Custom Pool Design
Freeform shapes, vanishing edges, tanning ledges, grottos, and custom water features — designed around your yard and how you actually use a pool. We design and build custom pools in Davis and Weber County from concept to completion.
What custom pool design means and what it actually involves
Custom pool design means the pool shape, depth profile, and features are designed specifically for your yard and priorities — not chosen from a catalog of preset models. A custom pool can be any shape: rectangular, freeform organic, L-shaped, or something that follows the contours of the landscape. Depth profiles can include shallow tanning ledges for young kids, gradual entry steps, specific deep-end dimensions for diving, or a combination.
Custom pools are built using gunite or shotcrete — sprayed concrete placed over a rebar framework — which allows unlimited shape flexibility. This is in contrast to fiberglass pools, which are factory-molded and come in set shapes. Custom pools cost more and take longer to build, but they're the only option when you want a specific shape, a vanishing edge, an attached spa, a grotto, or features that a standard fiberglass shell can't accommodate. We help you determine whether a custom build or a quality fiberglass shell better fits your budget and goals.
Custom features: vanishing edges, tanning ledges, and attached spas
A vanishing edge (infinity edge) creates the visual effect of water meeting the horizon — the far edge of the pool is lower than water level, and water spills into a catch basin and recirculates. This requires precise construction and a grade relationship that makes the view work. It's the most photogenic pool feature and also one of the most technically demanding to build correctly — the catch basin sizing, pump capacity, and edge levelness all have to be right.
Tanning ledges are shallow areas (typically 8 to 12 inches deep) within the pool footprint — somewhere between a pool step and a shallow splash zone. They're popular with families with young children and for laying out in the water without fully swimming. Attached spas share water circulation with the pool, which simplifies the equipment package compared to a separate standalone spa. Water features — sheer descents, deck jets, bubblers, grottos — add visual and sound interest. We discuss all of these during the design phase and design only what you'll actually use.
Custom Pool Design Pricing in Utah
Custom pools are priced on a project basis. These are typical ranges for common custom pool configurations in Davis County.
Custom gunite/shotcrete pool
Freeform or geometric shape, premium finish, full equipment
$70,000 – $150,000+
Vanishing edge addition
Edge construction, catch basin, added pump capacity
Add $15,000 – $30,000
Attached spa
Integrated with pool equipment and circulation
Add $20,000 – $40,000
Have a specific design in mind?
Tell us what you're envisioning and your yard dimensions. We'll walk through what's feasible and what it costs.
Custom Pool Design Questions
Common questions about custom pool shapes, features, and the design process.
A standard pool uses a pre-molded fiberglass shell in one of the manufacturer's available shapes and sizes. A custom pool is designed specifically for your yard using gunite or shotcrete — you can specify any shape, depth profile, features, and finish. Custom pools cost more and take longer to build, but they're the only option when you have a specific vision that standard shell options can't deliver.
We start with a site visit and a conversation about how you use the pool, what features matter to you, and what your budget is. From there we produce a pool plan drawing showing the shape, dimensions, features, equipment location, and how the pool relates to the house and yard. That drawing is what goes to the building department for permit. We refine it until it's right before submitting.
A vanishing edge (also called an infinity edge) pool has one or more edges where the water level reaches the top of the pool wall and spills over into a catch basin. From inside the pool, it looks like the water extends to the horizon. It requires precise construction — the edge must be perfectly level, the catch basin sized correctly, and the pump system capable of handling the recirculation volume. It's particularly striking on hillside lots with a view.
Standard plaster is the most economical — a white or colored cement plaster. Pebble finishes (small river pebbles mixed into plaster) are durable and visually rich; they're one of the most popular upgrades. Quartz aggregate finishes offer a smoother surface than pebble with good durability. Glass tile is the premium option — typically used as an accent on waterlines or water features rather than the full pool surface. We discuss finish options during design and help you balance look, budget, and long-term durability.
Yes. An attached spa is one of the most popular additions to a custom pool. An attached spa shares the pool's circulation system, which simplifies equipment compared to a completely separate hot tub. The spa typically sits adjacent to or partially overlapping the pool and can spill into it via a water feature. We design pool and spa as one integrated project rather than as separate builds.
Custom Pool Design — Davis County, Utah
A pool designed for your yard, not chosen from a catalog.
What our clients say about custom pool design
Custom Pool Service Areas in Utah
We serve Davis County, Weber County, Salt Lake County, and Utah County.
How to get started.
Three simple steps from first call to finished job.
Contact Us
Complete the quick form to share your needs. We respond the same day — often within an hour.
Get free quote →Schedule Your Estimate
We'll arrange a visit at a time that works for you and provide an in-person, plain-english estimate.
Get free quote →Get the Job Done
Once approved, we schedule a date and work hard to exceed expectations. If it's not right, we come back.
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