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AI concept image of Lake Norman farmhouse pool with a vanishing edge: a rectangular pool with a hot tub and a sun shelf.Save

Cornelius, NC · Lake or waterfront lot

Lake Norman farmhouse pool with a vanishing edge

A long rectangle that looks out over the water, with a sun shelf, a hot tub and a dock below.

One photo of your yard is all it needs.

Suits: modern farmhouse houses on a lake or waterfront lot in Southeast.

Drawn for a large white modern farmhouse with a black metal roof, tall windows and a screened porch, with a sloping lot with oaks and pines, ornamental grasses, a stone retaining wall and a dock on Lake Norman.

Planning cost, NC
$140,000 to $355,000
A range from published prices, not a quote
Build time
3 to 6 months
Contract to first swim
Size
40 × 20 ft
3.5 to 6 ft deep
Water
about 19,800 gal
Water surface
800 sq ft
Hot tub
7 ft square
about 1,100 gal

Quick answers about this design

Worked out from this design's own model, so they differ from page to page.

How much water does this pool hold?
About 19,800 gallons. It is 40 by 20 ft with about 800 sq ft of water, 3.5 ft deep at the steps and 6 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 67 by 38 ft for the pool, the tub, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 69 by 40 ft.
What does this design cost?
A planning range for NC is $140,000 to $355,000 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.

Chapter 1 of 4

The design

What is in this pool, and how it turns in 3D.

The design, spelled out

Every choice in this pool, what it is, and why it suits this house and this part of the country.

Depth profile

The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 11 ft, slopes over about 14 ft, then runs level at 6 ft for the last 15 ft. A sun shelf sits at the other end.

3.5 ft6 ftwater line40 ft long

Design notes

Written with AI tools from this design's own measurements and sources, not by a pool builder. How we write

Why it works here

Vanishing edge, glass panels and a long view of the water work together on this sloping lot: the 40 x 20 pool of about 19,800 gallons has a sun shelf with loungers and a square tub spilling in at the left end. Light grey pebble, travertine and the pergola and fire pit keep the finish natural.

What to watch

Sitting on a slope above the lake, the pool needs a retaining wall and drainage that carry real weight. The lake, the dock and the slope are not drawn, and a vanishing edge needs a catch basin.

How it reads

Light grey pebble with grey stone tile gives the water a cool, soft color against the white house and black roof. Travertine coping and pavers stay pale, and the glass fence keeps the lake in view. At golden hour the vanishing edge catches the sky. After dark the fire pit and pergola warm the deck. Underfoot, travertine stays smooth and cool, while pebble inside grips with a rougher feel.

Through the year

Lake pools get long use in a hot, humid climate, from late spring through early fall. Pollen from the pines, leaves from the oaks and lake wind all reach the water. Clean the glass fence and the catch basin often, and cover the hot tub when it is not in use so leaves stay out.

Every choice, row by row (16)
ShapeRectangle

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

Size40 × 20 ft

A pool about 20 ft wide and 40 ft long. A big pool for swimming and entertaining, which needs a generous lot and a strong filtration plan. That is about 800 sq ft of water and about 19,800 gallons.

StepsWide steps

Wide steps across one end. Easy for kids and older swimmers, and a place to sit in the shallow water. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep.

Sun shelfWith loungers

A sun shelf sized for chairs in the water. Lets you sit in the cool water in the sun with a drink, which is why it works well in a hot climate.

Pool edgeVanishing edge

One edge where the water spills over a wall into a hidden catch basin. It makes the water look like it runs into the view, and it needs a slope or a retaining wall, a catch basin and more engineering.

Hot tubSpills into the pool, 7 ft square

A hot tub built into the pool and level with the deck, spilling into it. It shares the pool's water and equipment, so one heater and one set of chemistry cover both. The tub holds about 1,100 gallons.

Pool finishPebble

An exposed pebble aggregate finish, in the Pebble Tec style. Durable and textured, which hides small marks, but rougher on bare feet. Warm, humid water grows algae faster, so a smooth, dense finish is easier to keep clean.

Finish colorLight grey finish, soft turquoise water

A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses.

Waterline tileGrey stone

Grey stone-look porcelain at the waterline. A quiet, natural band that goes with concrete and wood. It runs about 80 linear ft around this pool.

CopingTravertine

Ivory travertine with a rounded edge. Stays cooler underfoot than most stone and gives a warm, classic edge. It runs about 80 linear ft around this pool.

DeckTravertine pavers

Ivory travertine pavers. Light and cool underfoot, and a natural fit with Mediterranean and French styles. The deck is about 1,770 sq ft here. Choose a texture that stays safe when wet, because this deck will be damp often.

PlantingModern

Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture. Choose planting that tolerates storms and keep it a few feet from the water to limit debris.

