Custom Pool and Hillside Construction Services
Choose the work your property needs: a new custom pool, a hillside or infinity pool, an attached spa, or a complete poolside outdoor space. We can discuss the scope once we understand your yard and goals.
Hillside Pool Builder designs and constructs custom pools in Los Angeles and the service areas listed on this site. We also build hillside and infinity pools, spas, decks, retaining walls, and outdoor living features when those are part of the project.
You do not need to have your project analyzed and defined in order to call us. We just need to know the available property and your vision in order to provide a proposal that works for you.
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What Do You Want to Build?
Maybe you don’t have a clear vision yet, but you want to know how a pool will look in your backyard. Maybe you think you want an infinity edge. Maybe you have a sloping and steep backyard. Perhaps you want to design a large backyard with a pool, patio, spa, cooking area, and outdoor gathering area.
Some Sample Beginnings Are:
- A completely built-in custom pool
- A pool designed for a sloped or difficult to access property
- An infinity pool built for a specific view
- A pool with an attached or elevated spa
- A larger backyard project with decking, landscaping, or an outdoor living space
The best solution really depends on the problem you want to fix rather than the name of your project.
If you’re still forming your ideas, then custom pool design can help you bridge the gap between wanting and having by developing a plan that turns your dreams into a reality based on your property.
New Pool Construction
For homeowners starting from ground zero, the first concerns are the location, the size, the intended use, and how much of the backyard is left untouched.
This may seem easy, but the decisions that come first answer a lot of other questions along the way. A pool that is placed too close to a gathering space can make the entire backyard feel small. A design that doesn’t incorporate a view may leave a wonderful feature of the property undervalued. For a prospective hill side property, the relationship of the pool to the slope may be an early construction concern and not a later finishing detail.
The services we offer have been built around specific types of projects and are meant to allow you to drill down to the services that fit your property the best.
Custom Pool Construction
A custom pool fits your backyard rather than a pool you select from a standard set of offerings.
There’s a lot to consider, like shape, placement, depth, and the area of the deck, as well as the configuration of the spa. All these elements blend to help in early design thinking about how the pool will integrate with the space and how you’ll use it.
If you’re ready to have a pool built and want your project designed as a complete package, consider our custom pool construction services.
Hillside Pool Construction
A hillside can create an interesting pool project, but it can also make the early planning challenging.
Things like slope, elevation, access to equipment, and the excavation can all impact the design. A pool that works well on a level suburban lot can’t be expected to function the same way on a steep hillside.
Hillside projects should be designed based on the existing conditions.
If your yard slopes away from the house, has varying elevation, or limited access, see our approach to building pools on a hillside.
Infinity Pool Construction
An infinity pool is best placed where it will make sense.
On certain sites, this pool edge can bring a design feature where the water appears to meet a hillside, canyon, skyline, or distant view. On other designs, an infinity edge can feel like a feature added just because it was available.
The question is not just about appearance; it’s about if site lines, elevation and views complement the design of the home.
We deal with sites that have the right setting and all infrastructure for pool construction.
Inground Pool Construction
For many, a well designed pool that makes the backyard more accessible for everyday use is the goal.
An in-ground pool can be constructed for swimming, family time, entertaining or for private use. The limitation is achieving a balance between the size of the pool and the surrounding area.
An in-ground pool that is of moderate size can make design sense with comfortable deck space and seating. Sometimes the use of deck space and seating can make more sense than a large water feature that dominates most of the backyard.
See options and considerations for inground pool construction.
Luxury Pool Construction
Often, the details of a pool project need to be limited to keep the design under control.
The pool, spa, finishes, landscape and outdoor gathering areas should integrate with the architecture of the home.
Disconnected materials can make the design of the backyard feel separated and disjointed, even if the design is expensive. With design integrity, the pool become a part of the property rather than the largest feature of the backyard.
For a more design oriented approach to luxury pool construction, please view our service.
Pool Design and Planning
A design can always be adjusted; it is much harder to change pool placement once construction has commenced.
The design process makes room for homeowners to ponder and answer some big picture questions that become inconvenient to avoid, such as: will the pool be built in the correct section of the yard? What about the spacing to walk around the pool? Does the design need to include a spa? Will the view be limited? Will there be space to place patio furniture?
The design process is equally important for hillside property designs, as design cannot ignore slope and access, and consider them as separate issues to address later.
We specialize in custom pool design and focus on these questions to provide a design before the process continues to construction.
Hillside and Structural Pool Services
In some cases the work below and around the pool can be just as important as the work visible above the pool.
A steep access and yard or significant grade change can introduce numerous structural and excavation issues before the pool can be formed.
Depending on the site conditions, early planning may need to consider:
- Access for equipment and construction
- Changes to the existing and proposed grades
- Excavation to create the pool and hillside
- Retaining structures
- Site-specific structural concerns
Not every hillside requires these services. It depends on the property and planning.
