Our Proven Pool Design & Installation Process
POOLS
25+ Years of Trust
From initial vision to your first swim—discover how 25+ years of experience ensures a stress-free journey to your dream backyard pool.
A Collaborative Process Built on Experience and Trust
Designing and installing a custom pool is an exciting journey, but it can also feel overwhelming if you’re working with a builder who doesn’t prioritize communication, transparency, and customer service. At Signature Pool & Spas, we’ve refined our design and installation process over 25+ years to ensure every project runs smoothly from initial consultation through final completion and beyond. Our approach is built on collaboration—we want you to feel informed, involved, and confident at every stage.
What sets our process apart is our commitment to understanding your unique situation before we ever put pen to paper or shovel to ground. Every family uses their pool differently. Every property presents its own opportunities and challenges. Every budget requires thoughtful consideration of priorities and trade-offs. We take the time to understand all of these factors because we know that successful projects start with comprehensive planning and clear communication.
Clear, Stress-Free Project Stages
We’ve broken down our process into clear stages that guide you from initial concept through long-term enjoyment. At each stage, you’ll know exactly what to expect, what decisions need to be made, and how the project is progressing. We handle all the complex coordination—permits, subcontractors, inspections, equipment—while keeping you informed and answering your questions promptly. This organized, transparent approach eliminates the stress and confusion that can plague pool projects, allowing you to focus on the excitement of watching your backyard transformation unfold.
Whether you’re considering a vinyl liner pool with a completely custom design or a fiberglass pool with carefully selected features, our process adapts to your specific project while maintaining the quality standards and customer service that have earned us Rhode Island’s trust for over two decades.
Our Process
Stage 1: Discovery & Consultation
Your pool journey begins with a comprehensive consultation that sets the foundation for everything that follows. We’ll schedule a visit to your property where we can see your yard firsthand, assess its characteristics, and discuss your vision in detail.
During this initial meeting, we want to understand how you envision using your pool. Are you primarily focused on family recreation and teaching children to swim? Do you see the pool as an entertainment space for hosting gatherings? Are you interested in fitness and lap swimming? Perhaps you’re creating a serene retreat for relaxation and stress relief. Understanding these priorities helps us design a pool that truly serves your lifestyle rather than just looking attractive in your yard.
We’ll also discuss aesthetic preferences—do you prefer traditional rectangular designs or organic free-form shapes? Are you drawn to classic blue pool interiors or contemporary gray tones? What style of decking and coping appeals to you? How should the pool integrate with your existing landscape and home architecture?
Budget and timeline are equally important topics. We need to understand your investment parameters so we can develop solutions that fit comfortably within your budget while delivering the quality and features that matter most. We’ll discuss your ideal timeline, considering factors like seasonal weather, your schedule, and any particular events or milestones you’re planning around.
During the property assessment, we’ll evaluate important factors like yard dimensions and topography, sun exposure and shade patterns, existing utilities and easements, access for construction equipment, drainage and grading considerations, and proximity to property lines that may affect placement or design. All of this information feeds into creating a design that works perfectly with your unique situation.
This consultation is complimentary and comes with no obligation—we simply want to understand your project and help you understand what’s possible.
Stage 2: Design Development
With a clear understanding of your vision and property characteristics, we begin the design development process. For vinyl liner pools, this means creating custom CAD drawings that show your pool’s exact dimensions, shape, depths, and features. For fiberglass pools, we’ll present options from our trusted manufacturers that best match your preferences and requirements.
This is where your pool starts becoming real. We’ll show you how the pool fits into your yard, how it relates to your house and other outdoor features, where equipment will be located, and how surrounding spaces can be developed for decking, landscaping, and entertainment areas.
We encourage collaboration during design development. Want to adjust the shape slightly? Curious about adding a tanning ledge or bench seating? Interested in seeing how different depths might work? This is the time to explore options and refine the design. We’ll discuss various features and enhancements you might consider, from basic to premium, helping you understand the benefits and costs of each so you can make informed decisions about priorities.
The design phase typically involves some back-and-forth as we refine details and ensure you’re completely satisfied before moving forward. We don’t rush this process—getting the design right is crucial to your long-term satisfaction, and we’d rather spend extra time perfecting the plan than discover issues during construction.
Stage 3: Proposal, Planning & Permits
Once you approve the final design, we prepare a detailed proposal that outlines the complete scope of work, materials to be used, equipment specifications, timeline estimates, and total investment required. This proposal ensures we’re aligned on expectations and provides a clear roadmap for the project.
We handle all permitting requirements, which vary depending on your municipality. This typically includes pool construction permits, electrical permits for equipment and lighting, and sometimes fencing permits depending on your safety barrier approach. We’re thoroughly familiar with local requirements throughout Rhode Island, ensuring all work complies with regulations and passes inspections.
We’ll coordinate with utility companies to have underground lines marked, protecting your property’s infrastructure and ensuring safe excavation. We also develop a detailed construction schedule that considers weather patterns, material availability, and your preferences for timing.
If you’re interested in financing, we’ll discuss available options and help you understand terms that fit your budget. We work with trusted lending partners who specialize in home improvement financing and can often provide competitive rates and flexible terms.
Stage 4: Construction & Installation
With permits approved and plans finalized, construction begins. Our experienced crews arrive on schedule, ready to transform your backyard. The construction process includes excavation to specified dimensions and depths, structural installation (pool walls for vinyl liner or shell placement for fiberglass), plumbing and electrical systems installation, equipment setup, liner installation for vinyl pools or finishing work for fiberglass pools, coping and decking installation, and final grading and cleanup.
Throughout construction, we maintain clear communication. You’ll know what to expect each day, which crews will be on site, and how the project is progressing. We keep the work site organized and safe, minimizing disruption to your daily life as much as possible.
Our project managers coordinate all subcontractors and material deliveries, ensuring everything stays on schedule. We handle inspections as required and address any unexpected issues promptly. Quality control is constant—we don’t just meet standards, we exceed them.
Stage 5: Completion, Education & Ongoing Support
As construction nears completion, we conduct thorough testing of all systems to ensure everything operates perfectly. The pool is filled, water chemistry is balanced, and equipment is verified. We then schedule a comprehensive walkthrough where we demonstrate all equipment operation, explain maintenance procedures, discuss water chemistry basics, review warranty information, and answer any questions you have.
We want you to feel completely comfortable with your new pool. We provide detailed documentation, including equipment manuals, maintenance guides, and our contact information for any future questions or service needs.
Our relationship doesn’t end at installation. We offer professional maintenance programs if you prefer to leave the work to us, and we’re always available for repairs, equipment upgrades, or questions as they arise. Many of our customers have been with us for decades, trusting us for ongoing service and support long after their initial installation.
What Our Customers Are Saying
We take pride in providing top-tier products and exceptional customer service. Don’t just take our word for it — read what our happy clients have to say!
INGROUND POOL REQUEST
Ready to Start Your Pool Design Journey?
With over 25 years of experience and hundreds of successful projects throughout Rhode Island, we’ve proven that a well-managed process leads to exceptional results and satisfied customers. Let’s start planning your dream pool today.