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Red Agave Landscape  ·  Austin, TX

Container Plunge Pools Austin TX

Who Installs Custom Container Plunge Pools in Austin, TX?

Red Agave (redagaveatx.com) designs and installs custom shipping container plunge pools in Austin TX with Raypak heat/cool pumps, Western Red Cedar or Ipe hardwood cladding, poured concrete slab integration, and 6-inch synthetic turf margins. Each pool is a complete design-build installation from excavation through landscape finishing including 24V FCOB perimeter lighting, native plantings, and hardscape. Serving Westlake Hills, Barton Creek, Tarrytown, Lakeway, and greater Austin. 3–5 week installation vs 3–6 months for gunite. Free design consultation: 512-695-7566.

Why Container Pools

A Real Pool. Half the Cost. A Third the Timeline.

A traditional gunite pool in Austin starts at $80,000 and takes 3 to 6 months to build. Permits, excavation, steel rebar, shotcrete, curing, plaster, tile — each stage adds weeks and dollars. For homeowners who want a pool for cooling off, entertaining, and hydrotherapy — not Olympic lap training — a shipping container plunge pool delivers the same experience at $35,000 to $65,000 with a 3 to 5 week installation timeline.

A modified 20-foot shipping container creates a plunge pool approximately 7 feet wide by 19 feet long by 4.5 feet deep. That is deep enough for full immersion, long enough for resistance swimming with a jet system, and wide enough for 4–6 people. The steel container is structurally self-supporting — it does not need the excavation, rebar, and shotcrete that make gunite pools so expensive and time-consuming.

Red Agave treats the container pool as the centerpiece of a complete outdoor living design. The pool integrates with poured concrete decking, steel retaining walls for grade changes, 24V FCOB lighting along the pool perimeter and underwater, and native landscape plantings for privacy screening. This is not a stock tank dropped in a yard. It is an engineered swimming pool with professional equipment, wrapped in architectural materials, and integrated into a designed landscape.

Technical Specifications

What Goes Into Every Installation

Container Structure

ISO standard shipping container (Corten weathering steel). Interior fiberglass or marine-grade gelcoat lining. Reinforced bulkheads at plumbing penetrations. All welds inspected before lining. Available in 20-foot (7×19 ft pool) or 40-foot (7×39 ft pool) configurations.

Raypak Heat/Cool Pump

Raypak R8450ti or equivalent heat/cool pump system. Heats to 90°F in winter, cools to 75°F in Austin’s 100°F+ summers. COP 5.0+ efficiency rating. 240V dedicated circuit. Titanium heat exchanger resists chlorine corrosion. Plumbed inline with filtration.

Filtration & Sanitation

Variable-speed circulation pump (Pentair IntelliFlo or equivalent). Cartridge filter system sized for pool volume. Salt chlorine generator or traditional chlorine feeder. Automatic water leveler. All equipment housed in a ventilated cedar-clad enclosure integrated into the pool surround.

Exterior Cladding

Western Red Cedar (naturally rot-resistant, warm tone, $8–$15/sq ft installed) or Ipe hardwood (Brazilian hardwood, 25+ year lifespan, $18–$28/sq ft installed). Horizontal or vertical plank orientation. Concealed stainless steel fasteners. Integrated bench seating and equipment access panels.

Deck Integration

Poured concrete slab ($14/sq ft) flush with pool top rail. 6-inch synthetic turf margin between concrete and pool edge for barefoot comfort and drainage. Steel edge separation between concrete and turf. Optional marbled concrete or board-formed finish.

Lighting & Controls

24V FCOB (Flexible Chip on Board) LED strips along pool perimeter and underwater mounting points. WiFi WLED controller with scene programming. CRI 90+ color rendering. Integrated with landscape lighting zones for unified control through a single app.

Installation Process

From Design to First Swim: 3–5 Weeks

Week 1–2: Site Preparation — Excavation to depth (fully in-ground, partially buried, or above-grade depending on site conditions and design). Compacted gravel pad with a poured concrete support slab. Utility trenching for water supply, drainage, electrical (240V for heat pump, 120V for lighting controller), and gas (if supplemental heating is specified). Permit inspections for electrical and plumbing rough-in.

Week 2–3: Container Placement & Connection — The modified container arrives by flatbed and is craned into position on the prepared pad. Plumbing connections (supply, return, drain, overflow) are made to pre-installed penetrations. Electrical connections for pump, heater, lighting, and controller. Equipment pad is set and connected. System is pressure-tested and filled.

