Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
About This Service
Building a pool is a significant investment in your property and your quality of life. At Ultimate Pools by Fetter, we’ve been constructing custom in-ground pools in Modesto and the Central Valley for over 38 years. The pools we build aren’t just attractive — they’re engineered for the specific soil and site conditions of each property, and built with the craftsmanship that makes them last.
We handle the complete construction process from excavation through final finish. Our team builds every pool we design, which means the people constructing your pool understand exactly how it was designed and why every decision was made.
The Build Process
01
We assess soil conditions on your specific site — clay content, hardpan presence, drainage behavior, and bearing capacity — and prepare accordingly before a shovel enters the ground. Some Central Valley properties require engineered backfill or drainage provisions built in from the start.
02
The steel reinforcement grid is the structural skeleton of your pool. We size and space the rebar based on engineering requirements for your pool’s design and the specific soil conditions on site. Pools built on expansive clay require heavier reinforcement than those on stable loam — and we design the steel accordingly.
03
We use gunite — pneumatically applied concrete — to form the shell of your pool. Applied by experienced crews, gunite achieves consistent density and strength throughout the shell, conforming to any custom shape. Proper curing time is always respected.
04
All plumbing is installed to current California standards. Equipment pads, pump and filter systems, heating, and automation are designed for efficiency and longevity. We plan equipment placement so maintenance access is logical and the equipment area is as unobtrusive as possible.
05
The interior finish — plaster, aggregate, or tile — is the surface you see and touch every day. We offer a range of finish options that balance durability, aesthetics, and maintenance requirements. Our finish crews take pride in the quality of their work.
06
The deck frames the pool and connects it to the rest of the backyard. We install decking that complements the pool design, holds up to Central Valley heat and sun exposure, and is safe underfoot when wet.
Built for Central Valley Conditions
The Central Valley presents specific construction challenges that out-of-area contractors often underestimate. Expansive clay soils can exert significant pressure on pool shells and cause cracking if the shell isn’t properly reinforced. Hardpan (duripan) layers may require special excavation equipment and affect drainage design. High groundwater in lower-lying or heavily irrigated areas can create hydrostatic pressure that demands relief valves and proper shell engineering.
At Fetter, decades of building in this region means we’ve seen these conditions many times. We build to account for them — not to discover them halfway through construction.
Craftsmanship
Pool construction is regulated and inspected, but inspections catch minimum compliance — not craftsmanship. The difference between a pool that looks great at completion and one that still looks and performs great twenty years later often comes down to how conscientiously the work was done at each stage.
Fetter has been building pools in Modesto long enough that we drive past pools we built decades ago — and we know which ones were built right. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to on every project.
Applied by experienced crews for uniform density throughout the shell.
Rebar spec matched to actual site conditions, not a default template.
We don't rush the concrete cure stage. It matters for shell longevity.
Clients consistently comment on crew professionalism and site cleanliness.
Your Questions Answered