Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
Serving the Central Valley Since 1987
About This Service
A pool is the anchor of a great backyard, but the spaces around and beyond the pool determine how much time you actually spend out there. At Ultimate Pools by Fetter, we approach pool projects as complete backyard transformations — designing the pool, the deck, and the surrounding outdoor living spaces as a unified environment rather than a series of separate add-ons.
Modesto’s climate — long, warm summers and mild shoulder seasons — makes outdoor living genuinely practical for most of the year. A well-designed backyard becomes an extension of your home: a place to cook, gather, relax, and entertain. We design for that kind of use, not just for a pool you walk past to get to the yard.
What We Build
01
The deck frames the pool and sets the tone for the entire outdoor space. We work with a range of materials — concrete, natural stone, pavers, and travertine — designing configurations that flow naturally between the pool and the broader backyard. Coping is chosen for both durability and visual harmony with pool finishes.
02
An outdoor kitchen extends the practical function of the backyard dramatically. We design and build outdoor kitchen areas from a simple built-in grill with counter space to fully equipped cooking stations with refrigeration, sink, storage, and bar seating. Placement relative to the pool and interior kitchen is always considered.
03
Central Valley summers make shade a genuine necessity. Pergolas — freestanding or attached to the home — provide partial shade over gathering and dining areas while maintaining the open, outdoor feel. Louvered pergolas with adjustable shade control are increasingly popular for the flexibility they offer across seasons.
04
A fire feature extends the outdoor living season into cooler months and creates a natural gathering point. We design and build fire pits and fire features in a range of styles — from clean linear gas fire troughs for modern pool designs to more traditional circular fire pit configurations. Sited to complement the pool and seating areas.
05
A tanning ledge — a shallow shelf inside the pool — creates a place to lounge partially submerged, perfect for hot Central Valley afternoons. In-pool seating built into the pool’s bond beam or shallow end adds a feature that most pools simply don’t have and that clients consistently say they use more than expected.
06
How the pool and outdoor living spaces connect to the broader landscape affects how the whole backyard feels. We work with landscape design to ensure hardscape and softscape work together. For full landscape installation beyond our scope, we coordinate with or refer trusted landscape partners.
Design Philosophy
The most important input in outdoor living design is how you actually use your backyard — or how you wish you could. A family with young children needs different spaces than a couple who entertains frequently. Someone who values a quiet outdoor retreat has different priorities than someone hosting weekend gatherings.
We start outdoor living design conversations with questions about your life and your habits, not with a catalog of features. The features follow from understanding what you actually want to do out there.
Pool, spa, decking, kitchen, pergola, fire — one team handles it all.
Every material chosen for performance in Central Valley heat and UV.
We think through how people move between pool, kitchen, and living areas.
We handle permits for the full scope — pool and outdoor living structures.
Built for the Central Valley
Modesto’s climate — intense summer sun, occasional winter freezes, and dry conditions — requires outdoor living materials chosen specifically for durability in those conditions. Decking materials need good UV resistance. Some stone and concrete surfaces get extremely hot underfoot in direct summer sun; we factor thermal mass into every material recommendation. Pergola structures need to be dimensionally stable in heat. Outdoor kitchen countertops and cabinetry must be fully weather-resistant year-round.
Permanent outdoor structures — attached pergolas, built-in kitchen structures, and raised features — also place loads on the soil adjacent to the pool area. We consider bearing capacity and soil stability in the placement and structural design of these features, ensuring the backyard as a whole is built on a sound foundation.
Your Questions Answered