Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
A pool is one of the most significant improvements you can make to your home. Done right, it transforms your backyard and your quality of life. Done poorly, it’s a source of stress and expense for years. This page covers what you need to know — from first questions to completed build — so you can make confident decisions at every stage.
Before any digging begins, Fetter performs a comprehensive on-site review at your property. We physically paint out the complete pool and deck layout so you can walk over your future pool and experience it — not just see it on a plan.
During this two-hour review we cover: depth vs. length, step size and placement, light position, concrete layout efficiency, drain systems current and future, plant protection, safety provisions for children and pets, and much more. We use a 40-year-refined checklist and review it with you and your family, keeping communication completely open.
Many companies draw a plan, show up and dig — some paint out the pool the day of the dig giving you little time to consider your options. Throughout our years in business, several owners couldn’t see the need for this process. After experiencing it, every one of them was grateful it occurred. This procedure gives you flexibility to make changes before construction — saving time, money, and frustration.
No other company comes close to the site review and information we provide.
All pool drawings are done in 3D format so you get a live view of what your pool will actually look and feel like in your backyard. The design process is collaborative — we work with you throughout, refining until the design truly reflects your vision.
The process begins with an on-site consultation to assess the space and discuss your goals. A 3D design is then developed and reviewed together. Changes at the design stage cost nothing compared to changes during construction.
We visit your property to assess space, soil, and site conditions.
See your pool in your actual backyard before any work begins.
We paint out the layout on your property — 2 hours of collaborative review.
We handle permits and manage every stage of the build.
The Central Valley presents specific soil conditions that affect how a pool must be designed and built. Expansive clay soils — common across Modesto and surrounding areas — expand when wet and shrink when dry, creating ground movement that can crack shells and decks if not properly engineered. Hardpan (duripan) layers affect excavation planning and drainage design. In some lower-lying areas, groundwater conditions require hydrostatic relief provisions.
At Fetter, soil conditions are assessed at each property before design is finalized. The structural approach — shell reinforcement, drainage provisions, backfill specifications — is matched to what’s actually in the ground. This is one of the reasons pools built by Fetter last for decades.
Newer homes across the Central Valley tend to be larger inside — but the lots they sit on are often smaller than those of older neighborhoods. This is an increasingly common challenge, and one Fetter has spent years solving creatively.
A smaller backyard doesn’t mean giving up on a pool. It means the design process becomes more intentional — every square foot matters, the relationship between pool and deck matters, and the choices made during design determine whether the finished space feels like a compromise or a resort retreat. Fetter designs many pools for compact lots, and the results are consistently remarkable.
