Charlotte's Custom Pool Builder
Pools, Patios& Outdoor Livingin Charlotte, NC
We design and build custom pools, hardscapes, and outdoor living features for homeowners across Charlotte, Lake Norman, and surrounding communities.
Custom Pools
Pools & Spas
Plunge Pools
25+
Years Building
200+
Backyards Completed
6–8 wks
Average Build
What We Build
Your One-stop-shop for anything outdoor living
No need to juggle between three different contractors to build your dream yard. With Aqua Pools & Outdoor Living, it's one point of contact, one project manager, and one contract across your entire project. Check out some of the things we build below!
Custom Pools
Make it your own, with our custom pools. Spa, benches, tanning ledge, infinity edge, if you can imagine it, we can build it.
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Plunge Pools
Enjoy the evenings with our compact custom concrete pools for smaller lots and tighter budgets, built to the same shell and equipment spec as a full-size build.
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Outdoor Kitchens
Become the king of BBQ parties with our built-in grills, stone counters, refrigeration, and bar seating on a masonry base.
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Shade Structures
Stay in the shade with our custom engineered and built pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos.
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Hardscapes
Give your yard more usable space with patios, retaining walls, steps, and pool decking in paver, travertine, or natural stone.
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Landscapes
Add some greenery to your project. Planting plans, sod, beds, and grading, designed to complement the rest of your build.
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Outdoor Lighting
Set the evening mood right with our low-voltage path, wall, tree, and pool lighting options.
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Sport Courts
Dedicate part of your yard to physical exercise. Pickleball, basketball, and multi-sport surfaces, we got it!
Learn MoreWorking With Us
What to Expect on a Build
Taking on a large scale backyard project can be nerve-wracking for many homeowners. Here at Aqua, we pride ourselves on making the whole process smooth, efficient, and transparent for our customers.
More About UsSingle Point of Contact
No playing the telephone game with your builder's office staff. Once your project starts, you get one phone number; your project manager's.
3D Design First
Every quote comes with a realistic 3D rendering of the space. Meaning you know the exact layout and how it all fits together before you commit to anything.
Itemized Quotes
The proposal is broken out line by line, which means you can see what each part costs and make a true apples-to-apples comparison between us and another builder.
Build It Nice, or Build It Twice
We don't cut corners to make our builds cheaper. When we put something in the ground, it's there to stay. That means we can let our warranties stand behind our work for the long term.
How It Works
How a Build Runs
We've worked hard to make our processes as smooth and streamlined as possible. Here's how the typical Aqua Pools & Outdoor Living backyard builds happen.
Consultation
We walk the yard together, take measurements, and talk through your vision for the space.
Quote & 3D Rendering
An itemized quote and a 3D rendering of the yard, drawn to the measurements taken on site.
Design Review
You look it over and tell us what to change. We revise the layout, the features, and the finishes until it's right.
Construction
Six to eight weeks from dig to swimming on a typical build, with transparent updates as we move through the process.
Startup & Handoff
Once water's in, our maintenance crew sets up the system and manages it for the first few weeks to ensure a smooth startup.
Reviews
What Clients Say
I was always nervous about starting this construction and installing a pool from all the horror stories that I've heard. But this went better than I ever could have imagined. Such a smooth process. They did exactly what they promised they would, and got it done in a timely fashion. Turned out better than the vision and design that we had even created from the start.
Slate Cobble
Google review
Robert was great throughout the entire process. The only thing better was the finished product. Fair pricing and incredible work from the pool, to the patio to the landscaping. I would highly recommend for any landscaping, hardscaping or pool installs.
Christian Gerencir
Google review · Local Guide
He took my vision and created a beautiful backyard oasis for us. I have worked with many contractors and I am very picky — Robert and his team have been easy to work with and any change or addition we add, they are on it. I know that if I pick up the phone and reach out to Robert, he is available and responsive, which is very important to me.
Pamela Black
Google review
Where We Work
Charlotte, Lake Norman & Surrounding NC
We stay within about an hour of the shop. That covers Charlotte, the Lake Norman towns, out into Cabarrus and Union counties, and across the line into York County, SC. Close enough that our crews turn up on time and we can come back out quickly if you need us.
For Custom Home Builders
Working With Custom Home Builders
Are you a custom home builder or property developer in the Charlotte Metro area? We've helped companies such as Keen Builders in Charlotte and Revin Projects in Mooresville fully outsource the exterior construction part of their builds to a single outfit. No more backyard headaches!