This is a good place for bullets because the user is more interested in why this work may be different as opposed to a marketing talk.
Excavation
Excavation for a swimming pool goes beyond removing soil from the pool shape.
The amount of space, gradient of the land, and where machinery can reach the work area helps determine the right approach for a site. Accessibility conditions for a small, urban Los Angeles property or hillside property may be very different from a spacious, flat property.
To find out more about swimming pool excavation
Pool Caissons
Depending on the project, a hillside property could require caissons as part of the structure.
While not every pool site will require them, they will likely not be needed for a slope. Each unique property or project will determine how flexible each structure is.
If your plans have included a discussion regarding caissons, read about their installation for pool projects.
Retaining Wall Construction
When a site consists of a significant rise or fall, a retaining structure may become part of the site plan.
It may have a different function in each individual plan, so retaining wall construction for hillside sites should be reviewed in the context of overall pool design, rather than as a standard requirement for a hillside site.
See how retaining walls fit into pool projects.
Custom Spa Construction
A spa may be the best choice if it is built alongside the pool.
A spa can be directly connected to the pool in order to establish a visual connection. Raising the spa can be a way to offset elevation differences and shift the focal point of the backyard.
The best direction for each panel integration will depend on the overall layout of the pool, the house, and the intended use case of the spa.
Our construct service integrates both the attached and the elevated spa configurations to the overall pool design.
Pool Features that make the Water more Useful
Features are only useful if their purpose is not added to a checklist.
A shallow ledge can be built to provide a place for people to sit in the water. Seating for relaxation can be built into the pool design. The placement of features and the design of the pool can be used to control the balance of the sound and movement of the water.
The best question is always asked: will this make the pool better for the people that will use it?
See the pool features design tool to check ideas.
Tanning Ledges, Baja Shelves and Sun Shelves
These design terms are synonyms and are used to describe a shallow area built into a swimming pool.
A pool built with a tanning ledge provides additional seating for relaxing and offers people an opportunity to enjoy the pool in a variety of depths.
The design should fit the pool and not provide a shallow platform that takes away from the functions of the pool that are essential to you
For more information about tanning ledges and Baja shelves, click here.
Pool Deck Construction
Most of a pool’s functionality is concentrated on the deck. More than just a border, deck design should incorporate circulation, seating, and ways to connect the pool and house. The deck’s material is also very important.
Homeowners have a lot of options depending on the aesthetics they want to pull off including concrete, pavers, travertine, and stone.
Consider deck materials and design.
Hardscaping Around the Pool and Home
Hardscaping is used to organize the sections of the backyard that are not water or planting. It is also used to create paths to and from the house and pool. Built surfaces can be used to create places for seating or gathering. Differing materials can also be used to help distinguish different uses without fragmenting the yard.
This is particularly useful once the project is no longer limited to just the pool deck.
Learn more about hardscaping and landscaping for larger, built and paved areas.
Patio Construction
This is where people actually spend most of their time in the yard. A patio can be built next to the pool, closer to the house, or between different outdoor areas. The size and placement is relative to the intended use which can be seating, dining, entertaining or simply relaxing.
It is more critical in these situations, as they must share the same backyard.
To ensure you have an exclusive space for all guests, check out our dedicated patio construction service.
Pool Landscaping and Landscape Design
An exposed pool can look unfinished with backyard designs consisting of too much hard surface.
When designing with backyard pool landscaping, the focus is creating privacy, using plantings or any other landscape material to soften the edge of the pool. Planting can also help direct views.
All pool landscaping should take the pool into consideration for function while still creating a cohesive design.
To learn more about pool landscaping, visit our pool landscape design services.
Outdoor Living Areas
Many novice pool owners will learn the hard way that a pool is just the start to a backyard project.
While a pool is critical for swimming, people also need a place to sit, a place to prepare food, and a gathering spot away from water’s edge.
By designing all of these adjacent spaces at once, you can avoid creating empty and incohesive spaces.
Fire Pits
When positioned correctly, fire pits can create a design feature and a gathering place in an outdoor seating area away from the water.
Think about the placement in relation to the overall design of your backyard and how people move through your backyard.
Find out more about outdoor fire pits.
Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Areas
An outdoor kitchen needs to fit naturally in areas where people regularly gather to eat.
The layout may also need to incorporate seating, circulation, and relationships to the pool and the house, rather than just making a long countertop along a blank wall.
If outdoor cooking and entertaining is a major focus of your backyard, outdoor kitchens and BBQ areas are worth checking out.
One Backyard May Need More Than One Service
Not all projects are easily contained in a single classification.
An example may be a custom designed and built hillside pool with a landscaped area and structure and excavation work.
Another example may be a homeowner that wants a well designed, built in ground pool with integrated spa and a nice patio.
We are not trying to make a project more complex than necessary. We are providing the necessary services and design elements in an integrated seamless fashion.
