No surprises. No handoffs. No shortcuts.
Here's exactly what it looks like to build a backyard with NorCal Pool Productions — from the first conversation to the day you take a swim.
Start the ConversationPHASE 01
Concept & 3D Design
PHASE 02
Permits & Site Prep
PHASE 03
The Build
PHASE 04
Pool School
Four phases. One point of contact.
One finished backyard.
Most pool builds fall apart in the handoffs. Different companies handling different pieces, nobody owning the whole thing. We supervise every trade and every phase personally, so there's always someone accountable for the finished product. Here's how that actually works.
Phase 1
Concept & 3D Design
See your finished backyard before we break ground.
Every project starts here. Before a permit is pulled or a shovel hits the ground, we build a detailed 3D rendering of your entire backyard, pool shape, spa placement, water features, fire features, lighting plan, all of it, so you can see it, walk through it, and approve it as a complete design.
We make revisions until it's exactly right. Changes made on a screen cost nothing. Changes made mid-build cost time and money.
Phase 2
Permits & Site Prep
Fully permitted, properly engineered, ready to build.
We handle all Northern California permitting and engineering, so you don't have to track down a single approval. Every project is fully permitted through the appropriate local agencies and engineered to code before construction starts.
Site prep includes everything the ground needs before gunite goes in, including excavation, utility marking, grading, and setting the conditions for a clean, efficient build.
Phase 3
Master Craftsmanship
The same crew, start to finish. Owner on-site throughout.
Every trade on your project is hand-selected and supervised directly by us. These aren't strangers showing up with a work order. They're the same crews we work with project after project, held to the same standards, with the owner watching the work.
The owner is on-site throughout construction, watching every stage of the build: steel and plumbing, gunite shell, tile and coping, plaster, features, and lighting.
Phase 4
Pool School
We don't hand you the keys and drive away.
Before we consider a project finished, we sit down with you and walk through every system, every feature, and everything you need to know to use and maintain your new backyard. You'll leave knowing exactly how everything works.
Questions people ask before they start.
Q 01
How long does a full build take?
A full custom pool and backyard typically takes 10–16 weeks from permit approval to completion, depending on scope and site conditions. We'll give you a realistic timeline during the design phase, not an optimistic one.
Q 02
What do I need to do during the build?
Not much. You approved the design before we started. We handle permits, inspections, and sequencing. We'll communicate clearly at each stage and flag any decisions that need your input.
Q 03
What if I want to make a change mid-build?
Some changes are possible mid-build, but they add cost and time. The 3D design phase exists specifically to surface these decisions before construction starts. It's always cheaper to change on screen.
Q 04
Do you work year-round in Sacramento?
Yes. Northern California's climate allows year-round construction. Many homeowners start the design and permit process in fall to be ready to break ground in early spring and swim by summer.
Q 05
How does the first conversation work?
We visit your yard, listen to how you want to use the space, and talk through what's realistic for your budget and property. No pressure, no pitch, just a real conversation about what's possible.
Q 06
Who are we actually working with?
The owner. From the first consultation through Pool School. You won't be passed to a project manager halfway through. The person who sold you the build is the one supervising it.
Ready to start the
conversation?
The first step is a free consultation. We visit your yard, talk through your vision, and tell you honestly what's possible. No obligation, no pressure.