From the old-town streets along Indian Creek to the brand-new subdivisions filling in toward Meridian and the wide-open acreage under Kuna Butte, Universal Pools has been building gunite pools for south Ada County families for decades. Licensed RCE-35911, family-owned, and on site for every build.
Kuna has gone from a quiet farm town to one of the fastest-growing cities in Idaho in a little over a decade. Families keep choosing it for the same reasons: bigger lots than Boise or Meridian, newer homes, good schools, and a straight shot up Highway 69 to the interstate. The result is a city full of brand-new backyards with nothing in them yet — the single best moment to build a pool.
Building here, though, means respecting what's under the sod. Much of Kuna sits on shallow basalt, the same lava rock that formed Kuna Butte and the Kuna Caves. On one street the soil runs eight feet deep; two blocks over, rock sits a couple of feet down. The New York Canal and Boise-Kuna Irrigation District laterals cross the area as well, and their easements decide where a shell can and can't go.
Universal Pools has been reading exactly these conditions since 1979. We probe for rock, pull the easement maps, and confirm jurisdiction — City of Kuna or Ada County — before we quote, so the number you get is the number the project actually costs. Curious what that number looks like? Our pool cost guide breaks down real Treasure Valley pricing.
And like every project we take on, a Kuna build is run personally by Scott and Cary Pahl. The people who design your pool pour their experience into it on site — no layers of project managers in between. Start with a free quote, or read about our gunite construction and remodeling work.
Scott's knowledge of hydraulics and construction is unmatched. Our pool has been running perfectly for five years with almost no maintenance issues.
— Mike R., Meridian HomeownerA pool in a brand-new subdivision off Ten Mile Road is a different project than one on five acres below Kuna Butte. Here's how the city breaks down from a builder's point of view.
The original townsite along Indian Creek, with mature trees, established lots, and the Indian Creek Greenbelt a short walk away. Access is tighter here than in the new developments, so we stage equipment carefully and design shells that fit yards that have had decades to settle in.
Kuna's main growth front, where new subdivisions run almost continuously toward Meridian. A blank-slate backyard is the least expensive moment to build a pool — before fences, sod, and sprinklers go in — and we coordinate with home builders and HOAs to hit that window.
The corridor where Kuna meets southwest Boise. A mix of newer subdivisions and long-held country lots, with some addresses in unincorporated Ada County. We confirm which building department reviews the project on the first visit, not at plan review.
Semi-rural ground west of town, where lots stretch out and irrigation laterals run along the roads. Projects here often pair a large pool with a spa and outdoor kitchen, and the open access makes excavation efficient — provided the rock cooperates.
Acreage country on the way to the Snake River canyon, with Owyhee views and plenty of sky. Basalt is shallowest here, wind is a design factor, and wells and septic systems come into play — details a valley-native builder handles as second nature. Ada County permitting applies, and we know it well.
Where south Ada County rolls into Canyon County farmland around Melba. Rural lots, generous setbacks, and a permit path that may switch counties at the property line; projects here often mirror our Nampa work in soils and layout.
One licensed contractor from the first site visit to the final inspection — and for every swim season after.
Kuna pricing tracks the rest of the Treasure Valley — most gunite builds start in the low six figures and scale with size and features. The one local variable is rock: shallow basalt can add excavation cost, which is exactly why we probe before quoting. See our full pool cost guide or request a quote for your property.
Depends on your address. Inside city limits, the City of Kuna Building Department reviews the project; outside — including most of the acreage toward Kuna Butte, Swan Falls Road, and Melba — it's Ada County Development Services. We confirm jurisdiction on the first visit and file everything for you.
Possibly. Basalt depth varies block to block across Kuna. When rock is shallow we plan for it — hydraulic breaking, a shell depth that works with the grade, or a partially raised design — and price it up front rather than surprising you mid-excavation.
The New York Canal and Boise-Kuna Irrigation District laterals cross a large share of Kuna properties, and pools can't be placed over their easements. We pull the easement maps during design so the layout is right before anything is submitted.
Typically 3 to 5 months from contract to first swim, driven by permit review, weather, and the scope of features. New-construction lots with open access often move faster; we'll give you a realistic schedule up front.
New subdivision, old-town lot, or acreage under the Butte — tell us what you're working with and we'll tell you exactly what's possible. Free quotes and a response within one business day.