Outdoor living
and pools.
Outdoor living here means pools, covered patios, outdoor kitchens and decks that are planned as part of the house and not added to it. It suits owners on a canal, the Intracoastal or a generous lot who entertain outside. With Mike, the structure, the water and the surrounding grade are coordinated before the first excavation.
What the work involves
A pool is a structure. It involves excavation, a steel cage, the shell, plumbing, equipment, decking and electrical work, and every step depends on the one before it. The covered patio, outdoor kitchen and lighting around it add roof structure, gas or electric service, ventilation, drainage and stone.
- Excavation, steel and pool shell
- Deck, coping and stone
- Equipment, plumbing and electrical
- Covered patio and roof structure
- Outdoor kitchen, gas and ventilation
- Lighting around the water
Seawalls, setbacks and drainage
On a waterfront lot the seawall matters before the pool does. Digging beside a weak or aging wall can load it and shift soil, so an engineer may need to review it. Seawall repair or replacement is a separate scope, usually handled by a marine specialist with its own permits.
Setbacks can limit how close a pool, deck or covered structure may sit to the water and the property line. Runoff from a new deck or roof must go somewhere other than a neighbor's yard or the canal, so drainage is part of the design. Check with the city before you design.
How Mike approaches it
Mike's approach is preconstruction-led. Early scope development covers the water, the soil, the setbacks and the utilities before the design is final, so you decide with real information.
He coordinates the architect or garden designer, the pool engineering, the permit process and the outdoor trades, and you can reach him directly throughout. He plans outdoor work as a natural extension of the home, with the same care as the rooms inside.
What to decide early
Decide the shape and depth of the pool by how you will use it: laps, children, entertaining or a spa. Decide whether you want a roofed area, an outdoor kitchen or a fire feature, because roofs and gas lines affect structure and permits. Choose materials that tolerate sun, salt and chlorine.
How the work goes
- 01
Consultation
A private conversation about the lot, the water and how your family and guests will use the space.
- 02
Site review and preconstruction
The seawall condition, setbacks, soil and drainage are reviewed, and scope and budget are developed from what is found.
- 03
Permitting and selections
Pool, structure and utility drawings go to the city while stone, finishes and equipment are chosen.
- 04
Construction
Excavation, steel and the shell come first, followed by decking, outdoor kitchen, roof structure and lighting.
- 05
Closeout
System start-up, a final walk of the grounds and a handover that explains how everything operates.
Questions owners ask
Can I build a pool beside an older seawall?+
Sometimes, after an engineer reviews the wall and the soil behind it. If the wall needs repair, that is a separate scope with its own permits, and it usually comes first. Mike coordinates the sequence so the pool and the wall work together.
How close to the water can the pool sit?+
Setbacks vary by city, lot and zone, and they can restrict pools, decks and roofed structures differently. Check with the city before you design. A survey and an early review keep the plan inside those limits.
Do outdoor kitchens and covered patios need permits?+
Roof structure, gas lines and electrical work generally do, and your city decides the details. Mike coordinates the drawings with your architect so each permit matches what will be built.
What does a pool and outdoor kitchen cost?+
Scope and price are set together in a private consultation. Site conditions, deck area, stone, equipment and any work near the water drive the total, and they are known only after the lot is studied.
Does drainage really matter for a pool deck?+
Yes. Water that ponds against the house or flows onto a neighbor's lot causes damage and disputes. Grade and drains are designed with the deck, not added after it.