Build your dream pool without the markup.
We give homeowners everything they need to cut out the pool company and save thousands.
Find out how on our upcoming live online event:
Free, about 60 minutes, new dates every week. Bring your questions.
$20K+kept by most families
~8 weeksdig to swim
4.7 on Trustpilot, 4.6 on Google
Based on documented results of past program members. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
Same pool. Same crews. No middleman.
You become the owner-builder
We give you vetted subcontractors and you pay each one only after their phase is completed. No middleman, no markup.
We give you the resources
3D design, permit-ready plans, engineering, a vetted subcontractor list, wholesale equipment, checklists, video guides, and a team you can call.
You control the schedule, so it's always your turn
Most of our clients are building in just 8 weeks without any construction experience. If you can schedule a sub, you can DIY your pool.
Where a $100,000 pool bid actually goes.
The actual pool. Subcontractors, materials, and equipment. As the owner-builder, this is your investment.
The margin. It never touches your backyard.
Are you financing?
“When you finance a pool with a pool company, you pay interest on their profits.”
When you build with us and finance your pool, you don't pay interest on the pool builder's profits. Less debt means you pay off your pool faster, lower your monthly payments, and save tens of thousands.
Run your own numbers
Move the sliders to match your quote and your loan.
Total you keep
$79,278
$30,000 in markup you skip, plus $49,278 in interest you never pay on it.
Your monthly payment drops by $330 a month.
These figures are estimates for illustration, based on industry-average pool company margins (30%) and the documented results of past program members. Every project is different: your actual savings depend on your market, your design, and the bids you receive, and no specific savings amount is promised or guaranteed. Financing figures use the rate and term you choose, for comparison only; we are not a lender and this is not an offer of credit.
Five steps from sketch to swim.
It's not rocket science. It's a process, and we have walked thousands of families through it.
Week 1: Dig
- 1
Design
About 1 weekOur designers turn your yard, wish list, and investment plan into a custom 3D design with a video walkthrough and a measured 2D layout. Two revisions included.
- We handle
- 3D design, walkthrough, revisions
- You handle
- Dream out loud, then approve it
- 2
Construction plans
About 5 business daysFull plans drawn to your local codes, the same documents a licensed builder submits, with a notes section for every subcontractor.
- We handle
- Code-compliant drafting and any corrections
- You handle
- Nothing yet
- 3
Engineering and permits
20 to 30 days to permit-readyPartnered structural engineers at contractor rates, plus step-by-step guidance for your building department submittal.
- We handle
- Engineer network and submittal guidance
- You handle
- Drop plans at the permit counter
- 4
Subcontractors
Alongside permitsInterview local crews from our vetted list, the same ones pool companies already hire. We review every bid with you; you confirm license and insurance.
- We handle
- Vetted list, bid reviews, red flags
- You handle
- Pick your crews
- 5
Construction
About 8 weeks, dig to swimEach crew arrives with a phase checklist. The city inspects, you approve, then you pay. Video guides show what work done right looks like.
- We handle
- Checklists, video guides, on-call support
- You handle
- Schedule crews, approve finished work
Over four decades of building pools. One family beside you.
We're the Stephensons. Mike has built pools for over four decades, and his sons Brandon, Brett, and Cameron grew up on his job sites. For years we ran a traditional pool company: big contracts, big markups.
Until we decided to turn the industry on its head and partner with families instead of just profiting off them.
Today our family applies our 45 years of experience to helping homeowners build their own pools. We provide every resource needed so anyone can build a quality pool without the markup.
Real families. Real backyards.
Rated 4.7 on Trustpilot and 4.6 on Google
See more reviews
$60,000saved
“Three and a half months later and our pool is finished. They saved us $60,000.”
$50,000saved
“Just finished filling 27,000 gallons this morning. I saved about $50,000 compared to hiring a pool contractor.”
$55,000spent, vs. bids of $92K to $117K
“2 months to build and 2 months for permit. 5 proposals from pool contractors came in the 92 to 117k range. We spent $55,000.”
In her own words
$100,000
under her lowest pool company bid
Her lowest pool company bid was $180,000. She built it for $80,000, in two months and six days, spending a couple of hours a week. Watch her walk from the 3D design to the finished backyard.
Marlene Dunstan
“I've been a General Contractor for 24 years and built my own pool 15 years ago with little help. This time I chose DIY pools and can't say enough how easy they make it. The team is awesome and takes the fear away.”
Craig Medley, Google review
“For someone that knows nothing about construction, I feel like I have a handle on things! This company is a well-oiled machine. Sometimes it seems too good to be true.”
Jordan Boldt, Trustpilot
“Thank you to everyone at DIY pools for helping us bring our dream pool to life. It turned out even more beautiful than we imagined. We learned a ton and saved $52k.”
Gerkelly Mealey, Google review
Figures shown are what these families reported. Most families keep $20,000 to $40,000. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
Every build starts with a design you can walk through.
Each family gets a custom 3D design and video walkthrough from our design team before anything is dug.
Promises we put in writing.
Building as the owner shouldn't feel like a gamble. These guarantees are part of every Homeowner Builder Program agreement.
Save or don't pay
If your subcontractor bids don't average at least $10,000 less than three pool company bids for the same design, you get a full refund of your program investment.
Love it or leave it
We give you a design, an estimate, access to financing, and consulting. If for any reason you decide the program isn't right for you within your first 30 days, you get a full refund.
Permit ready
We guarantee HOA and permit approval with our plans. If corrections are needed, we make them at no cost until you're approved.
Wholesale equipment access
Access to contractor pricing on Hayward, Pentair, and Jandy equipment through our distributor. Our company makes nothing on your equipment.
Questions families ask us first.
Still wondering if this fits your project? Our team will look at your yard, your goals, and your numbers with you.
Schedule a call with our teamWhat does it mean to be an owner-builder?
You act as the general contractor on your own property. You pull the permit, hire licensed subcontractors directly, and approve each phase before you pay for it. We supply the design, permit-ready plans, a vetted subcontractor list, wholesale equipment access, and step-by-step guidance, so you never manage it alone.
Do I need construction experience?
No. Most of the families we guide have never managed a build. Every crew arrives with a phase checklist, our video guides show what work done right looks like, and our team reviews your bids and answers questions along the way. On a typical project it takes about an hour a week of your time.
How much can I save by building my own pool?
Most families keep $20,000 to $40,000 compared with pool company bids for the same design. A pool company has to carry at least a 30% margin to cover sales, offices, trucks, and profit. As the owner-builder, that margin stays with you. Your results depend on your market, design, materials, and the bids you receive.
How long does it take to build a pool this way?
A typical project is permit-ready in 20 to 30 days. Construction then averages about 8 weeks from dig to swim, compared with the 4 to 6 months many pool companies quote. Permit timing varies by building department.
Do you work in my state?
We guide families nationwide, online, and give you access to a locally licensed engineer for standard pool engineering at contractor rates. Custom engineering for special projects can cost more or need a specialist outside our network.
Who are the subcontractors?
Local crews we screen, often the same ones pool companies in your area already hire. We help you find them and review their bids with you, and you confirm each crew's license and insurance before hiring. We take no referral fees, so our advice stays on your side.
What happens at the free live online event?
It is a 60-minute online session hosted by our family. We show how pools actually get built, where the money in a pool bid goes, how to plan your investment, and how our program supports you at every phase. Bring your questions; we answer them live.
Save my free seat
See the whole process in one free hour.
Join our family at our free live online event. We'll show you how pools actually get built, where the money goes, and how homeowners like you build with confidence. Bring your questions.