It’s been a year in the making, and our pool is finally (mostly) finished. Picture five household members celebrating — Burger included, who is figuratively shaking a tiny pom-pom. This post walks through the full process, the timeline, material choices, landscaping, safety, the budget, and the finished result. We’ll also answer common questions that came up while we built it.
*Mostly done — a few back-ordered parts are still arriving.
Neither of us had ever lived in a home with a pool or in a neighborhood where residential pools were common, so this was new territory. We’re thrilled to have our own backyard oasis. We knew a pool would be worth it for our family because for the past five years we’ve rented homes in Florida with pools for spring break and loved how we used those spaces — floating, swimming, and eating poolside meals. That experience shaped our idea of what we wanted in our own backyard.
Meals at the pool have been a highlight: pizza, PB&Js, even hot mac & cheese for the kids. Practical choices like shatterproof bowls and plates have already proven indispensable.
When we moved to Florida, having room for a pool was high on our list. The house we chose didn’t have a pool but the lot allowed for one, and the listing even mentioned there was room to add a pool. That turned out to be a blessing: we were able to design the exact space we imagined, including a hot tub that my wife really wanted.
The Before & After
The yard we started with was essentially unused and full of weeds. The contractor provided some early photos and video — grainy, but useful to show what we began with. After design, permitting, and construction, the weeds are gone and the backyard feels like a little tropical retreat.
We painted and unified fence colors, added a decorative retaining wall with scuppers (small fountain spouts), installed the pool and spa, and layered in tropical plantings. The transformation from a weedy lot to a cozy, private pool area has been dramatic.
We also made a short day-and-night video walkthrough to give a better sense of the space. It’s relaxing and captures the mood of the backyard, including a very subtle cameo by Burger at the end.
Note: The video is also available on YouTube if you prefer to watch there.
Planning Our Pool
Our inspiration came from a Balinese-style pool we stayed at on a trip to Costa Rica. We liked the small, lush, private vibe rather than a massive party pool. Because our lot was modest, we opted for a freeform pool with integrated spa that prioritized swimmable area, room to float, a hot tub, and soothing fountain sounds from the scuppers.
We hired a local landscape architect to help navigate setback rules and local codes and to suggest helpful design features, including curved edges and the retaining wall fountain. Her hourly fee and focused guidance were well worth the investment.
The pool’s longest side is about 20′ and the widest point is about 14′, with organic curves and the integrated hot tub shaping the final swimmable area. It’s ample for our family and friends and has hosted up to 10 people comfortably.
Plaster, Tile & Patio Choices
Most pools in our area are concrete with plaster finish because the sandy soil works well for that method. We spent significant time choosing the plaster color because it strongly influences water color. After viewing samples in person and testing them with our tile selections, we picked Ivory DiamondBrite plaster for a light, slightly green-blue tone that pairs smoothly with our tiles and stone.
Water color varies with depth, tile, time of day, and surrounding landscape, so samples must be checked wet and in natural light. Our waterline tile is a neutral sand-toned 2×2 mosaic chosen to fit curved edges, and the retaining wall uses a subtle stacked travertine splitface in Ivory for a natural, tone-on-tone look. We used the same 12×24 travertine for coping and patio, and we sealed those surfaces after installation.
Build Process & Timeline
The project spanned roughly 13 months overall and included some permit delays and back-ordered parts, but here’s the high-level timeline:
June 2020: Initial quote and material discussions.
July 2020: Consulted a landscape architect.
September 2020: Hired a builder and submitted designs for permitting.
February 2021: Permit issued, material selections finalized.
March 2021: Excavation, framing, rebar, plumbing, and shotcrete (concrete form).
May 2021: Tile, coping, patio, and retaining wall installed; landscaping began.
June 2021: Pool equipment installed, plaster applied, and the pool started filling.
July 2021: Scuppers plumbed and heater activated for the spa after the plaster cured.
August 2021: Mostly complete, with a couple of back-ordered spa fittings still pending.
Material shortages and busy schedules slowed parts of the process, but the major steps moved forward steadily once materials and permits were in place.
Landscaping, Furnishings & Details
Planting beds were installed by us with help from local garden center pros and an app for plant selection. We added Chinese Fan Palms for instant tropical height and filled beds with star jasmine, foxtail ferns, stonecrop, and red ti plants. The jasmine will climb the fence and provide fragrance and privacy as it fills in.
Retaining walls were necessary because our pool sits lower than neighboring yards. We turned that functional element into a decorative accent with a stone-faced wall and scuppers that recirculate pool water, adding sound and movement. We chose low-drop, low-maintenance plants to minimize debris in the pool.
Fences & Privacy
Pool code required a secure fence with self-closing gates and latches placed out of reach of small children. We matched fence color across sections, painting the back neighbor fence to create a unified look. One fence section slopes subtly with the ground — a small regret we noticed after installation — but it’s mostly obscured by plantings and the curved pool design.
Seating & Lighting
We arranged a flexible seating area with two upright chairs, a coffee table, and two lounge chairs under an 11-foot umbrella, which provides shade most of the day. Lighting is almost entirely solar — pathway lights, umbrella lights, and string lights on the fence — which creates a warm nighttime ambiance without wiring or extra energy use. We swapped out unsealed wood furniture for weatherproof wicker and added outdoor pillows for comfort.
Pool Organization
Hooks for towels and suits are essential — we put multiple hooks around the pool and in the hall leading to it. We hung pool tools neatly on garage hooks and keep toys and floats organized with a simple PVC float holder planted in a pot of rocks. Towels, sunscreen, and extras live in the laundry closet inside the house for convenience and protection from dampness.
FAQs & Practical Details
Foot wash / outdoor shower? We have an outdoor shower nearby, though it’s just outside the pool gate. We also have a hose for quick rinses when needed.
Salt or chlorine? We chose a saltwater system, which is common in our area. The pool needed chlorine for the first 30 days while plaster cured, then bags of food-grade salt were added to convert it. Salt systems tend to be gentler on skin and have less smell than traditional chlorine systems.
Safety? Local code required a secure fence, self-closing gates, and door/window alarms. We added a human-sensing camera that alerts our phones if someone enters the area as an extra safety measure.
Maintenance? For now we hired a weekly pool pro to vacuum, balance salt levels, and maintain equipment. He’s been helpful in teaching us the system, and we may take over maintenance later.
Equipment? We followed local recommendations and installed a variable-speed pump and a Hayward system. The spa is heated by a gas heater; the pool typically stays warm from the sun, and we use the heater mainly for the spa.
Smart controls? The pool controller can run lights, the heater, and the fountains. We added a receiver so we can operate the system from an app on our phones, which is convenient and reliable.
Budget
Our pool builder’s work totaled about $45,000 for the pool itself (not including fencing, landscaping, furniture, or other site improvements). Pool costs vary widely by region, size, soil conditions, yard access, materials, and builder availability. In our case, sandy soil, easy access for equipment, and a modest pool size helped keep costs lower than areas that require blasting rock or crane access.
All in all, this pool project has been our longest, most involved, and most expensive undertaking since becoming homeowners. It was a roller coaster at times — delays, back-ordered parts, and waiting for permits — but seeing our family enjoy the finished space has made every step worthwhile. We’re grateful to have a private retreat right outside our back door, and we’re excited to keep refining and enjoying it as landscaping matures and final hardware arrives.
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