise Property, Not a Template
Every Dolphin Pools project starts the same way: with your property, not a pre-set design. Surprise is a large and varied city — established neighborhoods near the original townsite, master-planned communities like Marley Park and Sterling Grove, and new construction spreading along the Loop 303 corridor. Lot sizes, setbacks, HOA requirements and site access all differ block by block, so a design that works two streets over may not work on your lot.
All Dolphin Pools construction uses gunite (shotcrete) construction — a poured, steel-reinforced concrete shell sprayed into a hand-formed excavation. Unlike pre-fabricated fiberglass or vinyl-liner pools, gunite construction is built entirely on-site, which means the shape, depth, features and finish are not limited to a manufacturer's mold. It's also the most durable common pool construction method used in Arizona, and the method our Surprise team works with on every project.
Site conditions vary across Surprise — lot grading, access, drainage, utility easements and soil conditions all differ by neighborhood. Our design team evaluates each property individually before finalizing a design, rather than assuming one approach fits every Surprise lot.
Free Design Consultation
Start Planning Your Pool
Tell us about your property and vision. We'll schedule a site evaluation with our Surprise office and walk you through options that fit your lot and budget.
How Your Pool Gets Built
Gunite pool construction follows a fixed sequence of engineering-driven stages. Here's what each one involves.
1
Site Evaluation & Design
We assess access, grading, drainage, easements and HOA requirements, then create a custom design suited to your property and goals.
2
Engineering & Permitting
Structural engineering plans are prepared and submitted to the City of Surprise, along with any required HOA architectural review.
3
Layout & Excavation
The design is staked on-site and excavation begins, shaped precisely to the engineered plan.
4
Steel & Plumbing
Reinforcing steel is set to engineered spec, followed by plumbing and electrical rough-in for pumps, drains, lighting and features.
5
Gunite Shell
Structural gunite is sprayed to form the pool shell, then given time to cure before the next phase begins.
6
Tile, Coping & Decking
Waterline tile, coping and decking materials are installed, along with any spa, water feature or raised-wall elements.
7
Interior Finish
Plaster, pebble aggregate or quartz finish is applied to the shell interior, followed by the initial fill.
8
Equipment Start-Up
Pumps, filtration, heating and automation systems are installed, tested and balanced.
9
Final Walkthrough
We walk through every system with you, cover water care and warranty, and hand over a pool that's ready to use.
Not every project follows an identical schedule. Design complexity, City permitting, HOA review and material selections all affect timing — your consultation will include a timeline specific to your property.
Site Evaluation
What We Evaluate Before Designing Your Pool
Before any design is finalized, our team walks your Surprise property to understand what the site actually allows for — rather than designing first and adjusting later. This evaluation typically covers:
- ✓Access and equipment staging — how excavation and construction equipment will reach the backyard
- ✓Grading and drainage — how water moves across your lot and where it needs to be directed
- ✓Utility easements — setbacks from gas, electric, water and sewer lines
- ✓Soil and excavation conditions — conditions vary across Surprise, and are assessed on-site rather than assumed
- ✓HOA architectural requirements — setback, height and screening rules specific to your community
- ✓Existing structures and landscaping — walls, patio covers, mature trees or irrigation that may affect layout
This is also where equipment placement gets decided — pumps, filters and heaters need to sit somewhere that's accessible for service without dominating your yard, and that decision looks different on a courtyard lot than on a larger Loop 303–corridor property.
Design Options
What's Possible With a Custom-Built Pool
Because gunite construction isn't built to a mold, most design decisions stay open until you make them. Options our Surprise clients commonly build in include:
- ✓Freeform and geometric shapes tailored to your lot and home's architecture
- ✓Pool and spa combinations, including raised spas, spillways and shared or separate equipment
- ✓Baja shelves and tanning ledges for lounging and shallow-water play areas
- ✓Water features — waterfalls, deck jets, sheer descents and grottos
- ✓LED color lighting for evening use and ambiance
- ✓In-floor cleaning systems to reduce manual maintenance
- ✓Smart automation for remote control of pumps, lighting, heating and features
- ✓Energy-efficient variable-speed equipment to reduce operating costs
If you're weighing which combination of these fits your budget, our Pool Packages page breaks down five starting configurations — every one of them fully customizable.
