A swimming pool should serve a function beyond making your backyard look beautiful. It should work with the architecture of your home, provide ample space to swim and relax, and complement your preferences for outdoor living.
Our design and construction approach to custom luxury pools in San Diego, CA, integrates our understanding of construction management with design and planning to help homeowners create the swimming pools of their dreams.
We make it our business to understand our customers’ preferences and the demands of their property. Whether you want an inground pool built in contemporary style, a pool with a spa integrated into it, or an outdoor retreat resembling a resort, we study the surrounding outdoor and outdoor recreational areas, as well as the access and equipment required for the project, prior to breaking ground.
Looking for luxury pool builders in San Diego? Call (877) 918-0860 or contact our team to discuss your project.
Homes in San Diego have various backyard conditions from generous, fairly level backyards to very narrow access ways, terraced backyards, or significant changes in elevation.
Swimming pool designs should address the conditions of the backyard instead of using a standard plan.
A home with a geometric, or strictly edited, design may require a swimming pool design with similarly strict edges. For a property with an established garden, the swimming pool design should maintain garden areas and comfortable walkways.
The intended use of a swimming pool is also extremely important.
For swimming laps, a continuous expanse of water is needed, while families may need a shallow area for lounging and water access from the patio. For entertaining, thought should be given to the relationship of the pool to the seating and dining areas.
It is important to take all of these things into consideration when planning a custom swimming pool. Our goal is to create a swimming pool design that integrates with the entire property.
Luxurious pools exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. The perfect design for you depends on your style, the space available, and the requirements of your building site.
An inground pool can be designed to harmonize perfectly with your home and other site elements. This includes the site borders, landscape, and other site features. It can incorporate different materials, finishes and colors to help enhance pool edges and coping as well as design features such as stairs, benches, ledges and sun shelves.
When designing a pool we take into consideration the depth and placement of the pool entries, how the edges of the pool relate to adjacent patios and walkways, and how the water integrates with the site to help establish drift and circulation.
Explore our inground pool construction services for additional information about available construction options.
Swimming pools positioned on the property in a harmonious fashion with the home are then strategically balanced with proportionate elements to achieve an elegant, high-end design.
Waterline tile, coping, underwater lighting and other water elements can be integrated for design differentiation.
Pools can have many elements, but incorporating too many does not create a better design.
An effective design incorporates the elements that truly enhance a space and introduce improvement, rather than unnecessary elements that complicate the design.
Our luxury pool construction services focus on integrating these decisions into the overall project.
An integrated spa can provide a relaxing area to complement your swimming pool.
Depending on your backyard, a spa can be connected to your pool, or be situated elsewhere in your backyard.
When designing a spa, we take into account site seating, spa accessibility, equipment clearances, and the relationship between the spa and surrounding seating areas.
By designing the pool and spa together, homeowners can take advantage of their outdoor space in various ways throughout the year.
Some San Diego construction sites have challenges that require creative solutions.
These challenges may include elevation changes on the property, limited site access, existing retaining walls, and lack of space to maneuver construction equipment.
Depending on the project, our hillside construction services take these issues into account when formulating solutions.
Including certain solutions in every pool construction design seems necessary, but it is better practice to assess whether the solutions are actually necessary based on the condition of the site.
Prospective pool buyers should consider factors beyond pictures and descriptions when researching San Diego’s best pool builders.
Homeowners should ask what considerations affect construction, how the design fits the property, and what the pool builder will do to ensure the planning and approval processes go smoothly.
With any prospective builder, consider the following.
To develop a design that will work for you, a builder should take into account the dimensions of your backyard, how you will be using the space, what the existing site utilities are, access, slope and other constraints.
A contractor should be able to explain the key features and how the pool will be constructed.
The California Contractors State License Board allows the public to view relevant licensing information for contractors. The homeowner should contact the contractor for the contractors’ insurance information.
Communicating the process for changes will avoid misunderstandings. This is also true for the process for material selection and other design changes.
Factors such as the surrounding surfaces, equipment access and circulation as well as the appearance of the pool should be considered.
Homeowners who consider the above when evaluating pool contractors should be able to make an informed decision when selecting a contractor.
An in-ground swimming pool is only the start of many considerations when planning the successful construction of a backyard.
Other features that make an outdoor space functional include the placement and design of paths, planting locations, irrigation, drainage, and safety features.
