Pool Glossary

Plain-language definitions for the construction, equipment, and water-chemistry terms that come up most often when planning a project in Tomball.

Gunite

A sprayed, dry-mix concrete used to build custom, fully-shaped pool shells over a rebar cage.

Shotcrete

A wet-mix sprayed concrete, functionally similar to gunite, used for custom pool shell construction.

Bond beam

The reinforced concrete band around the top edge of a pool shell, carrying most of the structural load from soil movement and decking.

Gel coat

The smooth, non-porous outer finish layer on a fiberglass pool shell.

Tanning ledge

A shallow, submerged shelf near the pool entry used for lounging in a few inches of water.

Negative edge

An edge where water spills over into a lower catch basin and is pumped back up, also called a vanishing or infinity edge.

Bond beam cracking

Cracking at the top structural band of a pool shell, usually from soil movement or inadequate rebar density.

Total alkalinity

A measure of water's ability to buffer and resist pH swings, ideally 80-120 ppm.

Cyanuric acid (stabilizer)

A chemical that protects chlorine from being burned off by UV exposure.

Calcium hardness

The concentration of dissolved calcium in pool water, which affects scale and plaster condition.

Salt chlorine generator

A system that converts dissolved salt into chlorine via electrolysis, continuously sanitizing the water.

DE filter

A filter using diatomaceous earth powder to trap very fine particles, the finest filtration of the common filter types.

Backwash

Reversing water flow through a sand or DE filter to flush trapped debris out to waste.

Coping

The cap material around a pool's edge, handling sun exposure, splash, and foot traffic.

Waterline tile

Tile set at the pool's water level, where splash and mineral buildup concentrate.

Variable-speed pump

A pump that adjusts its speed to the task, using significantly less energy than a single-speed pump for most circulation tasks.

Heat pump (pool)

A pool heater that extracts heat from surrounding air rather than burning fuel, efficient but weather-dependent.

ACC / DRC

Architectural Control Committee / Design Review Committee: the HOA body that reviews pool and backyard plans in many master-planned communities.

Bonding (electrical)

Connecting metal pool components with a conductor so a stray current can't create a dangerous voltage difference between them.

GFCI

Ground-fault circuit interrupter: an electrical safety device that cuts power fast when it detects a current leak.

Plaster finish

The most common and least expensive pool interior finish, typically needing resurfacing every 10-15 years.

Pebble finish

A textured, longer-lasting pool interior finish made of small aggregate, pricier than plaster.

Freeform pool

A pool shape that follows a yard's natural contours rather than a straight-edge geometric layout.

Leak detection (dye test)

A method of locating a suspected pool leak by releasing dye near a crack or fitting underwater and watching for movement.

Evaporation rate

How fast water leaves a pool through evaporation; varies with heat, wind, and humidity, and is the baseline to rule out before suspecting a leak.

Shock treatment

A large, one-time dose of sanitizer used to clear algae or restore chlorine demand after heavy use.

Dewatering

Removing groundwater from an excavation during construction, especially relevant on high-water-table lots near the coast.

Equipment pad

The concrete pad holding the pump, filter, heater, and related equipment outside the pool shell.

Setback

The minimum required distance between a structure (like a pool) and a property line, set by code or HOA rules.

TCPA consent

Telephone Consumer Protection Act consent, the affirmative opt-in required before contacting a homeowner by phone or text about their inquiry.