Do you want a pool that looks like part of the landscape instead of a blue rectangle, with a waterfall spilling into it? And can the waterfall wait until after the pool is built?
You’ll learn:
- What makes a pool lagoon-style
- How one Discovery Bay family got the pool and the waterfall 2 years apart
- How the shape, the slope, and real stone shape the look
- What kinds of grottos and waterfalls a pool can have
- What a lagoon-style pool costs to start
- Whether the waterfall can wait until after the pool
What Makes a Pool Lagoon-Style?
The Discovery Bay homeowners had always dreamed of a pool, but they didn’t want the same old kidney shape or rectangle.
They got an extremely natural, lagoon-style design.
The pool has a beach approach Baja shelf, a shallow ledge in the water for chairs and umbrellas. It also has a raised spa, benches, and swimouts. The colors they chose give it a beachy feel.
The beach approach makes the pool feel much bigger, closer to a beach or a lake than a small body of water to dip in.
How Did One Discovery Bay Pool and Waterfall Come Together?
The family knew from the start that they wanted a waterfall, and they planned to add it in a second phase. So we designed the entire backyard up front, including the pergola and the concrete around the pool, which other companies built. That took a lot of time, because we designed everything at once even though the work would happen in phases.
The plan for this lagoon-style pool and waterfall in Discovery Bay shows a beach entry 14 feet across, an 8-foot spa, a fire pit, and the waterfall.
We built the pool from January 5 to May 28, 2015. The waterfall went in from March to May 2017, 2 years later.
The waterfall reuses the pool’s water, so its pipes have to connect to the pool’s plumbing. In 2015, we ran those pipes to the spot where the waterfall would go and left the ends ready to hook up. 2 years later, we came back and completed the waterfall.
Because we designed everything from the start, we didn’t have to add new pipes or cut through and tear out concrete to lay them.
The family’s daughters graduated in June 2015 and June 2017, and each phase was finished on time for their graduation parties. The family liked the waterfall so much that they cut a new opening in the wall leading to the backyard and installed a sliding glass door directly across from it, so they could watch it from the house.
What Kinds of Grottos and Waterfalls Can a Pool Have?
We can build grottos, sheer descents, laminars, and deck jets on a pool, and adding a waterfall to a pool is common for us. A grotto is a rock structure with a cave-like opening. A sheer descent drops a smooth sheet of water into the pool, a laminar sends out a clear arc, and a deck jet shoots a stream of water from the deck into the pool.
Whichever you pick, decide early, because a waterfall shares the pool’s plumbing.
One thing we don’t build is a water wall, a big wall with a sheet of water running down its face. Water walls are high-risk and prone to leaks, and they typically need extensive, pool-equipment-level engineering.
Who Is a Lagoon-Style Pool Right For?
It’s right for a homeowner who wants a pool, but not one that looks like every other pool.
Some people go back and forth between a swimming pool and a pond you can swim in, which are different builds. If you’d rather swim in something closer to a lake, where you can see right down to your toes and walk on cobblestones, look at recreation pond construction.
We build both, so we can help you pick the right one.
How Much Does a Lagoon-Style Pool Cost?
We don’t have a set price for a lagoon-style pool, but a new pool starts at $100,000 and goes up from there, depending on your requirements, upgrades, and material choices.
A backyard renovation starts at $80,000, and the price depends on what we’re adding.
| Project | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| New pool | Starts at $100,000 |
| Backyard renovation | Starts at $80,000 |
For your own yard, it’s easier to talk it through on a call than to guess. Already have a pool you’d like to change? Read what a pool remodel costs.
Should You Build the Pool First and Add the Waterfall Later?
You can, if the design accounts for the waterfall from the start. Design both now, and when you build the pool, run the waterfall’s pipes too.
When the family above was ready 2 years later, the plumbing and electrical were already in place for the waterfall.
Is Your Backyard Ready for a Lagoon-Style Pool?
Fill out the contact form or give us a call and tell us what you’re picturing, and we’ll set up a phone consult before we come out to your yard. For a new pool, start with pool construction and remodeling.
