How the Right Pool Contractor and Pool Builder in Nashville, TN Enhances Outdoor Living

With the right pool contractor and pool builder in Nashville, TN, an inground pool becomes the anchor for your entire outdoor lifestyle. In our area, where hot, humid summers stretch long into fall, your outdoor living space deserves more than an afterthought. Whether you’re hosting weekend gatherings, swimming laps at sunrise, or just easing into the evening beside the water, the quality of your pool installation sets the tone.

Related: 10 Ways an Inground Pool by Nashville and Old Hickory, TN, Contractors Makes Summer Morning Swims Unforgettable

6 Ways the Right Pool Contractor Enhances Outdoor Living

Your inground pool should be the centerpiece of something bigger: a place where your hard surface features, lush plantings, and entertaining areas blend together.

We factor in how sun patterns move through your backyard, how nearby trees affect views and seasonal leaf drop, and how Tennessee’s humid subtropical climate affects construction timelines. In our area, late spring and early fall are often ideal times to begin construction—before extreme heat or heavy summer rains complicate progress. A builder who understands the timing, terrain, and soil composition here will help you avoid costly delays.

But it’s more than weather and logistics. We ask how you plan to use the space. The right pool design supports the rest of your outdoor layout, complementing everything from natural stone patios and fire features to the soft textures of ornamental grasses and seasonal blooms

Integrated Patios Built to Entertain

Your pool isn’t meant to stand alone. A natural stone patio built around it becomes the stage for outdoor living. We build patios that flow from the pool edge to the rest of your space, with intentional room for furniture groupings, outdoor kitchens, and lounge areas. Materials like travertine and textured concrete pavers are popular in our area because they stay cooler underfoot, withstand high summer heat, and offer slip resistance without sacrificing style.

Fire Features That Extend the Season

Adding a fire feature near the pool transforms your space into a year-round destination. Even in Tennessee’s mild winters, there’s something magnetic about a fire pit beside the water. We construct fire features that invite conversation and comfort, using natural stone to tie into the overall aesthetic. Whether it's a modern linear fire pit tucked into a seating wall or a more traditional round fire pit with room to gather, the result is warmth; visually and literally.

Walkways That Connect the Experience

The transition from your back door to the pool should feel effortless. We build walkways that guide you through the landscape without disrupting the flow. Using the same palette of materials as your patio or retaining walls, these walkways become design features themselves, with features like framing planting beds, seating areas, water features, outdoor lighting, and more.

Landscape Plantings That Soften and Define

Poolscapes can easily feel too hard-edged or barren without thoughtful plantings. We install layered landscapes that bring softness, texture, and a sense of natural rhythm. From evergreen screening for privacy to perennials and ornamental grasses that thrive in the Tennessee heat, the right planting plan makes your pool feel nestled. We design with hardiness and long-term performance in mind, creating planting beds that evolve through the seasons without overwhelming the pool with leaf litter or high upkeep.

Outdoor Lighting That Sets the Mood

Once the sun goes down, the right outdoor lighting keeps your inground pool experience going. We install lighting that adds ambiance and functionality—subtle uplighting on nearby trees, soft washes of light on retaining walls, and downlighting along walkways. We often focus on designing an after-dark experience that’s just as compelling as the midday swim. Outdoor lighting makes your entire space feel intentional and complete.

Seating Walls That Welcome and Define

A built-in seating wall near the pool adds structure, comfort, and flexibility. Whether it’s wrapping around a fire feature or anchoring the edge of your patio, we build seating walls with the same care and craftsmanship as your other structural elements. They’re part of the layout, defining space, adding functionality, and giving guests somewhere to gather while others swim.

How To Choose a Pool Service Company

Choosing a pool contractor is about finding a team you can trust to handle every layer of the process with precision. You’re building a pool, and you’re reshaping your outdoor lifestyle. The right team understands that and brings both a blueprint and perspective.

Look for a Contractor Who Thinks Beyond the Pool

Your contractor should be thinking holistically from the start. Ask how they’ll design the surrounding space to work with the inground pool. That includes patios for lounging and dining, walkways for circulation, and the integration of structural features like seating walls or retaining walls that may be needed to shape the terrain.

Ask About Materials That Perform in Our Climate

Materials matter—and in Tennessee’s humid subtropical climate, durability is everything. Look for a company that regularly works with travertine, limestone, and textured pavers, which hold up well under intense sun and fluctuating temperatures. Natural stone coping around the pool and complementary waterline tile details can add a polished, luxurious edge that looks beautiful through every season. 