Pool fenceGlass

A frameless glass pool fence. It keeps the view open. Your town's barrier code sets the height, the gate and the latch, so ask before you design around it.

Add to the yardPergola, Fire pit
  • 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.
  • Fire pit: A round fire pit with seating. Extends the evening. Local burn rules and clearance from the house and plants apply.
FurnitureLoungers, Dining table
  • Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck.
  • Dining table: An outdoor dining table and chairs. Turns the pool into the place where meals happen.
LightGolden hour

Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best.

Coping
80 linear ft
Deck
1,770 sq ft

Why it fits the lake or waterfront lot

The yard: a sloping lot with oaks and pines, ornamental grasses, a stone retaining wall and a dock on Lake Norman. A waterfront lot is regulated land, so the rules decide how close the pool can sit to the shore. Shoreline setbacks, flood zones and sometimes environmental review limit where a pool can go. The view is the point, so a low edge, glass fence or vanishing edge can frame it.

Why it fits the modern farmhouse house

The house is a large white modern farmhouse with a black metal roof, tall windows and a screened porch. A modern farmhouse asks for clean lines with a warm, relaxed finish. Crisp rectangles, soft grey water and honed stone or pavers sit well beside white siding and dark window frames. Keep the planting simple and the furniture casual.

Turn this design around in 3D

This is the model behind the numbers above, with this design's own shape, steps, finish and deck. It loads when you scroll to it.

The same choices as the picture, as a model you can turn.

AI concept image of Lake Norman farmhouse pool with a vanishing edge: a rectangular pool with a hot tub and a sun shelf.

Turn it, zoom in, switch the dimension lines on.

In your yard

How would this swimming pool look on your home?

See this exact design as a photorealistic video, filmed in your own yard, from one photo.

You pick the film, add one photo, and see the picture before you decide anything.

A sample yard photo

A frame from an example film

A sample yard photo on the left, and on the right a frame from an example AI film of a pool in a backyard.

Chapter 2 of 4

Will it work for you

Your yard, your climate, and what the pool asks of you after the build.

Will this fit your yard?

A planning estimate, built from the model's own dimensions. Your town's setbacks decide the real answer.

Clear area to plan on

67 × 38 ft

About 2,546 sq ft. The pool and tub alone is 48.5 × 20 ft.

Plan on a clear area of about 67 by 38 ft for the pool, the tub, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 69 by 40 ft.

The 4 ft walkway and 5 ft setback are our planning allowances, not code. Towns set their own distances from the water to the lot line and the house, so ask yours before you commit to a layout.

Will it fit your yard?

Enter the clear area, from the house to the back fence and side to side.

Southeast: what the climate asks of this pool

A Southeast pool is used for a long, humid season, so shade, drainage and old-yard constraints decide the design.

  • Heat and humidity mean shade, ceiling fans under a pergola and a deck that does not hold water make the yard usable.
  • Red clay and mature trees are common. Roots, drainage and soil movement all shape the excavation.
  • Summer thunderstorms are frequent. Plan where the water runs off the deck and keep electrical equipment high and dry.
  • Historic and coastal neighborhoods can have design review. Ask about fence, structure and lighting rules early.

Keeping it up

What this pool asks of its owner, by finish, climate, deck and feature.

  • Pebble in this climate

    Warm, wet weather feeds algae. Pebble's texture gives algae something to hold on to, so brush it and keep the sanitizer steady.

  • When it is resurfaced

    Pebble is usually redone every 15 to 20 or more years, depending on the water and the builder (Shasta Pools, plaster versus pebble and Pebble Technology, support). On this pool that is about 1,200 sq ft of interior.

  • Travertine pavers deck

    Seal the travertine as the maker says and rinse it after salt or chlorine splashes. Use a stone-safe cleaner, never an acid wash.

  • The hot tub

    A hot tub is a second body of water with its own chemistry. Keep it covered between uses and drain and clean it on the maker's schedule.

  • Glass fence

    Glass fence panels show water spots. Wipe them down and rinse the hardware.

  • Algae and storms

    Warm, damp weather grows algae fast, so keep the sanitizer steady and circulation running. Secure loose furniture before a storm.

  • 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).

Chapter 3 of 4

Cost and timeline

A sourced range to plan with, and how long it takes.

What this design costs: a planning range

Built line by line from this design's own measurements and published prices. It is a range to plan with, not a quote.

Planning range, NC

$140,000 to $355,000

Everything on this page, built: the pool, the deck, the coping, the fence and the features. It is a range, not a quote. Every line is at its lowest published price for the low end and its highest for the high end, so a real job lands inside it rather than on an edge.

Prices are scaled for NC by a damped regional factor of 0.97 (the state's cost of living is 94.3 against 100 for the US, and we use half the gap). Land clearing, landscaping beyond what is listed, a pool house's interior and financing are not in it.

