Louisiana · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
Planning a permanent backyard pool? 8 inground pool builders serving Lake Charles, ranked by rating and review count, with what a fiberglass, gunite or vinyl liner pool costs installed in Lake Charles this year.
Ordered by customer rating and review count across the Lake Charles area. Listings include the available rating, contact details and location; confirm current credentials and scope directly.
Companies in the second group are listed as pool builders; most build inground pools in at least one material — ask which types they install and how many they completed last year.
Planning a new pool as well? The Lake Charles pool builders directory ranks all 10 builders in the area.
Installed prices in Lake Charles run from $43,000–$66,500 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $71,500–$114,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $55,000–$81,000. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Lake Charles price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $43,000–$66,500 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $55,000–$81,000 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $71,500–$114,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $11,500–$33,500 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $5,500–$19,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $1,900–$5,700 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $500–$3,300 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $66,500–$142,500+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,200–$2,900 / year |
Louisiana pricing is close to the national baseline used for these estimates. Soil, access for excavation equipment, slope, utility relocation and the finish and feature package move a quote more than the pool's footprint does — compare itemized bids for the same size and type.
Fiberglass, gunite and vinyl bids are not comparable to each other — settle the type (or ask each builder to bid two), then compare like for like.
Lake Charles market
2.9 average customer rating · 148 reviews · 8 companies · 3 specialists
See All on the Map →8 inground pool builders serving Lake Charles. 3 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 2.9 stars across 148 customer reviews. PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
South Louisiana's high water table is the engineering headline — dewatered digs, hydrostatic relief valves, and a hard rule against fully draining the shell. Soft, wet soils can call for extra structural conservatism, and drainage design protects decks from standing water. North Louisiana digs friendlier red dirt. Gunite leads with New Orleans-style courtyard builds, spillover spas, and tanning shelves; screened enclosures and generous covered patios answer the rain. Saltwater systems are the local default more often than not.
For statewide rankings, city counts and Louisiana prices, see the Louisiana inground pool builders directory, or check the nearby cities below.
Get at least three itemized bids for the same type and size, visit finished pools that are a few years old, and read the warranty for the shell, the finish and the equipment separately. Ask how the company handles rock, groundwater and access problems once digging starts. Louisiana requires state-licensed contractors for larger residential projects — verify the license and insurance up front. Parishes and municipalities run pool permitting and barrier enforcement, flood zones shape equipment elevation on plenty of lots, and post-storm rules about draining and debris are worth asking about before you ever need them.
Installed in Lake Charles, LA, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $43,000–$66,500, a fiberglass pool $55,000–$81,000 and a gunite pool $71,500–$114,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $66,500–$142,500+. Louisiana pricing is close to the national baseline used for these estimates; the size, finish, features and site conditions move the number most.
There is no single best type. Fiberglass installs fastest and is the easiest to maintain but comes in fixed shapes; gunite can be any shape with any feature but costs more to build and to resurface later; vinyl liner has the lowest upfront price but needs a new liner every eight to twelve years. Match the type to your budget, your yard, how long you plan to stay and how much maintenance you want.
A fiberglass pool is often swimmable two to six weeks after excavation; a vinyl liner pool four to eight weeks; a gunite pool eight to sixteen weeks because the shell has to cure before tile, coping and the finish go on. Permitting adds two to eight weeks up front, and decking and landscaping follow the pool. Builders here work year-round; the spring rush books first.
Most residential pools are 3 to 6 feet with a deep end of 6 to 8 feet; diving depths of 8 feet or more need a longer pool and a larger excavation. Fiberglass shells are limited to the manufacturer's molds (commonly 6 to 8 feet), while gunite and vinyl liner pools can be built to almost any profile, including sport pools that are shallow at both ends.
The prime outdoor season in Lake Charles runs April through October — roughly 7 months of comfortable unheated swimming — and pools stay open and running year-round rather than being winterized. April through October is prime season and many pools never truly close — winter is a light-cadence idle. The price of that season: intense rain (60+ inches a year), constant summer algae pressure, and a hurricane season every pool plan has to respect.
Caribbean Poolscapes has the highest customer rating on this Lake Charles list at 5 stars across 2 reviews. Sabine Pools, Spas & Furniture has the largest review count (65 reviews at 4.5 stars). PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
Louisiana requires state-licensed contractors for larger residential projects — verify the license and insurance up front. Parishes and municipalities run pool permitting and barrier enforcement, flood zones shape equipment elevation on plenty of lots, and post-storm rules about draining and debris are worth asking about before you ever need them.
Budget $1,200–$2,900 / year for chemicals, electricity and routine service, more for a heated pool or a weekly cleaning route. Fiberglass and vinyl surfaces use fewer chemicals than plaster; a variable-speed pump and an automatic cover cut running costs the most.
Check inground pool builders in cities near Lake Charles, or open the Louisiana directory for every listed market in the state.
Claim your free PoolPad listing, check the pool types you build, and show Lake Charles homeowners planning a new pool what you install.
