Cold Plunge Pool Builder
Why Homeowners Add a Cold Plunge
Cold-water therapy has moved from the gym into the backyard. A built-in cold plunge gives you a consistent, dedicated space for recovery and routine — held at the temperature you want, every day of the year. Because we build it as a gunite shell, it becomes a permanent part of your landscape rather than a plastic tub you plug in by the garage.
- ✓Year-round cold-water therapy held at a steady 38–55°F by a dedicated chiller
- ✓A permanent gunite structure — finished, coped, and tiled to match your pool and patio
- ✓Custom size, depth, and shape, with built-in steps and bench seating
- ✓Pairs with a heated spa for contrast (hot/cold) therapy in one backyard
- ✓Adds a distinctive wellness feature — and lasting value — to your property
Inground gunite vs. a portable plunge tub
Why build it in
- ✓Integrated into your deck and landscape — no plastic shell sitting on the patio
- ✓Custom dimensions and depth instead of one fixed factory size
- ✓A finish, coping, and tile package that matches your pool
- ✓Built to last decades like the rest of your gunite pool
Good to know
- →We build cold plunges inground only — we do not install above-ground units
- →It can be built on its own or alongside a new pool and spa
- →A dedicated chiller (and optional heater) controls the temperature
Want the full hot-and-cold setup? Pair it with an inground spa for contrast therapy in one backyard.
How an Inground Cold Plunge Is Built
Phase 01
Design & Permits
We size the plunge to your space and use, plan its place in the yard, and handle the permits and HOA approvals — just as we do for a full pool.
Phase 02
Excavation & Gunite Shell
We excavate the footprint and form the steel-reinforced gunite shell, engineered for the deeper, more vertical profile a plunge calls for.
Phase 03
Plumbing, Chiller & Equipment
We set the circulation, filtration, and a dedicated chiller (plus an optional heater for contrast therapy) so the water holds your target temperature.
Phase 04
Finish, Coping & Startup
We apply the interior finish, set coping and tile to match your pool, then commission the equipment and balance the water for first use.
Budget & Financing
A standalone inground cold plunge typically runs $65,000–$110,000
Most of the cost is the same gunite shell, equipment, and permitting any inground build needs. Added alongside a new pool, where excavation and mobilization are shared, a cold plunge usually adds $25,000–$45,000. Final pricing depends on size, finish, chiller capacity, and site access.
Build the full setup
Hot, cold, and everything in between
A cold plunge is most powerful paired with a warm spa and a custom gunite pool. We build all three as one integrated project.
Related Services
Inground Spas →
Add a warm gunite spa for contrast therapy — spillover into your pool or built as a standalone retreat.
Gunite Pools →
Our specialty and most-requested build — fully custom shapes, premium finishes, and a 50+ year structural life.
Infinity Edge & Custom Features →
Tanning ledges, water features, LED lighting, and smart automation, designed in from day one.
What Our Customers Say
April 2023
“I reviewed multiple proposals on rebuilding a pool upon the purchase of our new house. The previous owner had deferred maintenance on literally every aspect of the pool. Our pool required 100% replacement of the filtration system, heater, skimmers and reconstruction of the drainage system, pool floor, tile and coping. Beltway Pools was by far the most responsive of the bidders with the most reasonable and easiest to understand pricing. Anything that I required clarity on they provided. We now are almost a year past the initial work and they did not deviate one penny from their original pricing. They continue to support us with weekly visits (incremental cost but well worth it) for cleaning and chemical balancing. We are very pleased with our service from Beltway Pools. -Andrew T. Positive Responsiveness, Punctuality, Quality, Professionalism, Value Services Cleaning, General construction, Remodelling, Swimming pool summerisation, Swimming pool water analysis, Winterisation”
April 2024
“Beltway Pools is Amazing. Their service is top notch. Hands down the best pool company in the DMV area. The one thing that I love about Beltway pools is not just the pool service and repairs but the timely responses I always get when I have an issue. The staff is very on point and amazing. The pricing is great as well. Services Above-ground pool installation, Cleaning, General construction, Custom swimming pool design, Design, General repairs & maintenance, Hot tub equipment maintenance, Hot tub equipment repair, In-ground pool installation, Jetted lap pool construction, Remodelling, Spa and hot tub installation, Swimming pool summerisation, Swimming pool crack repair, Swimming pool equipment maintenance, Swimming pool equipment repair, Swimming pool resurfacing, Swimming pool tile repair, Swimming pool water feature construction, Swimming pool water feature maintenance, Swimming pool water feature repairs, Hot tub test soaking, Swimming pool water analysis, Winterisation”
January 2026
“Beltway Pools is truly the best pool company in Alexandria. I know both Dragan and Rob and they are so professional - between the options in their showroom, punctuality, craftsmanship, suggestions for fixing other company's mistakes, the high level of detail, they are the very top of their industry. If you need a pool renovation, repairs, or regular service or maintenance in Alexandria and surrounding DMV areas, you'll be very pleased with Beltway Pools.”
Areas We Serve
Serving homeowners across Northern Virginia, Maryland & Washington, DC.
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Cold Plunge Pools — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an inground cold plunge pool cost in the DMV?
A standalone inground cold plunge typically runs $65,000–$110,000 in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Most of that is the same gunite shell, equipment, and permitting any inground build requires. When a cold plunge is built alongside a new pool — sharing excavation and mobilization — it usually adds $25,000–$45,000. Final pricing depends on size, finish, chiller capacity, and site access. We provide a written, itemized quote after a site visit.
How cold does a built-in cold plunge get, and how is the temperature controlled?
A dedicated chiller holds the water at a steady, repeatable temperature — most homeowners set theirs somewhere in the 38–55°F range. Because the chiller runs continuously, the plunge is ready whenever you are, year-round, without hauling ice. We can also add a heater so the same backyard offers both a warm spa and a cold plunge for contrast (hot-and-cold) therapy.
Can you add a cold plunge to an existing pool?
Yes. We can build a new inground cold plunge next to an existing pool and patio and tie it into compatible equipment where it makes sense, or run it on its own dedicated chiller. The work is most cost-effective when combined with a renovation that already has the yard open, but it can also be built as a standalone addition. We'll assess access, equipment, and finishes during a site visit.
What is the difference between an inground cold plunge and a portable plunge tub?
A portable plunge is a pre-molded tub that sits on your patio and can be moved or replaced. An inground cold plunge is a permanent gunite structure built into the ground — finished, coped, and tiled to match your pool, with custom dimensions and a built-in chiller. It becomes part of your landscape and is built to last decades. We build cold plunges inground only; we don't install above-ground or portable units.