Review Their Past Work—In Detail

Photo galleries tell part of the story, but you want to see more than angles and lighting. Ask to walk through a completed project or review case studies with before-and-after details. Focus on projects similar in size or layout to yours, and pay attention to how well all elements tie together—pool, patio, walkways, lighting, plantings. That cohesion reflects craftsmanship, not coincidence.

Referrals Are the Real Test

Don’t skip the step that tells you the most: talk to people who’ve already been through the process. Ask if the contractor communicated clearly, stayed on schedule, and delivered what was promised. Did the crews show up on time? Were changes handled with transparency? Were the final results in line with the original vision? A reputable contractor will have no hesitation in connecting you with past clients.

What to Ask a Pool Contractor

You don’t need to show up with a full layout in hand, but you should bring the right questions. The right pool contractor should be able to coordinate a series of well-planned moves that shape your entire outdoor environment. Here’s what to ask to make sure you’re working with a team that’s up to the task.

How Do You Handle Zoning, Permits, and Inspections?

In our area, every town has its own process, and permitting isn’t something you want to navigate alone. Ask how your contractor handles the full scope of approvals, from site surveys and zoning setbacks to engineering signoffs and final inspections. A local contractor who understands the sequence and paperwork involved will keep your project moving forward, not stalled behind a desk.

What Pool Shapes and Materials Do You Specialize In?

You’ll want to know how much customization your contractor offers. Some companies are limited to pre-set fiberglass forms, while others work with trusted subcontractors to build custom gunite pools tailored to your property. Ask how they integrate pool edges with patios, walkways, and natural stone features. If you’re imagining a custom tanning ledge, built-in steps, or a pool that wraps around a fire feature or seating wall, this is the time to talk about it.

Can You Show Examples of Projects Similar in Size or Style?

Request to see work that mirrors your property layout, especially if you’re dealing with slopes, limited access, or existing structures. A contractor who’s handled those challenges before will come prepared with creative, buildable solutions. You’ll also want to see how they’ve blended other structural elements—like retaining walls, lighting, and natural stone patios—into the overall pool design.

How Do You Ensure Proper Drainage and Grading Around the Pool?

Drainage is nonnegotiable. Ask how your contractor manages water flow across the entire outdoor space, and not just around the pool shell. In our region, heavy rains can cause runoff issues or pooling if the layout isn’t executed properly. A good contractor will explain how they contour the terrain, where retaining walls or channel drains may be used, and how they’ll protect adjacent areas like walkways or planting beds from erosion or oversaturation.

What Other Features Do You Coordinate During the Project?

This is where you start to understand the full scope of what your contractor offers. Do they build patios that connect to the pool? Can they install lighting to extend evening use? Will they include retaining or seating walls to shape the surrounding space? A contractor who handles these elements in-house, or works hand-in-hand with trusted partners, can deliver a final result that feels cohesive, not piecemealed together.

How Do You Handle Timelines and Communication?

Communication makes or breaks a build. Ask how often you’ll receive updates, who your main point of contact will be, and how they plan around weather or material delays. A pool build is a major construction effort, and you deserve a team that keeps you informed without making the process feel like a full-time job. When your contractor communicates clearly and takes ownership of the process, the entire project becomes less stressful and far more enjoyable.

Related: Want an Outdoor Feature To Foster Connection? A Franklin or Nolensville, TN Inground Pool is Ideal

What Does Pool Installation Include?

Inground pool installation is far more than just excavation. It’s a layered process that blends engineering, construction, design, and aesthetics, all coordinated to deliver an outdoor environment that feels intentional and high-end from every angle. When we take on a pool project, we manage each phase with precision so that every feature works together as one complete experience.

Site Evaluation and Design Planning

Every project starts with a walkthrough. We assess how the layout will work with your existing structures, access points, grade changes, and how water flows through the space. This is where we make decisions that affect everything else: pool orientation, retaining wall placement, walkways, and where to build patios that tie the space together. This early stage is also where you’ll start to see how the inground pool will interact with fire features, seating areas, and planting beds.

Permitting and Engineering Coordination

Before any construction begins, there’s paperwork to handle. We take the lead on obtaining the necessary permits, which vary by municipality, and coordinate any required engineering, especially when working with slopes, tight property lines, or custom structural elements. This step ensures compliance while also preventing future headaches once construction is underway.

Excavation and Forming the Shell

With approvals in hand, the excavation begins. The pool footprint is carved into the landscape with precision, and forms are placed to outline the pool structure. If you're opting for a custom shape or a pool that integrates closely with other hard surface features like steps or natural stone walls, this is when those design intentions start to become physical realities.

Plumbing, Electrical, and Shell Installation

The hidden infrastructure is just as important as what you see above ground. During this phase, plumbing and electrical components are installed. If you’re including lighting within the pool or integrating it with your outdoor lighting layout, those systems are planned and installed here.

