Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
Modesto's Most Trusted Pool Contractor
Ultimate Pools by Fetter has been designing and building custom in-ground pools in Modesto and the Central Valley since 1987 — serving Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Merced Counties. We are professionally respected and considered one of the best by building officials, structural engineers, and pool industry professionals.
We are not a volume builder. Every pool we design and construct is custom — built around the specific dimensions of your yard, your family’s lifestyle, and the structural realities of your property. Our clients consistently comment on the professionalism of our crew and the cleanliness of our job sites.
What We Build
Collaborative 3D design process — from your first conversation to a build-ready plan.
Gunite shells built for Central Valley soil. Engineered for the long term.
Creative pool design for compact lots — beautiful results regardless of yard size.
Year-round backyard living with integrated heated spa designs.
Sheer descents, waterfalls, grottos, deck jets — designed as part of the pool.
Decking, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire features — the complete backyard.
The Fetter Difference
Before any excavation begins, Fetter performs a comprehensive 2-hour pre-site review at your property. We physically paint out the complete pool and deck layout so you can walk over your future pool — reviewing depth vs. length, step placement, light positions, drainage, and safety provisions for children and pets.
This process has been refined over 40 years. Many companies show up and dig. Some paint out the pool the day of the dig, giving you little time to consider your options. We do this well in advance so any changes can be made before construction begins — saving time, money, and frustration. No other company comes close.
Why Choose Fetter
In business since 1987. Long enough to drive past pools we built decades ago.
Every pool starts with your yard and your vision. No templates, no catalog shapes.
Decades of experience with local clay, hardpan, and drainage conditions.
Clients consistently comment on crew professionalism and clean job sites.
We walk the full layout with you on-site before a shovel enters the ground.
Pool, spa, water features, outdoor kitchen, decking — one team, one vision.
Built for Central Valley Conditions
The Central Valley presents soil conditions that out-of-area contractors often underestimate. Alluvial clay soils common across Modesto and surrounding areas expand when wet and shrink when dry — creating ground movement that stresses pool shells if not properly engineered. Hardpan (duripan) layers affect excavation planning and drainage design. In lower-lying or heavily irrigated 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.
Service Area
Based in Modesto, we serve communities throughout Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Merced Counties — including:
Contact us to confirm service availability for your specific location.
Your Questions Answered
Fetter has been designing and building custom pools in Modesto and the Central Valley since 1987 — over 38 years. Our longevity in this market reflects the quality of our work and the relationships we’ve built with homeowners throughout the region. A significant portion of our business comes from referrals by past clients.
We build fully custom in-ground concrete (gunite) pools in any shape — geometric, freeform, compact, or large-scale. We specialize in designs tailored to each specific backyard, including smaller lot designs for newer Modesto neighborhoods. We do not install fiberglass or above-ground pools.
Yes, and it’s an increasingly significant part of what we do. Newer neighborhoods throughout Modesto and surrounding cities tend to have homes on smaller lots, and thoughtful pool design for compact spaces is a real specialty for us. A smaller backyard doesn’t preclude a great pool — it just requires more careful design.
The pre-site review is a 2-hour on-site session where we physically paint out the full pool and deck layout at your property so you can walk through the space before any digging begins. We’ve refined this process over 40 years because it consistently prevents costly changes during construction and ensures every client is fully confident in the design before work starts. No other company provides this level of pre-construction review.
The Central Valley commonly has expansive clay soils that swell and shrink with seasonal moisture changes, hardpan (duripan) layers that affect excavation and drainage, and in some areas, loose alluvial soils near waterways. Each of these requires specific engineering provisions — heavier steel reinforcement, drainage systems, engineered backfill. We assess soil conditions on every property before finalizing the design.
Yes. We handle the full scope of work — pool, spa, decking, outdoor kitchen, pergola, fire features, and water features — as a unified project. You work with one team and one design vision from concept through completion.
The first step is a conversation and a site visit. We’ll come to your property, assess the space and soil conditions, discuss your vision and goals, and give you an honest picture of what’s achievable. There’s no obligation and no pressure — we’d rather spend an hour giving you real information than have a vague conversation based on rough estimates.
We serve communities throughout Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Merced Counties — including Riverbank, Oakdale, Manteca, Lodi, Tracy, Mountain House, Lathrop, Copperopolis, and surrounding areas. Contact us to confirm service availability for your specific location.