Where the range comes from

The pool
$70,000 to $194,000
800 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.
Pebble interior
$7,000 to $7,000
1,196 sq ft of shell at $6 a square foot above plaster. Pebble is $10 a square foot against $4 for plaster in both sources.
Coping
$3,500 to $4,500
80 linear ft at $45 to $55 a foot.
Deck
$26,000 to $46,000
1,771 sq ft at $15 to $27 a square foot installed.
Hot tub
$6,000 to $17,000
A spa added to a new pool.
Vanishing edge
$9,500 to $29,000
Pool Research's premium over an average inground pool, and it can run higher.
Pergola
$2,000 to $6,500
A 10 by 12 ft pergola. The one source is dated 2022.
Fire pit
$500 to $3,000
A fire pit, wood or gas.
Pool fence
$20,000 to $44,000
217 linear ft around the deck as drawn, at $95 to $210 a foot installed.
How we built this range, and the sources

We measure this design in the 3D model (water area, shell area, coping, deck, tub, what stands on the deck), multiply each quantity by a published price range per unit, add the lines and scale them for the state. The prices are from the pages below, collected in October 2026. Where two sources disagree the range spans both, and the line says so.

The method is written out, with every rate, at docs/POOL-IDEAS-COST-MODEL.md in our repository, and one file holds the rates, so a change of price changes every page at once.

How to get a number you can trust

Ask two or three local builders to quote the same scope in writing: the pool, the deck, the fence, the electrical, the permits and the landscaping, each on its own line. Then compare the lines, not the totals. Share this page with them: the size, the choices and the 3D model give a builder a starting point. To see how the published prices are built up and where they disagree, read inground pool cost, line by line.

How long it takes to build

From a signed contract to the first swim, before the yard additions.

Contract to first swim

3 to 6 months

Permits take from a few days to several months, depending on the town, before work starts. Weather, inspections and the builder's schedule move every date.

  • A vanishing edge needs the catch basin and its wall built to level, so the schedule runs to the long end. One builder source puts an infinity pool at 12 to 20 weeks.
  • The yard additions are usually built after the pool is finished, so they add weeks that are not in this range.
  • The hot tub is built with the pool, so it adds days of plumbing and tile rather than weeks.

What it is made of

The materials list for this design, with its own quantities from the model.

The materials list (9 lines)
InteriorPebble, light greyabout 1,200 sq ft of shell
Small stones set in cement. It is textured, hides wear and holds color well, and it is rougher on bare feet than the other finishes.
Waterline tileGrey stoneabout 120 linear ft, 10 in. band
A stone-look porcelain: matte, calm and forgiving of fingerprints and water spots.
CopingTravertineabout 80 linear ft
Natural stone with a rounded edge. It stays comfortable underfoot but should be sealed, and it needs a gentle cleaner rather than an acid wash.
DeckTravertine paversabout 1,770 sq ft
Natural stone pavers. Cooler than most paving in the sun, but porous: it needs sealing and a quick rinse after salt or chlorine splashes.
Pool fenceGlassabout 215 linear ft around the deck as drawn
Frameless glass keeps the view open and needs wiping to stay clear. Its height, gate and hardware have to meet your town's barrier rules.
PlantingModern
Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. Tidy and low water, with the beds kept away from the skimmer.
Yard additionFire pit
A round fire pit with seating. It needs clear space from the house, the plants and the pool, and a town that allows it.
Yard additionPergola
A shade structure over part of the deck. It has to be anchored for local wind and snow loads.
Hot tubSpills into the pool, squareabout 1,100 gal
Built with the pool, with its own jets, heater share and cover. Tile and coping match the pool.

Chapter 4 of 4

Talk to a builder

What to ask before you sign, and how to bring this design to them.

Questions to ask a builder about this design

Specific to what is in this pool. Ask them before you sign.

  1. 01How will you protect the existing trees and drain the deck in a summer thunderstorm?
  2. 02Which part of the slope gets cut, which gets filled, and what holds the vanishing edge level on the filled side?
  3. 03How is the catch basin sized and hidden, and what happens to the water on a windy day?
  4. 04Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather?
  5. 05How deep is the sun shelf, and can a chair sit on it without tipping?

Make it yours

Start with this design and add a photo of your own yard. The free visualizer places the pool on it, with your choices ready to change.

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More like this

Region:SoutheastSetting:Lake or waterfront lotHouse style:Modern farmhouseFeature:Pool with a hot tubFeature:Infinity edge poolFeature:Pool with a sun shelfAll pool ideas

This is a design idea for a sample yard, and every picture is an AI concept image, not a built pool. Sizes, gallons and areas are estimates from the same maths as the 3D model, and the price and time ranges are planning figures from published sources, to help you talk to a builder.

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