# Long lap pool behind an El Paso adobe

A narrow swim pool in gravel and agave, with steps at one end and a shaded ramada patio beside it. Drawn for a flat-roofed adobe-style stucco house in warm tan with exposed vigas and a tile-trimmed entry, with a yard of crushed gravel, agave, ocotillo and prickly pear, with the Franklin Mountains rising behind.

A design idea for El Paso, TX. Texas, classic suburb, Spanish and Mediterranean. Updated 2026-10-06.

## The numbers

- Size: 40 × 10 ft (4 to 5 ft deep)
- Water surface: 400 sq ft
- Water: about 13,500 gal
- Coping: 100 linear ft
- Deck: 1,320 sq ft

## The design, spelled out

The floor is 4 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 11 ft, slopes over about 14 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 15 ft.

### Shape: Rectangle

A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house.

### Size: 40 × 10 ft

A long, narrow pool about 10 ft wide and 40 ft long, built for swimming lengths. It gives a straight lane and an even depth for exercise, and it fits a long, thin yard better than a wide pool does. That is about 400 sq ft of water and about 13,500 gallons.

### Steps: Corner steps

Steps tucked into a corner. Keeps the water free for swimming and saves space in a small pool. The steps lead into water 4 ft deep.

### Pool finish: Plaster

A smooth cement-based finish. A clean, classic surface that typically needs resurfacing sooner than pebble. In strong sun, a lighter finish fades less and hides scale from hard water.

### Finish color: White finish, bright light blue water

A white interior. Gives the brightest, lightest blue water.

### Waterline tile: Blue glass

Blue glass mosaic at the waterline. Adds sparkle and a clear blue edge to the water. It runs about 100 linear ft around this pool.

### Coping: Flagstone

Natural flagstone with irregular edges. Gives a natural, informal look that blends with planting and rock. It runs about 100 linear ft around this pool. A light coping stays cooler on bare feet in summer.

### Deck: Stamped concrete

Tan stamped concrete with a stone pattern. An affordable deck poured in one piece. It needs a sealer and a grit additive so it is not slippery when wet. The deck is about 1,320 sq ft here. Here the deck is the hottest thing in the yard, so surface color matters as much as material.

### Planting: Desert

Gravel, agave, succulents and boulders. Uses little water and keeps leaves out of the pool. A low-water planting plan keeps leaves out of the water and the bill down.

### Pool fence: Black aluminum

A black aluminum picket fence. A standard, durable barrier that disappears in the planting and meets most barrier codes.

### Add to the yard: Pergola

Pergola: A pergola over part of the deck. Gives shade and a room feeling. It may need a permit and engineering where it is windy or snowy.

### Furniture: Loungers, Umbrella

Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck. Umbrella: A market umbrella. Cheap shade that you can move with the sun.

### Light: Midday sun

Shown in midday sun. Shows the true color of the water and the finish.

## Why it suits this house

The yard: a yard of crushed gravel, agave, ocotillo and prickly pear, with the Franklin Mountains rising behind. A classic suburb yard has room for a real pool, so the design is about how the family uses it. A regular lot and a rear yard give room for a pool, a deck and a lawn. Think about sight lines from the kitchen, where the shade falls and where the kids will play.

The house is a flat-roofed adobe-style stucco house in warm tan with exposed vigas and a tile-trimmed entry. A Spanish or Mediterranean house wants curves, warm stone and plenty of shade. Roman ends, travertine and terracotta tones echo the stucco and tile roof. A pergola and potted planting finish the courtyard feel.

## Will it fit your yard?

Plan on a clear area of about 58 by 28 ft for the pool, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 60 by 30 ft.

## Texas: what the climate asks of this pool

A Texas pool earns its keep through long, hot summers, so shade, deck temperature and water loss decide how it feels.

- Deck material matters in July. Light concrete, travertine and some porcelains stay far cooler on bare feet than dark pavers.
- Heat and wind raise evaporation, so a pool in Texas loses water faster than the same pool in a mild region. A cover or a shade structure helps.
- Many parts of the state have expansive clay soil. It moves with wet and dry spells, so the shell, the steel and the deck joints are built for movement.
- A pergola or shade sail over part of the deck often decides whether people sit outside at 4 p.m.

## Quick answers

**How much water does this pool hold?** About 13,500 gallons. It is 40 by 10 ft with about 400 sq ft of water, 4 ft deep at the steps and 5 ft at the deep end. The gallons come from adding up the depth over the real floor, steps and shelf included.

**How big a yard does it need?** Plan on a clear area of about 58 by 28 ft for the pool, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 60 by 30 ft.

**What does this design cost?** A planning range for TX is $55,000 to $145,000 all in: the pool, deck, coping, fence and features listed on this page. Permits and engineering are not in it. It is a range built from published prices, not a quote, and real jobs usually land inside it rather than on its edges.

