The Journal
Field notes
Recent builds and the thinking behind them — pools we've poured across the greater Seattle area, one project at a time.
FeaturedWhat a custom pool costs in the Seattle area
What an inground pool costs in Seattle and Snohomish County — realistic budget ranges, the site factors that move the number, and how to plan a build.
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A resort-style pool on a Snohomish acreage
A wide sun-shelf pool and raised spa set into a Snohomish hillside — engineered to sit level on sloping ground and open straight onto the Cascades.
How long a pool build takes in Washington
A realistic pool construction timeline for Western Washington — design, engineering, permits, and the 12-to-20-week build itself, phase by phase.
Building an infinity pool in Washington State
How a vanishing edge really works — the engineering behind an infinity pool, the Washington sites that suit one, and what the edge adds to the budget.
Year-round pool heating in Western Washington
Pool heaters, heat pumps and automatic covers compared for Western Washington — how to design a pool you can swim in all year, not just in August.
Pool permits in Washington: what to expect
What it takes to permit a swimming pool in Washington — building, electrical and barrier requirements, how long review takes, and who should handle it.
Gunite vs fiberglass pools in Washington
Concrete, fiberglass and vinyl-liner pools compared for Washington yards — cost, lifespan, design freedom, and which construction type fits your site.
An Edmonds backyard that borrows the Sound
A tight Edmonds lot, a big view of Puget Sound, and a slimline pool designed to disappear into it — glass tile, dark interior, and a vanishing edge aimed at the water.
A modern family pool in Redmond
Clean geometry, an automatic cover, and an integrated spa — a low-maintenance modern pool built for a busy Redmond family that wanted it ready to use, not ready to babysit.
A twilight pool for a Bellevue modern
A dark-tile geometric pool built to disappear into a Bellevue modern — sheer-descent water wall, hidden lighting and a spa that glows after dark.
A wine-country pool in Woodinville
A warm, resort-style pool built for long summer evenings in Woodinville wine country — tanning shelf, spillover spa, cedar pergola and string lights.