Construction of Hard Surface Features

This is where the project starts to come alive. Patios are constructed around the pool using materials suited to our climate, like travertine, limestone, or textured concrete pavers that stay comfortable underfoot and hold their appearance year after year. Walkways are built to connect zones. Natural stone coping is installed around the pool edge to provide a clean finish. This is also when steps, seating walls, and fire features can be added to define the space and provide comfort and functionality.

Filling, Finishing, and Final Integration

Once structural work is complete and systems are tested, the pool is filled. The final layers, such as plantings, lighting adjustments, final touches to the patio or walkways, are installed with care. The surrounding landscape should look and feel complete, with intentional planting beds, lighting that highlights architectural details, and finishes that reflect your personal style.

What Is the Best Way to Landscape Around a Pool?

Done right, planting design sets the tone, softens the hard edges of structural elements, and draws the eye toward key features like seating areas, walkways, or fire features. Every element should feel intentional, and every plant should be selected for both performance and aesthetic value.

Choose Plantings That Perform in Our Climate

In Tennessee’s hot, humid summers and mild winters, it’s essential to choose plantings that not only survive, but thrive. We focus on species that bring texture, color, and structure throughout the seasons without adding clutter or cleanup. Hardy ornamental grasses, such as switchgrass or dwarf fountain grass, add movement and soften the perimeter. Broadleaf evergreens like holly or boxwood create year-round privacy and formality. For seasonal color, we install low-maintenance perennials like lavender, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and daylilies, all proven performers in Zone 7.

Use Layered Beds to Define and Anchor the Space

Flat planting beds rarely feel luxurious. Instead, we layer heights and textures to give your pool area depth and rhythm. Taller evergreens or vertical accents anchor corners and transitions. Mid-height shrubs add volume around seating zones or retaining walls. Low-growing ground covers, like creeping thyme or sweet woodruff, fill space between walkways and patios without stealing attention or spilling into the water.

Integrate Outdoor Lighting for Evening Impact

Once the sun goes down, lighting becomes just as important as layout. We install low-voltage outdoor lighting to softly illuminate key areas—washing light over natural stone walls, uplighting ornamental trees, or outlining the edge of a walkway. The right lighting design extends your pool experience well into the night while showcasing textures and forms you might miss during the day.

Consider the Practical Side of Placement

Spacing matters. Your landscape designer will consider how close plantings are to the pool edge, how root systems behave over time, and whether branches or blooms might shed debris into the water. We build with longevity in mind, using materials and layouts that minimize interference with plumbing, drainage, and hard surface features. That means no overgrown shrubs blocking views, no aggressive roots cracking patios, and no messy foliage dropping into the pool.

What Type of Built-In Pool Is Best?

There’s no universal answer when it comes to choosing the best inground pool—but there is a right fit for your property, your lifestyle, and the experience you want to build. From pool shape and structure to how it integrates with patios, walkways, and outdoor lighting, your choice should support both design flexibility and long-term performance.

Gunite Pools: Customization Without Limits

For clients who want a completely custom design, gunite pools offer unmatched flexibility. These are built with steel-reinforced concrete and formed on-site, which means we can shape the pool to fit your space, no matter the size, layout, or existing elevation. Gunite allows for features like tanning ledges, built-in steps, shallow lounging zones, and even custom transitions into connected patios or fire features. It’s the preferred choice for many of our clients because it pairs beautifully with natural stone materials and structural elements we already construct, like seating walls and retaining walls.

Vinyl Pools: Faster Timelines, Limited Customization

Vinyl pools use a flexible liner over a structural frame and typically come with faster installation timelines. While you’ll see some limitations in shape and size, the surrounding space still offers plenty of opportunity for upgrades. We can build patios, walkways, and lighting systems that elevate even a simple pool layout. Custom coping and hard surface features around the perimeter add structure and balance.

Fiberglass Pools: Streamlined Install With Clean Lines

Fiberglass pools arrive as a single pre-formed shell, placed into the excavated area and finished with surrounding features. They’re quick to install and offer a smooth, low-profile surface. Though shape and depth options are limited, they still work well in outdoor living designs where the surrounding hard surface features carry the visual weight of the space.

Built-In Features That Complete the Experience

Regardless of pool type, the built-in features make all the difference. Tanning ledges offer a shallow place to relax. Integrated bench seating adds comfort and versatility. LED lighting makes the water shimmer after dark, and spa spillovers or bubblers add a sense of motion and sound. When these are combined with thoughtful hard surface construction and layered plantings, the result is something far beyond a backyard pool. It becomes a complete outdoor experience.

Related: Summers Last Longer With an Inground Pool in Your Nolensville or Franklin, TN Backyard