Pool Water Features

Water features change how a pool looks and sounds more than almost any other upgrade. A row of scuppers along a raised wall, a sheer descent spilling into the deep end, or a pair of fire-and-water bowls flanking the steps gives the pool a focal point and softens road noise and the neighbors' air conditioners. AZ Pool Concepts designs and adds water features to existing pools around Phoenix, and we build them into new pools as well. Most of the features on this page can be added to a pool that is already in the ground.

Each type has its own character. Sheer descents push a smooth, thin sheet of water out of a slot, usually from a raised wall, and they suit modern, clean-lined pools. Scuppers are open spouts in copper, stainless steel, or tile that pour a heavier stream and fit almost any style. Fire bowls and fire-and-water bowls sit on pillars or the pool edge and pair an open flame with water spilling into the pool. Bubblers set into a Baja shelf push up a low fountain right where kids play and adults lounge. Deck jets send arcs of water from the deck into the pool. A spillover spa lets water flow from a raised spa down into the pool, so you get a hot tub and a water feature in the same spot.

Arizona conditions shape how we design these features. Moving water evaporates faster, and in our dry summer air that adds up, so we plan controls and run times that let you enjoy a feature without leaving it on all day. Hard water is the other issue. Wherever water spills and dries, such as the lip of a sheer descent or the mouth of a scupper, calcium tends to collect, so we choose finishes that are easier to wipe down and show you what to keep an eye on. Monsoon winds can break up a thin sheet of water and blow it onto the deck, which affects where we place a sheer descent and how high we set it. On summer evenings, running a feature for a while also helps the water shed a little heat through evaporation.

Fire features take some extra planning. Fire bowls and fire-and-water bowls need a gas line run to each location, an ignition setup that fits how you want to light them, and placement that keeps the flame clear of overhangs, shade structures, and wind-prone corners. In the Valley, fire stretches the life of the pool area well into the cooler months, when evenings are perfect for sitting outside even though the water is too cold for most people to swim. We coordinate the gas work and any required permits as part of the project.

Adding a water feature to an existing pool usually means building a raised wall or pillars, running new plumbing from the equipment pad, and opening part of the deck to do it. During the free on-site consultation we look at where your plumbing runs, what your pump can handle, and where a feature will look best from inside the house and from the patio. Some features run off a valve on your main pump, while others work better with a dedicated pump so the flow stays strong. You get a written estimate that lays out the work, and most additions take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how much wall, plumbing, and deck work is involved.

Because much of the effort is in opening the deck and running plumbing, water features fit naturally with other remodel work. If you're already replacing tile and coping, a new raised wall can be faced in the same tile so everything matches. If you're resurfacing, the pool will be drained anyway, which makes it a good time to add bubblers to a Baja shelf. A new paver or travertine deck is the right moment to run lines for deck jets and fire bowls, and adding LED lighting and automation lets you turn the features and lights on together from your phone.

AZ Pool Concepts is a family-owned pool company led by Shawn Walker, with more than 18 years of building and remodeling pools around the Valley. We'll be straight with you about what your existing pool and equipment can support and what it will take to get the look you want. Call (480) 241-9708 or schedule a free on-site consultation to talk through water feature ideas for your pool.