The placement of a pool affects the connection to the home and outdoor movement. Walkways should be wide enough to comfortably connect the pool to outdoor seating areas and other features. A pool should be carefully placed in a backyard to ensure there is adequate space for other features, including outdoor kitchens, dining and lounging areas, without creating congested use. The placement of a pool affects the location of other outdoor features, including seating and landscaping, and how the space is divided for privacy.
Considering these factors together will create the most useable and comfortable space.
The location of a pool’s equipment affects the overall design of the space, including equipment noise and where the service lines are located. There may also be local requirements or manufacturer’s instructions that limit where equipment can be placed.
Considering these during the design process avoids equipment placement becoming an afterthought.
Because of varying solar exposure and the location of building setbacks on a site, the type of swimming and relaxing that can occur in outdoor spaces in San Diego may not always be appealing. The location of adjacent buildings and trees can restrict how much sun a swimming pool receives.
Potentially restricting factors like trees may also influence the placement of seating areas and outdoor features. All of these constraints should be evaluated and designed for in combination. Considering these during the design process addresses equipment placement concerns and privacy needs.
While building permits are not always required for swimming pools in new residential construction, construction of a swimming pool often requires inspection of the pool and equipment before the pool can be filled. Prior to construction, the Development Services Department of the City of San Diego administers other building and land development permits.
Plans may need to include structural requirements, electrical systems, plumbing, equipment, drainage, and applicable pool safety measures. Properties located in other jurisdictions within San Diego County may have alternative approval processes.
Some San Diego residential communities have architectural or landscape HOAs.
In some communities, homeowners must get approvals for proposed plans showing the location of a pool and equipment, pool safety fencing, and/or changes to the landscape.
HOA approvals do not take the place of municipal building permits. It is often useful to identify HOA requirements early in the process in order to incorporate them in the project schedule.
Some projects may involve grading, retaining walls, restricted site access, and/or site conditions that require alternative construction and/or engineering methods.
Each situation requires a site-specific evaluation to determine the extent of work that may be allowed and what may be required prior to the initiation of the work.
Transforming your vision of a luxury swimming pool into a reality is a process made up of several connected stages. Clarity in the process empowers our clients to feel confident in the design process and gives our staff the ability to flex and bend as the project design takes shape.
Our team takes the time to get to know you and your family to understand your desired usage, your available space, and how you interact with your outdoor living space.
Our observations during this meeting begin the scoping process of your potential project.
From the information gleaned from the design meeting, the design team develops an outline of the necessary swimming pool and equipment layout, as well as dimensions and connections to the adjacent outdoor living space.
Renderings are an excellent tool to communicate the design to our clients, and allow the client to review and understand the key elements of the design.
The project is designed in accordance with local codes, engineering requirements and standards, and reviewed for construction by the local building department.
Steel reinforcement and the pool shell are constructed in accordance with the plans, and the interconnecting equipment systems are constructed and installed.
The swimming pool is finished, coping and decking are installed, and the pool is ready for use.
When seeking a custom pool builder, one needs to look for a company that integrates design and construction know-how.
Hillside Pool Builders takes pride in their integration of art and science. Clients have the benefit of working directly with the award-winning design team to create exquisite spaces integrating the pool as a vital component.
Our process includes:
The cost is based on several factors including pool size, site work, structural requirements, pool finishes, equipment, features, and design. A more accurate initial cost estimate can be provided based on the proposed design and conditions of the site.
The schedule is based on design and construction complexity, scope of work, site conditions, availability of construction equipment, permitting, and inspections.
Space is always at a premium. Accounting for pool equipment, safety, setbacks, and required circulation, a small site may still allow space for a swimming pool. The swimming pool can be designed to fit the site.
New residential pools generally require permits. The authority having jurisdiction varies based on the location of the property. Other permits may be required for other work performed on the property such as electrical and grading.
A swimming pool becomes a luxury pool through material selection and custom features to integrate it into the architecture of the site, thereby creating an experience.
Yes. A swimming pool can be designed to integrate a spa, outdoor kitchens, landscaping, seating, and other outdoor living features.
A custom swimming pool should complement how you want to enjoy your home. Regular swimmers may prefer a lap pool. Others may simply want to sit and enjoy the view. Still others may want to create a space that welcomes family and friends to relax and enjoy themselves.
Hillside Pool Builders assists homeowners in finding the pool designs that consider the function and practical considerations of their property.
Ready to discuss your San Diego pool project?
Call (877) 918-0860 or contact Hillside Pool Builders to request a consultation and discuss your swimming pool plans.