Project at a glance
| Location | El Dorado Hills, CA |
|---|---|
| Project | New pool and spa on a sloped lot |
| Pool shape | Long rectangle, squared at both ends |
| Spa | Flush in the pool corner nearest the house |
| Edge | Spillover on the downhill side, over stone facing |
| Tanning ledge | Shallow shelf at one end of the pool |
| Fire | Bowls on pedestals and a fire pit in a sunken lounge |
| Decking | Large-format concrete terraces on three levels |
| Shade | Steel-framed cover over the upper dining terrace |
| Services | Pool construction, Spa construction, Pool design, Outdoor design, Fire features, Patio covers |
As a pool builder in El Dorado Hills, we set this long pool on the upper terrace. It sits level with the patio, and its water spills over a stone-faced wall.
Project overview
This El Dorado Hills home sits on a sloped lot under mature oaks. The grade falls away from the house. Existing stone retaining walls already held the upper bank. The rear elevation opens onto a covered patio. From there the yard steps down rather than running flat.
The slope was the whole problem. A pool set at a single elevation would have needed a large cut into the bank. The other choice was a retaining wall tall enough to dominate the yard.
What the pool needed to do:
- Work with the existing grade instead of flattening it
- Sit high enough to be level with the patio off the house
- Leave usable space at more than one elevation
- Give the downhill side a finished edge rather than a blank wall
How the design answered it
Level with the house
A rectangular pool set on the upper terrace, level with the deck off the house.
A finished downhill side
A raised pool wall faced in stacked stone on the downhill side, with water spilling over its edge.
A lounge below the wall
A sunken lounge one step down from the pool wall, set around a fire pit.
Terraces that connect
Stepped concrete terraces linking the pool deck, the lounge and the upper seating areas.
Details shaped by the slope
Each detail works with the fall of the land, from the stone wall down to the lower lounge.
Shape
A long rectangle beside the house, squared off at both ends so its line stays clean against the terraced decking.
Spillover edge
The downhill side finishes above a wall faced in stacked stone. Water breaks over the edge, and the wall face carries the drop.
Spa
Set flush into the corner nearest the house at pool level. Dark tile makes it read as its own body of water.
Tanning ledge
A shallow shelf at one end, wide enough for loungers in the water. It doubles as an easy way into the pool.
Fire bowls
Raised bowls on pedestals at the pool edge, placed so they show from both the patio and the sunken lounge.
Terraced decking
Large-format concrete steps down across three levels, from the pool deck to the lounge. Planted beds sit between them.
Project gallery
Every photo here is from this Da Vinci Dr build, taken in full daylight.
Pool, loungers and two chairs by the fire pit, between the house and the dining cover · 1 / 6
Questions about this build
Can you build a pool on a sloped lot?
Yes. On this El Dorado Hills build, Wells Pools put the pool on the upper terrace. The yard steps down below it. A raised wall on the downhill side carries the drop, so the bank needed no deep cut.
What is a spillover edge?
A spillover edge lets water run over one side of the pool instead of stopping at the coping. Here it runs along the downhill side. The stacked stone face below takes the drop, so the low side looks finished.
What is a sunken lounge?
It is a seating area set a step below the deck, built around a fire pit. On this project it sits just below the pool wall. The lower level makes the slope a place to sit, not just a bank.
What is a tanning ledge for?
A tanning ledge is a shallow shelf inside the pool where you can sit or lie in the water. On this pool it runs across one end. It also works as a gentle way in.
Can a spa sit flush with the pool?
Yes. This spa is built into the pool corner nearest the house, at the same water level. Dark tile sets it apart without breaking the surface, so pool and spa read as one design.
Where do fire bowls go beside a pool?
Wells Pools set these on pedestals right at the pool edge, on top of the stone-faced wall. From there they show from the patio above and the lounge below.
How long does a hillside pool take to build?
Building a pool like this takes six to eight weeks on average at Wells Pools. Permits and weather can change that. Before any digging, your custom 3D design arrives no more than two weeks after the first visit.
Have you built other pools in El Dorado Hills?
Yes. We are a pool builder in El Dorado Hills. Our work there includes an infinity pool on a ridge and a pool with a water wall. See more of our El Dorado Hills work or get a free quote.
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Financing for qualified homeowners
We work with Lyon Financial: fixed rates, terms up to 30 years and no prepayment penalties.
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