Building a custom pool in Georgia — especially in the greater Atlanta area — is nothing like building one in other parts of the country. Our region’s red-clay soil, steep elevation changes, drainage challenges, and freeze–thaw cycles place unusually high demands on pool engineering. That means homeowners can’t simply choose the lowest bidder or the company promising the fastest timeline. A poorly engineered pool can crack, shift, leak, or fail long before its expected lifespan.

At Alison Pools, we’ve spent decades designing and constructing custom pools built specifically for Georgia conditions. What we’ve learned is simple:

Homeowners who ask the right questions upfront avoid the biggest and most costly mistakes.

Whether you’re building in Atlanta, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Acworth, Marietta, or anywhere across metro Atlanta, these questions are non-negotiable. They are the difference between hiring a truly qualified custom pool builder — and one who’s simply installing a cookie-cutter pool with no regard for structural longevity.

Below are the essential questions every homeowner must ask before signing a contract.

Question 1: “How Do You Handle Georgia’s Red-Clay Soil & Site Conditions?”

This is the single most important question and the #1 way to filter out unqualified builders.

Georgia’s red clay expands dramatically when saturated and contracts when dry. If a builder doesn’t understand the soil — or worse, ignores it — your pool shell, decking, and plumbing can shift over time. These issues lead to:

Structural cracks
Uneven coping
Deck settling
Plumbing leaks
Waterline tile separation

What a qualified builder should explain

A professional Atlanta pool builder must describe:

Soil testing or at least soil assessment
Beam thickness based on soil type
Reinforced rebar schedule (especially in expansion zones)
Over-excavation + gravel backfill
Proper drainage planning
How they prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup

This is the baseline of engineering — not an “upgrade.”

The Alison Pools approach

At Alison Pools, we engineer pools specifically for Georgia soil. Our structural reinforcement, beam design, and drainage planning are tailored to elevation, saturation patterns, lot slope, and backyard layout.

A builder who cannot confidently answer this question should be removed from your list immediately.

Question 2: “Can You Provide 3D Designs and Structural Plans Before Construction?”

A reputable Atlanta pool builder should never begin construction without a detailed 3D rendering and structural plan. Many low-cost builders still offer basic 2D sketches or cookie-cutter templates, which hide problematic design flaws.

Why this matters

Without 3D planning, you risk:

Incorrect elevations
Poor water flow patterns
Awkward spa–pool transitions
Misplaced tanning ledges
Drainage issues around the deck
A design that looks nothing like what you imagined

3D planning ensures:

The pool matches your landscape
Ledges and benches are placed for real usability
Lighting illuminates key areas
Fire and water features scale correctly
Decking and coping transitions feel natural

How Alison Pools does it

Every Alison Pools project begins with a full 3D visualization showing:

Pool shape
Depth profiles
Spa elevation
Tanning ledges
Steps and seating zones
Lighting layout
Water features
Decking materials

This eliminates guesswork and sets expectations clearly before construction starts.

See examples in our portfolio:
👉 Alison Pools Portfolio

The right design upfront prevents expensive redesigns and timeline delays later.

Want a Professionally Designed Custom Pool?

See real 3D-planned luxury pools built by Alison Pools across Georgia.

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Question 3. “What Is Your Experience With Luxury Features?”

If you’re hiring a pool builder in Atlanta in 2025 and beyond, your design likely includes luxury features such as:

Tanning ledges
Raised or infinity-edge spas
Waterfalls and scuppers
Fire bowls and fire/water combinations
Large-format porcelain decking
Custom lighting design
Automation and smart systems

These are not “extras” — each feature requires real engineering, not a casual add-on.

Why this question matters

Builders with only basic pool experience often:

Undersized plumbing for water features
Fail to reinforce spa beams correctly
Misplace LED lighting
Install porcelain decking without proper drainage
Provide outdated automation
Offer limited tile and finish options
Ignore Georgia’s elevation and runoff patterns

Luxury builds are where bad builders get exposed.

What Alison Pools brings to the table?

As a custom luxury pool builder, we specialize in high-end, design-forward features built to perform perfectly in Georgia’s climate. Our Products & Finishes page shows the level of detail we integrate into:

Tanning ledges are engineered for proper water depth
Spillways calibrated for smooth flow
Fire features placed for wind + safety optimization
Porcelain decking installed with elevation-controlled drainage
Smart automation integrated from day one

When you hire the right builder, luxury features become a seamless part of your design — not a risk.

Once you’ve confirmed that a builder understands Georgia soil and can produce real 3D structural plans, the next set of questions focuses on the business side of building a pool — transparency, communication, staffing, and scheduling. These areas separate the established, trustworthy builders from the ones Atlanta homeowners often regret hiring.

Most failed pool projects in Georgia don’t fall apart because of design. They fail due to:

Poor communication
Vague or misleading quotes
Unsupervised subcontractors
Weather-related delays with no recovery plan
Lack of accountability

This is where homeowners must ask the right questions before signing anything.

Question 4. “What’s Included in the Quote — and What Isn’t?”

This is the question that exposes 90% of unreliable pool builders in Atlanta.

