# Starter pool with a safety fence in Marietta A modest freeform and a stamped deck behind a craftsman with a front porch, and a lawn the dog has already claimed. Drawn for a one-story brick craftsman with tapered columns, a front gable and a deep front porch, with a green lawn with tall pines, dogwoods, azaleas, a wood privacy fence and red Georgia clay at the edges. A design idea for Marietta, GA. Southeast, classic suburb, Craftsman. Updated 2026-10-06. ## The numbers - Size: 24 × 12 ft (3.5 to 5 ft deep) - Water surface: 230 sq ft - Water: about 7,300 gal - Coping: 59 linear ft - Deck: 1,030 sq ft ## The design, spelled out The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 7 ft, slopes over about 8 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 9 ft. ### Shape: Freeform A pool with natural, flowing curves. Curves relax a yard and work with planting, a rock feature or a tub, at the cost of a more complicated cover. ### Size: 24 × 12 ft A pool about 12 ft wide and 24 ft long. Big enough for a few people to cool off and play, small enough for a tight lot. That is about 230 sq ft of water and about 7,300 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 3.5 ft deep. ### Pool finish: Plaster A smooth cement-based finish. A clean, classic surface that typically needs resurfacing sooner than pebble. Warm, humid water grows algae faster, so a smooth, dense finish is easier to keep clean. ### Finish color: Blue finish, classic deep blue water A blue interior. Gives a classic, deeper 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 59 linear ft around this pool. ### Coping: Concrete Smooth, cantilevered poured concrete. A clean, modern edge that sits flush with a concrete or paver deck. It runs about 59 linear ft around this pool. ### 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 1,030 sq ft here. Choose a texture that stays safe when wet, because this deck will be damp often. ### Planting: Lawn and hedges A green lawn with clipped hedges. Gives kids a soft place to play and a formal frame to the deck. Choose planting that tolerates storms and keep it a few feet from the water to limit debris. ### Pool fence: Removable mesh A removable black mesh safety fence. It is a child-safety barrier you can take down for a party, and it sits in sockets in the deck. ### 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 green lawn with tall pines, dogwoods, azaleas, a wood privacy fence and red Georgia clay at the edges. 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 one-story brick craftsman with tapered columns, a front gable and a deep front porch. A Craftsman house wants natural materials, warm wood and a pool that tucks into the yard. Wood-look decking, stone coping and planting that reaches the water soften a compact pool so it looks as if it belongs with the porch and beams. ## Will it fit your yard? Plan on a clear area of about 42 by 30 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 43 by 31 ft. ## 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. ## Quick answers **How much water does this pool hold?** About 7,300 gallons. It is 24 by 12 ft with about 230 sq ft of water, 3.5 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 42 by 30 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 43 by 31 ft. **What does this design cost?** A planning range for GA is $30,000 to $80,000 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 Georgia clay holds water and shifts, so a small 24 x 12 freeform of about 7,300 gallons keeps the dig modest on a flat lawn. Corner steps save space, plaster with blue glass tile is a plain finish, and a removable mesh fence works for a family with a dog. What to watch: Pine needles and pollen clog skimmers and stain plaster, and red clay washes into the water after heavy rain. Freeform edges also mean more curves to clean. ## What this will cost: a planning range $30,000 to $80,000 for GA, a range from published prices and not a quote. - The pool: $20,000 to $56,000. 230 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: $500 to $500. 59 linear ft at $6 to $12 a foot. - Deck: $12,000 to $20,000. 1,033 sq ft at $12 to $20 a square foot installed. - Pool fence: $1,500 to $2,500. A removable mesh fence, priced by the job. 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, 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. ## What it is made of - Interior: Plaster, blue (about 480 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 59 linear ft, 10 in. band). Glass mosaic reads bright in sun and is easy to wipe clean of the waterline scum ring. - Coping: Concrete (about 59 linear ft). Cast or poured concrete with a clean, square line. Plain, tough and the easiest to repair, though it can heat up in direct sun. - Deck: Stamped concrete (about 1,030 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: Removable mesh (about 145 linear ft around the deck as drawn). A removable mesh fence goes up for children and comes down for a party. It has to be installed tight to meet code, and it has to be put back every time. - Planting: Lawn and hedges. A lawn and clipped hedges. It softens the yard and brings grass clippings and fertilizer, so it should be kept away from the water. ## Keeping it up - Plaster in this climate: Plaster can stain and grow algae in warm, wet weather. Brush it and keep the chemistry steady. - 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 480 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. - Removable mesh fence: A mesh fence has to be put back and latched every time. Check the anchors and the mesh each spring. - 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). ## Questions to ask a builder - How will you protect the existing trees and drain the deck in a summer thunderstorm? - Since red clay sits at the edges of the lot, how will the stamped deck be graded so runoff drains away from the pool? - How is the stamped concrete sealed so it is not slippery when wet? - What is in the quote and what is left out, such as the deck, fence, electrical, permits and landscaping? - Who pulls the permit, and how long does approval usually take in this town? Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=starter-pool-marietta-georgia