Custom Inground Pool Builder
in Akron, Stow, and Northeast Ohio
Elevate Your Backyard. Invest in Your Home. Enjoy It for Life.
Why Homeowners Choose Premier 1
Premier 1 Pool and Patio is the inground pool builder that Akron and Stow homeowners turn to when they are ready to transform their backyard into a private retreat. Our team has more than sixty combined years of experience designing and building custom inground pools throughout Summit County and the surrounding Northeast Ohio communities, and every project follows the same proven process. We begin with a full design consultation, develop your pool in a complete 3D preview that lets you walk through the finished backyard before construction begins, and then manage every phase of the build through to the first swim.
Unlike franchise pool builders that subcontract design, project management, and construction to three separate companies, Premier 1 keeps every stage of the process in house. That approach gives you one team, one point of contact, and one consistent standard of craftsmanship from the initial excavation through the final walkthrough.
Types of Inground Pools We Build in Northeast Ohio
There is no universally correct choice when it comes to inground pools. The right pool for your property depends on the shape of your yard, the way your family plans to use the space, and the budget you are comfortable investing. The three categories below cover the vast majority of projects we build across Northeast Ohio.
Gunite (Concrete) Inground Pools
Gunite pools are the premium option and the right choice for homeowners who want complete design freedom. Because the structure is built on site from steel-reinforced concrete sprayed into a custom form, there are no practical limitations on size, shape, or depth. Vanishing edges, swim-up bars, deep ends suitable for diving, beach entries, integrated spas, and custom rock features are all possible within a single build. Gunite projects do require a longer construction timeline, typically ten to sixteen weeks, and carry a higher upfront investment than other pool types, but the result is a pool engineered to serve three generations of your family.
Fiberglass Inground Pools
Fiberglass pools arrive as a single molded shell manufactured in a controlled factory environment and delivered to your property by specialized truck. Installation is dramatically faster than any other inground option, often completing in three to six weeks from excavation to first swim, and the non-porous gelcoat interior resists algae growth, requires fewer chemicals, and never needs to be resurfaced. The primary tradeoffs are that you are choosing from a catalog of pre-engineered shapes rather than designing from scratch, and highway transport limits mean the largest available shells top out around sixteen feet wide. For most families in Akron and Stow, neither constraint proves to be a problem. Additional details are available on our Fiberglass Pools page.
Hybrid Inground Pools
A hybrid pool combines a fiberglass base shell with custom gunite elements such as raised walls, tanning ledges, spillover spas, waterfalls, and integrated rock work. The result is a pool that installs faster than a pure gunite build while still offering the distinctive custom features homeowners associate with premium projects. Hybrid construction has become one of our most popular configurations because it bridges the gap between off-the-shelf fiberglass and full custom concrete.
Fiberglass vs. Gunite vs. Hybrid: Which Is Right for You?
Every homeowner we meet asks some version of this question, and the honest answer depends on four variables: how much you want to spend, how soon you want to swim, how customized you want the shape and features, and how much ongoing maintenance you are willing to take on. Fiberglass is the right choice when faster installation, lower lifetime maintenance, and predictable upfront cost matter most. Gunite makes sense when your backyard is uniquely shaped, when you want full design freedom, or when you are building a resort-style space with features like vanishing edges, deep ends, or integrated rock work. Hybrid construction fits the middle ground, delivering custom visual elements like raised walls, spillover spas, and rock work without requiring a four-month gunite timeline. During your initial design consultation we walk you through each tradeoff in plain language and provide an honest recommendation. Because we build all three types, we have no incentive to push any particular option over another.
Features You Can Add to Your Custom Inground Pool
The pool shell is only the starting point. What transforms a pool into a true backyard destination is the combination of features that match the way your family actually intends to use the space. Our custom builds frequently include the following upgrades.
- Spillover hot tub spas integrated directly into the pool structure for year-round use
- Sun shelves and tanning ledges with umbrella sleeves and in-water loungers
- Waterfalls, deck jets, bubblers, and laminar-flow water features
- Automatic safety covers that open and close at the press of a button
- Saltwater chlorine generation systems that produce softer water at lower chemical cost
- Color-changing LED lighting and full smart pool automation controlled from your phone
- Beach entries, swim-up bars, vanishing edges, and raised bond beams
- Custom rock work, boulder waterfalls, and integrated fire features
During your 3D design preview we can test every feature you are considering, which allows you to see exactly how it looks in context and decide whether it is worth the investment long before construction begins.
What Sets Us Apart
3D Design Renderings
Get a crystal-clear preview of your future pool before we break ground.
Custom Gunite Pools
Durable, sculpted, and built to last with true craftsmanship.
Personalized Features
Tanning ledges, spas, waterfalls, fire bowls — we bring your ideas to life.
Home Run Advantage™
Our proprietary underground system protects and future-proofs your investment.
Family-Focused Values
We know how much a great backyard matters — because we’re a family too.
Vacations come and go — but your pool is always here. Invest in time together, not hotels and travel stress. Build your family's forever getaway right outside your door.
What It Costs to Build an Inground Pool in Northeast Ohio
Pricing varies significantly based on the pool type, size, features, and scope of surrounding decking, but the following ranges provide a directional sense of 2025 and 2026 build costs in the Akron and Stow area.
