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swimming pools


Sun Shelves, Baja Shelves, and Tanning Ledges Explained
Picture yourself sitting in a comfortable lounge chair on a warm Sacramento afternoon. You're surrounded by cool water, but you aren't completely submerged. The kids are swimming a few feet away, an umbrella provides some shade, and gentle bubblers send water across the shallow surface around you. You haven't checked into a resort. You're sitting on the sun shelf in your own backyard pool. Sun shelves have become a popular feature in custom swimming pool design because they c
Joe Trusty
Jun 228 min read


Pool Water Features That Add Beauty and Relaxation
Imagine stepping into your backyard after a long day. The pool is sparkling, sunlight reflects across the surface, and you can hear the gentle sound of water flowing from a raised wall into the pool. Suddenly, the backyard feels different. More peaceful. More private. More like a place where you can actually escape for a while. That's the power of a thoughtfully designed pool water feature. Water features can transform an ordinary swimming pool into a focal point while adding
Joe Trusty
Jun 178 min read


Must-Have Pool Features Sacramento Homeowners Love
Building a custom swimming pool gives you an opportunity to create much more than a place to cool off. Your pool can become the center of summer afternoons, weekend barbecues, birthday parties, and relaxing evenings at home. But creating that experience requires choosing features that match the way you want to use your backyard. Do you picture yourself relaxing on a tanning ledge? Are the kids going to spend hours playing games? Would an integrated spa make the backyard more
Joe Trusty
Jun 28 min read


Resort-Style Pool Ideas for Sacramento Homes
Think about your favorite resort vacation. Maybe you remember lounging beside a sparkling pool with your feet in the water. A waterfall created a relaxing backdrop while palm trees and landscaping made the space feel private. Comfortable seating surrounded the pool, and just a few steps away were shaded areas for eating, relaxing, and spending time with family. Now imagine having that experience without packing a suitcase. With thoughtful design, Sacramento-area homeowners ca
Joe Trusty
May 307 min read


Pools and Outdoor Living Spaces: The Perfect Pair
Imagine stepping into your backyard on a warm Sacramento afternoon. The pool is sparkling, the grill is fired up, and your family is spread throughout the space. The kids are swimming with friends, someone is relaxing beneath the shade, and everyone else is gathered around the outdoor kitchen waiting for dinner. As the sun goes down, the pool lights come on. People move from the water to the patio, and eventually everyone gathers around the fire pit. Nobody is rushing inside.
Joe Trusty
May 287 min read


How to Design a Complete Backyard Oasis With a Pool
Imagine stepping outside on a warm Sacramento afternoon and feeling like you’ve arrived at your own private resort. The pool is sparkling in the sunlight. Comfortable lounge chairs surround a shallow tanning ledge. The kids are swimming while burgers cook on the outdoor grill. A shaded patio provides a cool place to relax, and later that evening, the pool lights will come on as everyone gathers around the fire pit. You don't have to leave home to escape—you've created the des
Joe Trusty
May 108 min read


Shallow Play Areas vs. Deep Pools: What’s Best for Families?
When families start designing a new swimming pool, it’s easy to spend most of the planning process thinking about the things they can see: the pool shape, decking, water features, lighting, and landscaping. But one design decision can have an enormous impact on how your family actually uses the pool: depth. Should you build a traditional pool that transitions from a shallow end to deeper water? Would your family get more use from an extended shallow play area? Do you really n
Joe Trusty
Apr 248 min read


Designing a Backyard Pool the Whole Family Will Love
Picture a warm summer Saturday at home. The grill is going, music is playing, and the patio table is covered with burgers, watermelon, cold drinks, and everyone's favorite sides. The kids are in the pool challenging each other to cannonballs while their friends play a game in the shallow end. A few adults are relaxing with their feet in the water, grandparents are talking beneath the shade, and no one is in a hurry to leave. As afternoon turns into evening, the pool lights co
Joe Trusty
Apr 137 min read


Best Pool Features for Families in Sacramento
A backyard swimming pool can quickly become one of the most-used spaces at a family home. During Sacramento’s hot summers, it provides a place to cool off, but the real value of a thoughtfully designed pool goes far beyond swimming. It can be where kids learn to swim, teenagers spend summer afternoons with friends, parents unwind after work, and the entire family gathers on weekends. Birthday parties, barbecues, holiday weekends, and quiet evenings at home can all happen arou
Joe Trusty
Apr 37 min read


Modern Pool Design Trends in California Homes
California backyards have evolved into much more than outdoor spaces. For many families, they’re extensions of the home—places to relax after a long day, entertain friends, enjoy meals outdoors, and spend uninterrupted time together. A custom swimming pool can become the centerpiece of that experience. Today’s pool designs combine clean aesthetics with thoughtful features that make outdoor living more comfortable, private, and personal. From integrated spas and tanning ledges
Joe Trusty
Mar 277 min read