Some companies intentionally create vague estimates that look lower upfront but exclude essentials like:

Electrical
Gas lines
Engineering fees
Haul-off charges
Equipment upgrades
Spa plumbing
Porcelain decking
Automation systems
Waterline tile
Permit fees
Soil or grading allowances

You should never sign a contract from a builder who refuses to provide a transparent, line-item breakdown.

What a good quote looks like

A transparent Atlanta pool builder will include:

Full material list
Equipment model numbers
Plumbing and hydraulic design details
Tile, coping, and finish types
Deck square footage
Spa structural specs (if included)
Exact thickness of the shotcrete shell
Drainage and grading plan
Timelines and phases

This is the standard you should expect.

How Alison Pools handles quotes

We provide:

Clear, engineering-backed scopes
Transparent material and equipment specs
No obscure add-ons
No “surprise invoices” later
Real staging, timelines, and expectations

If you want a quote built with total clarity, you can request one here:
👉 Request a Quote

Want a Transparent, Engineering-Backed Quote?

Alison Pools provides detailed scopes with zero hidden costs — designed specifically for Georgia soil and site conditions.

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Question 5. “Who Will Be On My Property, and How Do You Manage Subcontractors?”

Pool construction isn’t a one-person job. It involves:

Excavation crews
Steel and rebar teams
Shotcrete crews
Plumbing specialists
Electricians
Tile and coping installers
Deck crews
Equipment technicians
Finish applicators

Every phase requires different expertise. The problem? Many builders in Atlanta outsource every step to random third-party crews with little oversight.

This leads to:

Inconsistent quality
Miscommunication
Safety issues
Project delays
Warranty problems down the road

What your builder’s answer should include

A qualified builder will tell you:

Which subcontractors they use
How long they’ve worked with them
Who supervises the job
Whether the subcontractors understand Georgia’s soil conditions
How quality is checked at each stage
What happens if a crew makes a mistake

How Alison Pools manages on-site work

Unlike builders who “sub everything out and hope for the best,” Alison Pools uses:

Long-term subcontractor teams
On-site supervision during critical stages
Engineering checkpoints
Inspections during steel, plumbing, and shotcrete
Strict material and installation standards
A single accountable project manager

This ensures consistency, safety, and quality — every time.

Question 6. “What Does Your Timeline Look Like — and How Do You Handle Weather?”

Atlanta homeowners often underestimate how much the weather impacts construction. Heavy rain, storms, and clay saturation can bring cheaper builders to a halt for weeks — because they don’t have a recovery plan.

A pool builder must be able to explain:

✔ Seasonal timelines

Spring: High volume, longer permitting
Summer: Fastest drying, most consistent
Fall: Ideal weather for excavation and shotcrete
Winter: Slower plastering times but excellent for design

✔ How they mitigate weather delays

For example:

Pumping groundwater
Protecting excavation walls
Managing drainage
Scheduling shotcrete during optimal temperatures
Covering exposed steel
Monitoring clay moisture

✔ Their communication process during unexpected delays

Top builders provide:

Weekly updates
Phase-by-phase progress reports
Realistic expectations
Clear adjustments when the weather shifts

How Alison Pools keeps projects moving

We build year-round, because we understand how Georgia soil responds to weather. Our drainage management, staging, and proactive planning allow us to continue working when other builders simply can’t.

See consistent results in our Portfolio — regardless of season.

Want a builder who stays on schedule — regardless of Georgia weather? Learn more about Alison Pools’ project management approach.

7. “What Warranty, Service, and Long-Term Support Do You Offer?”

This is where many Atlanta pool builders fall apart. You will see low-cost pool companies offer aggressive pricing and fast build promises — but their warranties are vague, short, or filled with exclusions. Some even disappear a few years after opening, leaving homeowners with major issues and no support.

What You Should Expect in a Real Warranty

A builder’s answer should include:
Structural shell warranty (long-term, not 1–3 years)
Interior finish warranty, depending on material
Equipment warranties (manufacturer-backed)
Plumbing and workmanship warranties
Clarity about what is and isn’t covered
A vague warranty = a builder who won’t be around later.

What Alison Pools Offers

As an established, engineering-first builder, our warranties include:

Durable structural shell performance
Manufacturer-backed equipment protection
Proper documentation
Ongoing support long after construction
Guidance for maintenance, chemistry, and seasonal operation

Homeowners trust us because we build relationships, not just structures.

FAQ SECTION

Typically 8–16 weeks depending on design complexity, weather, and permitting.
In most Georgia communities, yes. Alison Pools helps prepare all required documentation.
Fall and early spring offer optimal weather, but Alison Pools builds year-round.
Yes. Steep lots, drainage issues, and clay conditions all influence engineering requirements.
Absolutely — tanning ledges, raised spas, porcelain decking, and automation can often be added during renovation. See options here:

Conclusion

Choosing the right pool builder in Atlanta is about far more than comparing prices — it’s about selecting a partner who understands soil engineering, structural integrity, design precision, hydrodynamics, and long-term support. Your pool becomes a major part of your home’s value, daily lifestyle, and outdoor environment.

By asking these seven questions, Georgia homeowners can confidently identify a builder who will deliver not just a beautiful pool — but one built to last for decades in Atlanta’s demanding climate.

Alison Pools brings engineering, design, transparency, and long-term commitment to every project. If you want a pool built with precision, clarity, and craftsmanship, we’re ready to guide you through every step.

6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Atlanta Pool Builder