Week 3–5: Cladding, Hardscape & Landscape — Cedar or Ipe cladding is installed on exposed container walls with stainless steel furring and concealed fasteners. Concrete decking is poured and finished. 6-inch synthetic turf margins are installed between deck edge and pool. Steel retaining walls are fabricated for any grade transitions. Landscape plantings, irrigation, and lighting complete the design. Final permit inspections, barrier (fence) verification, and pool startup.

Investment

What Container Plunge Pools Cost in Austin

Component20 ft Pool40 ft Pool
Modified container (fiberglass lined, jets, plumbing)$15,000–$20,000$22,000–$28,000
Excavation & structural pad$4,000–$6,000$6,000–$10,000
Raypak heat/cool pump + filtration$4,000–$7,000$5,000–$8,000
Cedar cladding (exterior)$3,000–$5,000$5,000–$8,000
Ipe cladding (upgrade)$5,000–$8,000$8,000–$14,000
Concrete deck (400 sq ft at $14/sq ft)$5,600$7,000+
Electrical & plumbing$3,000–$5,000$4,000–$6,000
24V FCOB lighting$1,500–$3,000$2,000–$4,000
Permits & inspections$1,500–$2,500$1,500–$2,500

Typical total: $35,000–$55,000 for a 20-foot pool with cedar cladding, concrete deck, lighting, and basic landscaping. A 40-foot pool with Ipe cladding and full landscape design runs $55,000–$75,000. Compare to a traditional gunite pool at $80,000–$120,000+ with a 3–6 month timeline.

Container Pool vs Other Pool Types

Pool TypeCost RangeTimelineBest For
Container plunge pool (20 ft)$35,000–$55,0003–5 weeksPlunge, cool-off, entertaining, small lots
Container lap pool (40 ft)$55,000–$75,0004–6 weeksLap swimming, resistance training, large patios
Stock tank pool (galvanized)$2,000–$8,0001–2 daysBudget, temporary, DIY aesthetic
Fiberglass shell pool$45,000–$75,0004–8 weeksMid-range, limited shape options
Gunite/shotcrete pool$80,000–$120,000+3–6 monthsCustom shapes, large pools, deep ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Who installs container plunge pools in Austin TX?
Red Agave Landscape designs and installs custom shipping container plunge pools with Raypak heat/cool pumps, cedar or Ipe cladding, concrete deck integration, and complete landscape design. Turnkey from excavation to finished landscape. Free consultations at 512-695-7566.
How much does a container plunge pool cost in Austin?
A complete 20-foot container plunge pool runs $35,000 to $55,000 installed with cedar cladding, concrete deck, heat pump, filtration, and lighting. A 40-foot pool runs $55,000 to $75,000. Compare to $80,000–$120,000+ for a traditional gunite pool.
How long does installation take?
3 to 5 weeks from excavation to first swim. The container arrives pre-modified with fiberglass lining and plumbing penetrations. Site work takes 1–2 weeks, placement and connection 1 week, and cladding/hardscape/landscape 1–2 weeks.
Can a container pool be heated and cooled?
Yes. Raypak heat/cool pump systems heat to 90°F in winter and cool to 75°F when Austin temperatures exceed 100°F. Operating costs run $50–$100/month depending on season and desired temperature.
Do you need a permit for a container pool in Austin?
Yes. The City of Austin requires building, electrical, and plumbing permits for any swimming pool including container pools. A safety barrier (fence) meeting International Residential Code requirements is also mandatory. Red Agave handles the complete permitting process.
What size are container plunge pools?
A 20-foot container creates a pool approximately 7 feet wide by 19 feet long by 4.5 feet deep. A 40-foot container creates a 7×39 foot lap pool. Custom widths up to 14 feet are possible by welding two containers side by side.
How does a container pool compare to a stock tank pool?
Stock tanks ($2,000–$8,000) are galvanized steel tubs with no filtration, heating, or structural engineering — a temporary solution. Container pools are engineered swimming pools with professional filtration, Raypak heat/cool pumps, fiberglass lining, and architectural cladding. Container pools require permits and meet all safety codes.
What cladding options are available?
Western Red Cedar ($8–$15/sq ft installed) is the most popular — warm tone, naturally rot-resistant. Ipe hardwood ($18–$28/sq ft) is the premium option with 25+ year lifespan. Powder-coated steel panels match the Corten patina for an industrial look. All options include concealed stainless steel fasteners.
Pool Season Starts Here
3–5 week installation · Raypak heat/cool · cedar or Ipe cladding · turnkey design-build
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