Factory-molded shell, craned in on a single day. Most builds swim in 6–12 weeks. Smooth gelcoat surface, lowest chemical demand, best value on a standard lot.
The trade-off:
Fiberglass pools & models
Custom fiberglass and gunite pools across Pender, New Hanover, Onslow and Brunswick counties — engineered for coastal soil, flood elevations, and the equipment lifespan salt air actually allows.
Any shape, any depth, any feature. Sport bottoms, vanishing edges, spillover spas, beach entries — built to the lot rather than around it.
The trade-off:
Concrete & gunite pools
Under 300 sq ft, often with a bench and jets. Fits the narrow island and infill lots most of this market actually has.
The trade-off:
Plunge pools
Most of what goes wrong here goes wrong underground, in the first week, and costs more to fix than it did to build.
Groundwater within a few feet of grade will float an empty fiberglass shell. Dewatering plan and hydrostatic relief, every time.
Sand doesn’t hold a cut. Shoring during excavation and engineered, compacted backfill — not spoil pushed back in.
Equipment pad elevation and electrical placement are governed by your flood zone, not preference. We pull the map first.
Heaters, rails, hardware and fasteners corrode faster within a mile of the water. Coastal spec costs more up front and less over ten years.
Ranges below are turnkey — excavation, shell, plumbing, equipment, decking and startup — for a typical Pender or New Hanover lot in 2026.
| Build | Typical range | Time to swim | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|---|
Ranges reflect completed coastal NC projects and are updated as the market moves. Your quote is fixed after a site visit. Full cost guide
Under 15A NCAC 18A .2500, any pool serving an HOA, hotel, apartment community, school or municipality is a public swimming pool — permitted annually, plan-reviewed before construction, and inspected on a clock.
Replaster, deck, equipment rooms, barrier and signage compliance. Off-season scheduling so you open on time.
Renovation between seasons, on a fixed window, with permits handled.
Aging vessels brought back to code without a full rebuild.
Lifts, sloped entries, transfer walls — specified and installed to spec.
The spread comes from decking area, whether you need dewatering, and how far equipment has to run.
Most of Hampstead, Surf City and Scotts Hill sits over shallow groundwater. It’s routine here; it’s just not optional.
Breaking ground October through February usually means swimming by Memorial Day.
Pools serving an HOA or community also need state plan review before construction.
Most customers get a decision the same day.
We’ll come look, take elevations, and send a written quote with a design — not a brochure.
| Phone | (910) 277-5560 |
|---|---|
| sales@sunrisepoolsinc.com | |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00 · Sat by appointment |
| Serving | Hampstead · Wilmington · Surf City · Topsail Beach · Jacksonville · Leland |
| Licensing | NC Licensed Swimming Pool Contractor (S) · Insured |