Why Paradise Valley & Scottsdale Homeowners Choose Gunite Over Fiberglass Pools (And Why It Matters in the Arizona Heat)

If you live in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, or anywhere in the greater Phoenix metro, you already know: a pool isn't a luxury — it's a lifestyle essential. With temperatures routinely cracking 110°F, your backyard pool is the difference between dreading summer and living your best life outdoors.

So when it's time to build, the first big question is: gunite or fiberglass? At Island Style Pools, we've built custom inground pools across the Valley for over 30 years, and we want to help you make the right call for your home, your budget, and Arizona's unique climate.

What Is a Gunite Pool?

Gunite (also called shotcrete) is a concrete-based construction method where a dry concrete mix is pneumatically sprayed over a steel rebar framework and then finished with plaster, pebble, or tile. The result is a completely custom-shaped, rock-solid pool shell that can be designed in virtually any shape, size, or depth.

This is the construction method we use at Island Style Pools for all of our custom builds — and there's a reason why it's the gold standard for luxury pool construction in Arizona.

5 Reasons Gunite Wins in the Arizona Climate

• Thermal Stability — Arizona's desert heat causes significant ground movement. Gunite's structural rigidity resists cracking from ground shifts far better than fiberglass shells, which can flex and pop in extreme heat.
• Total Design Freedom — Fiberglass pools are pre-molded. If you've envisioned a freeform lagoon, a geometric modern masterpiece with a negative edge, or a resort-style pool with a Baja shelf and integrated spa, gunite is the only way to bring that vision to life exactly as you imagined it.
• Custom Depths — Fiberglass limits your depth options. With gunite, we can design shallow beach entries, deep diving areas, and everything in between — all in the same pool.
• Long-Term Durability — A properly built gunite pool can last 50+ years. Island Style Pools backs our work with a 15-year workmanship warranty on pebble interiors — something that should tell you everything about our confidence in gunite construction.
• Unmatched Resale Value — In Paradise Valley and Scottsdale's premium real estate market, a custom gunite pool with high-end finishes is a significant selling feature. Cookie-cutter fiberglass pools don't command the same buyer interest.

The Island Style Pools Difference

Beyond gunite construction, what truly sets Island Style Pools apart is our exclusive Real Island Stone decking — the only product of its kind in Arizona. While traditional concrete decking can reach surface temperatures of 140°F+ in the summer sun, Real Island Stone maxes out at 95°F, meaning you and your family can walk barefoot from the back door to the pool without the dreaded 'hot feet' shuffle. We are the exclusive distributor of this product in Arizona.

Combine that with our in-house 3D CAD pool design process — where you can visualize every element of your new pool before a single shovelful of earth is turned — and you have a builder who is genuinely invested in getting every detail right.

Ready to Build Your Dream Pool in Paradise Valley or Scottsdale?

Island Style Pools has been transforming Arizona backyards for over 30 years. We're licensed, bonded, insured, and — most importantly — we answer our phones and communicate with you at every step of the build.

Contact us today for a FREE consultation . We'll come to your home, assess your space, and design a custom pool that fits your lifestyle, your vision, and your budget.

📞 Call Island Style Pools — Free Consultation: (480) 378-7399

📍 Serving Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Arcadia, Carefree, Gilbert, Queen Creek & all of Greater Phoenix