THE CANTRELL PROCESS
Our Pool Design & Construction Process
From Your First Idea to Your First Swim
Creating a custom pool begins with understanding your property, your priorities, and how you want to enjoy your outdoor space. At Cantrell Custom Pools, we bring those details together through thoughtful planning, custom design, and coordinated construction.
Every project is different. The scope, construction sequence, and schedule are established around your design and site conditions.
01
Design
Thoughtful planning, shaped around your vision.
02
Build
Coordinated construction, with care in the details.
03
Enjoy
A finished space made for the way you live.
STEP 01
Start with a Conversation
Tell us about your property and the pool you envision. Are you planning a new pool, renovating an existing one, or developing a commercial project?
We’ll discuss your preferred features, approximate budget, and timing. Backyard photographs, inspiration images, and a property survey—if available—help provide a starting point.
Your vision helps shape the direction of the project.
STEP 02
Evaluate Your Property
A successful design needs to work with the site. Before finalizing the layout, the planning process considers available space, construction access, elevations, drainage, utilities, and other property constraints.
Applicable setbacks, easements, and approval requirements also need to be understood. Identifying these considerations early helps establish what is practical for your backyard.
The goal is a pool that fits both your property and your lifestyle.
STEP 03
Develop Your Custom Design
With your priorities and site conditions in mind, the design takes shape. We consider the pool’s dimensions, placement, entry points, seating, and relationship to your home and patio.
An integrated spa, tanning ledge, water feature, or outdoor entertaining area can be incorporated into the overall plan. Each feature should contribute to how you want to use the space.
A clear design connects appearance with everyday enjoyment.
STEP 04
Define the Scope and Select Finishes
The project scope brings the design and budget together. Review the proposed work, included features, allowances, and any items that require separate coordination.
This is also the time to explore interior finishes, waterline tile, coping, and decking. Looking at these materials together helps create a cohesive appearance that complements your home.
Clear selections and a detailed scope support informed decisions.
STEP 05
Prepare for Construction
Before work begins, required approvals and construction arrangements need to be addressed. Your project agreement should explain responsibilities for permits, site preparation, and related work.
Discuss access routes, equipment placement, and what to expect while your backyard is under construction. The estimated schedule should account for the project’s scope and the conditions that may affect progress.
Preparation helps everyone understand the next steps.
STEP 06
Build Your Pool
For a new gunite pool, construction progresses through excavation, reinforcing steel and plumbing, required inspections, and concrete shell installation.
Curing, tile, coping, decking, equipment, and interior finishes follow according to the project plan. The exact sequence varies with the design and any associated outdoor improvements.
Weather, inspections, and site conditions can influence the schedule. Understanding those dependencies helps set realistic expectations.
Careful coordination brings the design into physical form.
STEP 07
Complete Start-Up and Review Pool Care
Once construction and required final checks are complete, the pool moves through filling and start-up. New interior finishes need daily care for the first two weeks.
Cantrell Custom Pools will handle the initial water care for two weeks and then discuss how routine maintenance will be handled afterward.
Knowing how to care for your pool helps protect the finished project.
YOUR VISION. OUR NEXT CONVERSATION.
Let’s Plan Your Outdoor Space
Whether you are considering a custom pool or a renovation, the first step is sharing your ideas.
Cantrell Custom Pools welcomes project inquiries for Memphis, Little Rock, Nashville, Oxford, 30A, and Birmingham.