If your project integrates several of these elements and you are unsure which to start with, custom pool construction or sending us your property details are good options.
What You Gain by Thinking About the Entire Project in Advance
Construction of a swimming pool requires the consideration of overall impact on the architecture and usability of the backyard surrounding the pool.
Planning in Advance
The backyard should remain usable during the times when the swimming pool is not in use.
Thinking About El Structure as a Whole
The swimming pool’s construction should take into account the overall yard, including seating and gathering areas and the connection between the land and the structures all around it.
Features With a Clear Purpose
Spas, tanning ledges, and fire pits are better implemented with real need, such as the desired space filling feature, as opposed to created simply as a void filler.
Design That Responds to the Property
Features and amenities relating to swimming pools can include kitchens, fire pits, spas, and bar areas. All of these elements can be implemented to satisfy a real need as opposed to simply filling space.
For a custom pool design outdoor living project that includes multiple design elements, please see our outdoor living services.
Service Areas
Service areas encompass Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Van Nuys, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Brentwood, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades and surrounding communities. In addition, services extend to Orange County and San Diego.
The type of project will vary from property to property. A hillside site in Hollywood Hills or Bel Air may have different considerations from even a typical backyard project in the surrounding region.
To see Southern California pool builder service areas most relevant to your property, click here.
For the company’s primary market of Sherman Oaks, see our Sherman Oaks pool builder page.
To see pool construction in Los Angeles, the primary market, click here.
For an idea of pool construction costs, see here.
There is no meaningful singular price for any job.
A pool built on an open, level lot doesn’t come with the same considerations as a pool built on a steep lot with difficult access for equipment. Additionally, site conditions, pool size, structural work, finishes, decking, spa features, and the surrounding outdoor construction will add to the overall project scope.
That’s why the most meaningful cost discussion begins with the site rather than an advertised starting price.
Now tell us the location of the build and your preference for a pool and surrounding features. We can get to your project specifically, not someone else’s.
Things to Know Before You Contact Us
You do not need to have your final pool design ready, or even finished drawings. However, having a few details ready will help expedite your first consult:
- Zip code or general location of the build
- How level your yard is (or if it has a slope, or if it is hard to get to)
- Your preferred pool type
- Other features you prefer (spa, deck, patio, landscaping, living areas)
- How you plan on using the finished lawn
- Your vision for the new space
Feel free to send any photos of the current space too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our services include constructing custom pools of all types, including hillside and infinity pools. We perform excavation for pools, construction of caissons and retaining walls, spa construction, pool decking, and landscape construction. We also offer patio and hardscaping construction, outdoor living features and landscape construction.
Start with custom pool construction for a new pool. If the property is steep or access is difficult, our hillside pool construction page explains those site-specific considerations. We can discuss the right scope after learning about your yard.
We do. Constructing pools on hillside properties is a large part of our business. The construction methods will depend upon your specific property.
Design for construction of custom pools includes design for slope, shape, and the relationship of the pool and outdoor space.
No, caissons are not part of every project and are not a necessary part of every hillside pool. The nature of the project and the property will determine the type of construction that is necessary.
No, slope is not the determining factor for the use of a retaining wall.
Design of the project determines if a spa can be built on a new swimming pool. Built on, attached, or completely separate from the swimming pool, the design will determine how the spa can be integrated into the backyard.
Yes. A pool can have a tanning ledge or Baja shelf if there is adequate space and if that will enhance the pool's functionality.
Depending on the design and the contracted project, decking options can be concrete, stone, pavers, or travertine.
Yes. We will construct hardscapes and patios to complete the project if they integrate into the swimming pool and the backyard.
Yes. The design of the new swimming pool can incorporate landscaping throughout the backyard, including the surrounding areas of the swimming pool.
Yes. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits can be completed as part of the same project if they integrate into the backyard design.
There are many factors that determine the cost of a swimming pool. The cost may vary based on the size of the pool, the type of exterior work required, the design of the pool, access to the site, slope of the site, excavation, structural work, pool finishes and finish work. The site must be visited to provide a detailed quote.
Construction time depends on many factors such as the design, properties, approvals, and the scope and size of the project.
Hillside Pool Builder serves the communities of Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks in particular, while serving the entirety of Southern California, as well as San Diego and Orange County.
The services on this site are primarily geared toward pool construction and the associated design work. Pool maintenance, repairs, and remodeling are not among the services confirmed in our current offering.
If you are unsure about your service, feel free to give us a call!
You do not have to call if you do not know the project specifics.
For example, if you have a flattened backyard, and no slope behind the house, and you want to construct a new pool with an infinity edge, because you have a great backyard view, then you should definitely give us a call.
The first thing we need to know is what you have. The next thing we want to know is what you envision for your project. There is no need to believe you need to know construction terminology to do so.
Ready to start? Contact Hillside Pool Builder and tell us what you are planning.