**How long does it take to build?** Plan on about 3 to 6 months from a signed contract to the first swim. Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts.

## Why it works here

Tan stucco, gravel and agave all read as quiet, so a narrow 40 by 10 lap pool fits without crowding the yard. Corner steps keep the full length open for swimming, and the pergola gives the loungers shade through long, hot El Paso summers. Black aluminum fence stays clear against the gravel.

What to watch: Stamped concrete and flagstone coping get very hot in full sun, and white plaster adds glare on top. Plan on shade or a cooler deck finish near the steps, since bare feet find the hot spots first.

## What this will cost: a planning range

$55,000 to $145,000 for TX, a range from published prices and not a quote.

- The pool: $35,000 to $99,000. 400 sq ft of water at $90 to $250 a square foot (shell, excavation, plumbing, equipment, plaster). Steps and the sun shelf are part of the shell.
- Coping: $4,000 to $5,500. 100 linear ft at $40 to $55 a foot.
- Deck: $16,000 to $26,000. 1,317 sq ft at $12 to $20 a square foot installed.
- Pergola: $2,000 to $6,500. A 10 by 12 ft pergola. The one source is dated 2022.
- Pool fence: $2,500 to $6,000. 180 linear ft around the deck as drawn, at $15 to $35 a foot installed.

Sources: [US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state](https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area); [HomeAdvisor, in-ground pool cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/inground-pool); [Fixr, gunite and concrete pool](https://www.fixr.com/costs/inground-gunite-concrete-swimming-pool); [Pool Research, plunge pool cost](https://poolresearch.com/plunge-pool-cost/); [Pool Research, pool coping cost](https://poolresearch.com/coping-cost/); [HomeAdvisor, pool deck cost](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/swimming-pools-hot-tubs-and-saunas/pool-deck); [Fixr, pergola](https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-pergola); [Fixr, pool fence](https://www.fixr.com/costs/swimming-pool-fence)

## How long it takes

3 to 6 months from contract to first swim. Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts.

- The yard additions are usually built after the pool is finished, so they add weeks that are not in this range.

## What it is made of

- Interior: Plaster, white (about 850 sq ft of shell). A smooth cement-based surface. It is the least expensive interior and the one most likely to stain, etch or scale if the water chemistry drifts.
- Waterline tile: Blue glass (about 100 linear ft, 10 in. band). Glass mosaic reads bright in sun and is easy to wipe clean of the waterline scum ring.
- Coping: Flagstone (about 100 linear ft). Natural, irregular stone. It looks like it was always there and needs its joints watched for movement.
- Deck: Stamped concrete (about 1,320 sq ft). Poured concrete pressed with a stone pattern. It should be sealed with a non-slip additive and resealed on a schedule, or it fades and gets slick.
- Pool fence: Black aluminum (about 180 linear ft around the deck as drawn). Black aluminum pickets are light, strong and the usual choice for a barrier. Near salt air, ask for a marine-rated finish.
- Planting: Desert. Gravel, agave and succulents: very little water and no lawn, with sharp leaves to keep away from the steps and the barefoot path.
- Yard addition: Pergola. A shade structure over part of the deck. It has to be anchored for local wind and snow loads.

## Keeping it up

- Plaster in this climate: Plaster is the finish most likely to etch or scale in hot, hard-water country, so keep the calcium and pH in range and plan for an earlier resurfacing.
- When it is resurfaced: Plaster is usually redone every 5 to 15 years, depending on the water and the builder (HomeAdvisor, pool resurfacing and Shasta Pools, plaster versus pebble). On this pool that is about 850 sq ft of interior.
- Stamped concrete deck: Reseal the stamped concrete every few years with a non-slip additive, or it fades and gets slippery when wet.
- Black aluminum fence: A black aluminum fence needs a wash and a check of its gate latch. Near salt air, rinse it and touch up any chipped finish.
- Sun and water loss: Heat and dry air take water out of the pool quickly. A cover, a pool shade and a smaller surface all cut the top-ups.
- Yearly running cost: Owners commonly budget $3,000 to $5,000 a year for chemicals, power, service and repairs (HomeAdvisor, in-ground pool cost, 2026).

## Questions to ask a builder

- What does the soil report say for this lot, and how is the shell designed for clay that moves?
- With the pergola beside a 40 foot lap, can its footings and shade line stay clear of the swim lane and the flagstone coping edge?
- Is this long enough and even enough in depth for real laps, and how do the ends handle the turn?
- Will the fence meet the barrier code, and is the gate self-closing and self-latching?
- Does the pergola need a permit or engineering for wind or snow, and who builds it?

Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=adobe-lap-pool-el-paso