Builder Partners
Financing
Our Pool Financing Options
We work with three different lenders, in order to cater to each and every one of our customers. Below, you'll find a tab for each with a short description, basic numbers, and a list of pros and cons. We'll be glad to help selecting the best financing partner during your consultation.
Financing pool builds since 1979
Lyon is the gold standard for custom pool financing. They only operate in that subsection of the market, safe to say they've perfected it over the years. The main advantage with Lyon is their milestone-based funding. Meaning you're not covering interest on the full loan during the build.
- Borrow
- Up to $250,000
- Terms
- Up to 30 years
- Credit
- 660 and up
What it's good at
- Funds as staged payments to the builder as work is completed, and you confirm each stage before it releases.
- Terms run to 30 years, the longest of the three, which is what brings a large build down to a workable monthly.
- Decking, landscaping, and outdoor living go on the same loan as the pool.
Worth knowing
- The tightest gate here: most approvals need a 660 score and total debt-to-income at or under 50%.
- A person reads the file, so conditional approval takes one to two business days rather than minutes.
The modern and streamlined one
HFS has the best online portal out of the three, and the most streamlined process. They are also able to finance larger amounts than their counterparts, up to $450,000, which can be required on larger projects.
- Borrow
- $1,000 – $450,000
- Terms
- 1 – 30 years
- Funding
- As little as 1 day
Soft credit check. Looking won't affect your score.
What it's good at
- A $450,000 ceiling, few projects ever get close to their limit.
- The fastest money here: funded in as little as one day, with proceeds available within 48 hours of approval.
- Takes small jobs too. The floor is $1,000, so a renovation fits the same place as a new build.
Worth knowing
- Funds as a single lump sum, so you carry interest on the whole amount through a six to eight week build.
- Rates tend to be prohibitively expensive on scores below 680, and applications are often denied below 660 or on high debt-to-income ratios.
The widest credit range
VistaFi is our best pick for lower credit applicants. They have a much more personalized service, with a real person analyzing your application.
- Borrow
- $10,000 – $300,000
- Terms
- Up to 20 years
- Credit
- All profiles
Soft credit check. Looking won't affect your score.
What it's good at
- Lends across all credit profiles, which makes it the one to try when another has already said no.
- A named consultant rather than a portal, who picks the disbursement setup with you.
- Runs a dedicated veterans program.
Worth knowing
- Nothing under $10,000, so a small repair or a single add-on does not clear the floor.
- Terms stop at 20 years, which can be a drawback for applicants hoping to leverage the full 30-year terms of the other creditors.
Not borrowing against the house
All three lend unsecured. No lien, no appraisal, no multi-month HELOC application processes.
One loan for the whole yard
Pool, hardscape, kitchen, lighting, and planting can be financed together as one project.
Fast funding
All three can typically fund projects within 7–14 days. No waiting around to get started.
FAQ
Common Questions
Every proposal is itemized: shell, equipment, decking, and each remaining line priced separately, so one part can change without re-pricing the rest. Pricing comes after the site visit and design, since yard access, soil, and grade change the number more than anything else.
Six to eight weeks from dig to swimming is typical. Soil conditions, weather, and the inspection queue move that window in either direction. We set a target date at contract and call if it changes.
Permits generally return in 12 to 14 days, longer in peak season. Most HOAs respond within a week. Drawings, submissions, and inspection scheduling are handled on our end.
Every quote includes a design. It's revised until the layout is right, and nothing is dug before it's signed off.
Moov pumps, AquaStar filtration, Poolside Tec automation, and Jandy for most of the rest. Pentair and Hayward are available on request. Equipment is specified per project, not by brand contract.
Yes, with our own crews, on the same contract and schedule as the pool. We take these on as part of a build we're doing, not as standalone jobs.
Through three lenders: Lyon Financial, HFS, and VistaFi. They are not the same deal — the amount, the term, and the credit they will take differ, and the financing section on this page sets out which is which. All three lend unsecured, so nothing is filed against the house, and the loan covers the full project, including decking, landscaping, and fencing.
Let's Talk
Start With a Site Visit
We build across Charlotte, Lake Norman, Huntersville, and the towns around them. Call or send the form, and Robert will find a time to come and walk the yard with you.
Get Your Free Consultation- Free site visit
- Free 3D design and quote
- No obligation