Pool Builder in El Dorado Hills, CA

There isn't one responsible price we can give without understanding the pool and the property it's being built on.

Pool size, depth, spa configuration, Cabo shelves, water features, equipment, finishes, decking, access, excavation conditions, elevation, drainage, retaining needs, utilities, and the amount of surrounding outdoor construction can all influence the final investment.

This is also why we discuss your targeted comfort zone of investment early in the process. That conversation isn't about trying to determine the maximum you want to spend. It helps us understand whether the project you're envisioning and the investment you're comfortable making are reasonably aligned—and where we can help you prioritize.

We would rather have that conversation early than design a beautiful project that doesn't make sense for the investment you intended to make.

Not at all.

Many homeowners know how they want their backyard to feel and function long before they know exactly what size pool they want, whether they need a Cabo shelf, where the spa should go, or which features are worth the additional investment.

That's part of where we come in.

During the consultation and design process, we learn about your family, how you plan to use the pool, what you like and don't like, the property itself, and your overall priorities. Then we can help you work through the decisions and explain the construction considerations behind them.

You don't need to design your pool before calling the pool builder. That's our job to help you with.

Some conditions simply can't be fully known until excavation begins.

Hard soil, rock, fill material, groundwater, unsuitable soils, buried improvements, or other concealed conditions can affect construction.

Before signing a pool contract, homeowners should understand how their contractor handles unknown conditions, what standard excavation is included, and how additional work would be documented and priced if something unexpected is encountered.

Those conversations are much better to have before the excavator is in your backyard.

El Dorado Hills' terrain can make elevation an important part of both design and construction.

A change in grade may influence where the pool sits, how decking transitions back to the home, drainage, retaining conditions, steps, access, landscape areas, and how the finished backyard feels from one elevation to another.

That doesn't mean every sloped property needs an overly complicated solution.

It means we need to understand the grades before making design decisions.

Sometimes elevation is a constraint. Other times, it becomes an opportunity to create a much more interesting outdoor space.

Absolutely—and if the view is one of the reasons you love your El Dorado Hills property, tell us.

We consider what you'll see while you're outside and what you'll see from inside the home looking toward the backyard.

Pool elevation and orientation, raised features, landscaping, structures, equipment placement, and gathering areas can all affect sightlines.

Sometimes the best design decision isn't adding another feature. It's knowing when to keep an area open.

For many larger projects, yes.

You don't necessarily need to construct the entire property at once, but understanding the long-term plan can prevent expensive conflicts later.

For example, a future pavilion or outdoor kitchen may need utilities. Future landscape areas may affect irrigation and drainage. A later structure may require footings. Concrete installed today may need sleeves underneath it for something planned several years from now.

Good phasing starts by thinking about the later phases before the first one is built.

That doesn't lock you into building everything. It simply allows today's decisions to leave room for tomorrow's plans.

Yes. This is an important distinction in how CJR approaches larger pool projects.

Our work can bring together the pool and spa, concrete and hardscape, drainage, landscape installation, irrigation, lighting, outdoor kitchens, pavilions and shade structures, fire features, turf, putting greens, retaining elements, and other outdoor improvements within one coordinated project.

That means we're able to think about how the different elements affect one another during planning—not after separate contractors have already started building their individual portions.

For homeowners planning more than just a pool, that coordination can make a significant difference.

As involved as you should be—it's your home.

Our job is to bring the design and construction experience, explain the options, identify potential concerns, and help you understand the decisions you're making. Your job isn't to arrive knowing all the answers.

We want to understand what you love, what you don't, how your family lives, what matters most to you, and where you would rather invest versus keep things simpler.

The process should feel collaborative, not like you're selecting a pool from a catalog.

Some site conditions can't be fully known until excavation begins.

Hard soil, rock, fill, groundwater, unsuitable material, or other concealed conditions can affect the work required to complete excavation safely and correctly.

This is why homeowners should understand how their contractor addresses unknown site conditions before signing a contract, including what is included in standard excavation and how additional work would be documented and priced if necessary.

We believe those possibilities should be discussed clearly before construction—not introduced for the first time when there's already an excavator in your backyard.

There are really two timelines to consider: the time required to properly plan the project and the time required to construct it.

Design, revisions, engineering, HOA requirements when applicable, permitting, selections, and pre-construction planning all happen before excavation.

Once construction begins, the schedule depends on the project scope, inspections, weather, site conditions, material availability, subcontractor sequencing, and whether the pool is part of a larger outdoor project.

We would rather give you a realistic project-specific expectation once we understand what you're building than advertise a one-size-fits-all construction timeline that may not apply to your property.

Choosing a pool contractor involves more than comparing designs and the final price. You're trusting a company with a major construction project at your home, so it's important to understand who you're hiring and exactly what you're being quoted.

Look at the contractor's licensing, insurance, construction experience, completed work, warranties, communication process, and who will actually be responsible for managing your project once construction begins.

Ask detailed questions about the scope of work. What materials and equipment are being used? What brands, finishes, and specifications are included? What excavation is included? Are decking, drainage, electrical, permits, or other surrounding work part of the proposal? What is specifically excluded? Are there allowances that could change later?

Two proposals with similar-looking pools can represent very different scopes of work, materials, equipment, and levels of construction.

Also pay attention to how thoroughly the contractor evaluates your property before providing a proposal. Access, elevations, drainage, excavation conditions, utilities, existing improvements, and surrounding construction can all affect how the pool needs to be built.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. A good contractor should be willing to explain what you're paying for, what you're getting, and what you should expect throughout construction.

When comparing proposals, compare scope to scope—not simply price to price.

A pool is a significant investment and a permanent addition to your property. Choose a contractor you trust to communicate clearly, build responsibly, and stand behind the work long after the project is complete.

Your initial consultation is directly with CJR owner Colton Ray—not a salesperson.

Colton walks the property with you, listens to what you're hoping to create, evaluates existing conditions, discusses your priorities and targeted comfort zone of investment, and brings his hands-on construction experience into the conversation from the beginning.

If something you're considering doesn't make sense for the property, he'll tell you. If there's an opportunity you may not have considered, he'll point that out too.

There isn't a salesperson between you and the person responsible for building your project.