Installing a custom built pool at your new home? At St. Pierre Custom Home Builders, we know that few features elevate a new custom home quite like a beautifully designed pool. Whether you’re envisioning an elegant retreat, a family fun zone, or an entertainer’s paradise, a custom-built pool transforms your backyard into a destination. But before you dive in, there’s a lot to consider to ensure your investment delivers both beauty and long-lasting value.
Here are the top 10 things to think about when installing a custom pool for your new home:
1. Choose the Right Pool Type: Gunite vs Vinyl Liner
One of the first decisions is what type of pool you want.
- Gunite (concrete) Pools are the gold standard in custom builds. They’re incredibly durable, highly customizable in shape and size, and allow for upscale finishes like Pebble-Tec or tile. While more expensive upfront, they can last 30+ years with proper maintenance.
- Vinyl Liner Pools are more budget-friendly but have limitations in design flexibility and lifespan. Liners typically need replacement every 7–10 years, and they’re less suitable for elevated or complex designs.
In most St. Pierre projects, we recommend gunite or concrete pools, especially in coastal or high-water-table areas where elevated construction is necessary.
2. Understand Elevation Requirements
In regions with a high water table (like many coastal areas), pools often need to be elevated to prevent structural damage or floating. This involves additional engineering, retaining walls, and drainage planning. Your builder will guide you through these technical details—but it’s crucial to understand they affect both the budget and timeline. Additionally you’ll need to work with a pool construction partner who is well versed in the general permitting guidance for installing custom built pools.
It is very common that our clients will opt for an elevated gunite pool to be built at their newly constructed home. One of the primary reasons for this is the water table in the Lowcountry area can make it difficult to install below ground swimming pools. Your contractor or pool builder should be well versed in this concept and should be able to provide you with guidance and functional design options.
3. Select the Right Pool Finish
Your pool’s surface finish affects both look and longevity.
- Standard plaster is the most common and cost-effective option but may require resurfacing sooner.
- Pebble-Tec or quartz aggregate finishes provide enhanced durability, texture, and stunning visual depth—though they come at a premium price.
Discuss these options with your builder to match your desired look, feel, and budget.
4. Plan Your Pool Equipment Wisely
Modern pools come with a variety of equipment choices:
- Salt chlorine generators (salt systems) offer softer, lower-maintenance water compared to traditional chlorine pools.
- Heaters and chillers can extend your pool season, making it enjoyable even in cooler months or extreme heat.
- Variable-speed pumps and smart automation systems improve energy efficiency and convenience.
- Built in pool cleaning systems can help keep up the health of your pools interior finish. Many of these pool cleaning systems are easily installed at the time of construction and will prevent a lot of organic matter from staying at the bottom of your pool and risk staining your plaster surface.
- Choosing the right type of pool filter system typically most high-end custom built pools are going to use a cartridge filter or a Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filter. Pool filtration has come a long way from the sand filters of old and have greatly improved in performance and technology over time. Typically a higher-end quality pool filter can last you anywhere from 7-12 years before it needs replacing.
- Consider Including a Pool Cover adding a pool cover to your new custom built pool can help protect your investment by keeping out leaves and other organic matter from getting into pool. Additionally, pool covers can provide you with an added level of safety if you have children or pets that have difficult swimming.
Investing in the right equipment upfront can save you money and headaches down the road.
5. Think About Who You’re Hosting
Are you building a pool primarily for your kids and their friends? For quiet relaxation? Or for large social gatherings?
- Families might prioritize shallow tanning ledges, splash zones, or sport-friendly layouts.
- If you’re an empty nester and don’t have the kids around to entertain then your hosting needs might call for a sleek lap pool, a cocktail-friendly swim-up bar, or a serene spillover spa area.
- Multigenerational hosting may require a mix of features, including safety considerations like handrails, slip-resistant decking, and lighting.
Tailoring the design to your lifestyle ensures you’ll love using the space for years to come.
6. Add Water Features for Style and Fun
Water features add movement, sound, and visual interest to your pool.
- Waterfalls and grottos create a resort-like atmosphere.
- Spillover spas & built-in spas offer a seamless hot-to-cold transition between the pool and the heated spa “hot tub” area
- Bubblers, deck jets, or sheer descents add playful elements and upgrade the overall experience.
Even small water features can make a big design impact, so don’t overlook them. It is important to include your desired water features during the design process because it can be very costly if you want to add them later down the road after everything is completed.
7. Include a Spillover Spa or Hot Tub
A spillover spa integrated into your pool design offers relaxation, hydrotherapy, and year-round usability. You can also consider standalone spas, but integrated options often look and function more seamlessly. If you want the ultimate luxury, think about features like LED lighting, therapeutic jets, or built-in audio systems.
8. Explore Luxury Additions
Want to take things up a notch with your new custom built pool? Adding some additional hardscaping to your pool can easily provide that WOW! factor when you’re hosting your family and friends.
- Swim-up bars with submerged stools turn your pool into an entertainer’s dream (see image below)
- Cabanas, outdoor kitchens, and fire features can transform the whole backyard into a five-star resort.
- LED lighting systems create a stunning nighttime ambiance.
Discuss your dream features early so they can be incorporated into the design and engineering phases.
9. Plan the Surrounding Landscape and Hardscape
Your pool isn’t just about the water—it’s about the environment around it.
- Pavers, natural stone, or concrete decking create a safe, beautiful transition between pool and patio.
- Landscaping choices can provide privacy, shade, and visual cohesion with your home’s architecture.
- Fencing and safety gates may be required by local codes, especially for families with young children.
A thoughtful plan ensures the whole space feels intentional and integrated.
10. Work With an Experienced Builder
Perhaps most importantly, choose a builder with deep experience in custom elevated pools and coastal construction. At St. Pierre Custom Home Builders, we understand the local conditions, permitting requirements, and technical challenges that come with building luxury pools in our region. We work closely with you from design to the installation of your custom built pool. Our team of trusted partners ensures every detail supports your vision, lifestyle, and investment.
Final Items to Consider When Installing a Custom Pool
Installing a custom-built pool isn’t just about adding a backyard feature—it’s about creating a personal oasis that enhances how you live, relax, and entertain. With the right planning, expert guidance, and attention to detail, your pool can become the crown jewel of your custom home.
Ready to explore the possibilities?
Contact St. Pierre Custom Home Builders today for a consultation, and let’s design the dream pool that perfectly complements your new home.