Custom Pool Design Ideas Perfect for Sacramento Backyards
A swimming pool can be much more than a place to cool off during a hot Sacramento summer. With the right design, it can become the centerpiece of your outdoor living space, creating a private retreat where your family can swim, entertain, relax, and spend more time together. That’s where custom design makes a difference. Instead of choosing a basic pool and trying to make it fit your property, a custom pool can be designed around your backyard, home architecture, lifestyle, a
Joe Trusty
Mar 237 min read


Choosing the Right Pool Shape for Your Backyard
Building a swimming pool is an opportunity to completely transform the way your family uses its backyard. But before choosing water features, decking, lighting, or landscaping, there’s one fundamental decision to make: What shape should your pool be? The answer isn't as simple as choosing the design you like best. Your home's architecture, backyard dimensions, available space, intended pool activities, landscaping, and outdoor living plans should all influence the final desig
Joe Trusty
Mar 187 min read


Hidden Costs to Know Before Building a Pool
Building a pool is exciting — but beyond the initial estimate, homeowners should understand the full scope of swimming pool installation costs. While reputable builders provide transparent pricing, there are additional expenses many first-time pool owners don’t anticipate. Being informed helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises. 1. Landscaping Restoration Heavy equipment used during construction can impact: Lawns Irrigation systems Existing hardscaping After installati
Joe Trusty
Feb 202 min read


Why Sacramento Homeowners Are Choosing Custom Pools
Sacramento summers are hot, dry, and long — making backyard pools more than a luxury. They’re often a necessity. But instead of choosing basic, cookie-cutter designs, many homeowners are investing in custom swimming pools Sacramento CA residents truly love. Why the shift toward customization? The answer lies in lifestyle, property value, and long-term enjoyment. Designed for Sacramento Living Sacramento’s Mediterranean climate means pools are used extensively from late sprin
Joe Trusty
Jan 302 min read


What to Expect When Building a Custom Pool in Sacramento, CA
Building a swimming pool is one of the most exciting upgrades you can make to your home — especially in a warm-weather region like Sacramento. With long, hot summers and plenty of sunshine, a backyard pool quickly becomes the center of family life. But before construction begins, many homeowners ask the same question: What should I expect during the process? If you’re considering hiring a custom pool builder Sacramento CA , understanding each phase of the journey can help you
Joe Trusty
Jan 23 min read


Choosing the Best Pool Layout for Sacramento Homes: Expert Tips
Sacramento homeowners understand the value of outdoor living. With warm summers, mild winters, and plenty of sunshine, a swimming pool isn’t just a luxury—it’s a lifestyle upgrade. But before you break ground, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right pool layout. The pool layout ideas Sacramento homeowners select can completely transform how they use and enjoy their backyard. Whether you’re planning a new pool build or redesigning your existing
Joe Trusty
Dec 5, 20255 min read


What to Expect During Your Custom Pool Construction Sacramento Project
Building a custom pool in Sacramento is an exciting journey, but many homeowners have questions about what to expect during the construction process. From the initial design to the final reveal, understanding each phase of your custom pool construction in Sacramento can help reduce stress, manage expectations, and ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience. At Family Time Pools , we specialize in creating custom pools tailored to your lifestyle, backyard space, and design vision.
Joe Trusty
Nov 21, 20254 min read


Modern Pool Designs That Boost Home Value in Sacramento
A beautifully designed swimming pool is more than a luxury—it's an investment that can significantly increase your Sacramento home’s value. With the city’s warm climate, active outdoor lifestyle, and strong housing market, homeowners are choosing pool designs that not only enhance their daily enjoyment but also appeal to future buyers. Modern pool designs blend aesthetics, functionality, and long-term durability, making them a smart investment for any Sacramento property. At
Joe Trusty
Nov 14, 20254 min read


Top Design Features to Add to Your Custom Sacramento Pool in 2025
If you’re a Sacramento homeowner planning to install a pool in 2025, you’re in for a year of exciting design trends. Pools have evolved beyond simple backyard amenities—they’re now customized retreats that reflect your lifestyle, family needs, and personal style. From modern features to eco-friendly upgrades, a custom pool design Sacramento families love can transform your backyard into a luxurious, functional, and fun outdoor space. At Family Time Pools , we specialize in b
Joe Trusty
Oct 31, 20254 min read


A Step-by-Step Guide to Swimming Pool Construction in Sacramento
If you’re considering adding a swimming pool to your Sacramento backyard, you’re probably imagining sunny afternoons by the water, weekend BBQs, and a place where your family can relax, play, and connect. But before the fun begins, there’s one big question homeowners always ask: “What exactly happens during swimming pool construction?” Whether you’re just getting started or doing research before your free consultation with Family Time Pools, this guide walks you through each
Joe Trusty
Oct 17, 20254 min read
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