Choosing the Right Shape, Depth and Layout
Before finishes and features get decided, the biggest design questions are usually about how the pool will actually be used. A pool built primarily for young children calls for different depth and shelf placement than one built for laps, and a pool designed around entertaining a crowd is laid out differently than one meant to feel like a private retreat. Our design process walks through these questions early, so the final layout matches how your household will actually use the space rather than a generic default.
Depth is one of the most consequential early decisions. A consistent 3–4 foot depth works well for family play and lounging but limits diving and lap swimming; a deeper end opens up diving and adult swimming but adds excavation cost and changes the safety profile for young children. Many Surprise homeowners land on a split-depth design — a shallow Baja shelf or tanning ledge on one end, standard swimming depth through the middle — which is why that feature shows up so often in the design options above.
Lot orientation matters too. A pool positioned for afternoon shade behaves very differently in July than one that sits in full sun all day, and in the West Valley that difference is significant. Our site evaluation looks at how the sun moves across your specific lot, not just where the pool "fits" geometrically.
Excavation and Ground Conditions
Arizona excavation can encounter a range of subsurface conditions depending on the specific lot — sandy soils that excavate easily in some areas, and denser caliche layers that require different equipment and timing in others. Rather than quoting a single generic timeline for every property, our team evaluates ground conditions during the site visit and factors them into both the construction plan and the schedule discussed at your consultation.
This is also where drainage planning happens. Arizona's monsoon season brings short, intense rainfall, and a pool project that doesn't account for how water moves across a graded lot can create runoff problems for a home or its neighbors after construction. Grading and drainage are addressed as part of every design, not treated as an afterthought once the shell is in the ground.
Permitting and HOA Coordination Included
New pool construction in Surprise requires a City of Surprise building permit, engineering plans and staged inspections, and most master-planned communities require separate HOA architectural review. Dolphin Pools coordinates both as part of every new construction project — you're not left to manage two separate approval processes on your own.
Learn more about our Surprise office →Built on 42+ Years of Pool Construction
Established 1984
Dolphin Pools has been designing and building custom pools across the Phoenix Valley since 1984.
Arizona ROC Licensed
Licensed under Arizona ROC #094365, #352932, #352933 and #361088.
Google Verified
Dolphin Pools is a Google Verified contractor with a 4.9-star rating from 600+ reviews across the Valley.
New Pool Construction FAQ
Gunite (shotcrete) is a steel-reinforced concrete pool shell built entirely on-site, rather than a pre-fabricated fiberglass or vinyl-liner shell. It allows any shape, depth or feature combination, and is the standard method for custom pool construction in Arizona.
Yes. Because gunite construction is built on-site rather than to a manufactured mold, shape, depth, and feature placement are all part of the design process rather than fixed choices from a catalog.
Yes. Dolphin Pools coordinates City of Surprise permitting and HOA architectural review submittals as part of the new construction process.
Timelines vary based on design complexity, City permitting, HOA review, material selections and site access. Your design consultation will include a timeline specific to your property and scope.
Yes. Spas, water features, LED lighting, in-floor cleaning and smart automation can all be built into a new pool. Our Pool Packages page outlines starting configurations that include different combinations of these features.
Site conditions vary across Surprise, from established neighborhoods to newer construction along the Loop 303 corridor. Our team evaluates access, grading, drainage, easements and soil conditions on-site before finalizing a design, rather than assuming one approach fits every lot.
Dolphin Pools backs every new build with a lifetime structural warranty on the pool shell to the original buyer, a separate two-year limited warranty on labor and materials, and an assigned three-year Hayward manufacturer warranty on pumps, filters, heaters and electronic controls. See full warranty details →
Ready to Start Your Surprise Pool?
Schedule a free design consultation with Dolphin Pools' Surprise office and get a custom pool plan built around your property, not a template.
Dolphin Pools, 17058 W Bell Rd Suite 107, Surprise, AZ 85374, (623) 343-9840, Google Verified • Established 1984 • Arizona ROC #094365, #352932, #352933, #361088