- Fiberglass inground pools generally start between $70,000 and $110,000 for a complete build with basic concrete decking
- Hybrid inground pools typically fall between $90,000 and $140,000 depending on the scope of custom features
- Custom gunite inground pools generally range from $110,000 to more than $200,000, with fully resort-style builds regularly exceeding $250,000
For a complete breakdown of the factors that drive the investment, along with an overview of how financing can spread the cost over a comfortable timeline, please visit our Pool Pricing page.
The Premier 1 Inground Pool Build Process
The following overview explains exactly what happens from your first call through your family’s first cannonball.
1. Showroom Visit and Design Consultation
The process begins at our Stow showroom located at 3310 Kent Road, Unit 7, where you can view real samples of tile, coping, decking, and finish materials in person. During this visit we discuss how your family will use the backyard, review your property details, and outline the range of possibilities that fit your space and budget.
2. 3D Design Preview
Our exclusive 3D design preview allows you to walk through a high-definition animation of your future backyard. You can adjust layouts, test feature placements, swap coping colors, and refine details until the design is exactly right, and you only sign off when you are fully satisfied with every element.
3. Permits, Engineering, and Scheduling
Our team handles Ohio permitting, utility locates, HOA approvals, and neighbor notifications, so you never have to chase paperwork or navigate municipal offices on your own.
4. Excavation and Structural Build
For gunite projects, this phase includes excavation, steel placement, plumbing rough-in, gunite application, curing, tile installation, coping, and interior finish. For fiberglass builds, the phase covers excavation, base preparation, shell placement, plumbing, backfill, and coping installation.
5. Plumbing, Equipment, and Our Home Run Method
Our proprietary Home Run plumbing method uses dedicated runs to each suction and return point, which reduces the number of fittings, improves long-term water flow, and eliminates many of the failure points that plague cheaper installations over time.
6. Decking, Landscaping, and Final Clean-Up
The final construction phase includes concrete, paver, or travertine decking, along with grading, landscape restoration, and a thorough site clean-up before we hand the keys to your new backyard.
7. Pool School and First Swim
Before your family takes the first swim, we walk you through water chemistry, equipment operation, and seasonal care during our Pool School session, so you feel confident managing the pool from day one.
Why Northeast Ohio Homeowners Choose Premier 1
- Family-owned and locally operated from our Stow showroom rather than a national franchise
- More than sixty years of combined experience in custom inground pool construction
- Exclusive 3D design preview provided before construction ever begins
- Proprietary Home Run plumbing method that extends equipment life and reduces long-term repairs
- Full-service project management with no middlemen and no communication gaps
- A physical showroom where you can evaluate finishes in person before committing to any choice
- Transparent pricing, realistic timelines, and references from completed projects throughout Summit County
Service Area
From our Stow showroom we design and build inground pools throughout Akron, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, Tallmadge, Munroe Falls, Twinsburg, Aurora, Macedonia, Bath, Fairlawn, Copley, and the surrounding communities in Summit County and northern Portage County.
Inground Pool FAQs
How much does an inground pool cost in Akron, Ohio?
Most custom inground pools in the Akron area begin around $70,000 for a complete fiberglass build with basic decking and climb into the $200,000 range or higher for fully custom gunite pools with integrated spas, premium decking, and outdoor living features. The exact price for any project depends on the pool type, size, feature list, decking scope, and site conditions.
How long does it take to build an inground pool in Northeast Ohio?
Fiberglass pools can be swim-ready in three to six weeks from excavation, hybrid pools typically require six to ten weeks, and custom gunite pools generally run ten to sixteen weeks, with the most elaborate builds taking longer. Because the Ohio build season effectively runs from March through November, the timing of your contract signing has a meaningful impact on when you will actually be swimming.
Do I need a permit to install a pool in Stow or Akron?
Yes. Most Summit County municipalities require both a pool permit and a fence permit, along with utility locates before any excavation. Our team handles every permit and inspection as part of the build, so you never have to coordinate with city hall directly.
Does a pool add value to my home?
In Northeast Ohio, a well-built inground pool typically recovers forty to seventy percent of its construction cost at resale and significantly improves the property’s appeal during the selling season. For most of our clients, however, the more important return is the years of family memories the pool creates long before it ever goes on the market.
Can you build a pool on a sloped or difficult lot?
Yes. We regularly build pools on sloped lots, wooded properties, and sites with tight access. During your initial consultation we evaluate your property thoroughly and give you an honest assessment of what is and is not possible.
Ready to Start Your Custom Inground Pool?
To begin the design process, call Premier 1 Pool and Patio at (330) 808-1112, visit our Stow showroom at 3310 Kent Road, Unit 7, or request a free design consultation online. We look forward to helping you design the backyard your family will remember for decades.
📍 Based in Macedonia | Serving All of Northeast Ohio
📞(330) 808-1112 | 📩 Contact Us
Financing Options Available
We’ve partnered with industry-trusted lenders to make your dream spa more affordable:
- 100% financing available
- Terms up to 20 years
- No equity required
Quick approvals — no delays
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