Custom Pools & Hardscaping in Northern Virginia
Hearthstone Design Build is a licensed Class A custom timber frame home builder and design-build firm in Leesburg, Virginia. We build gunite pools finished with PebbleTec and integrated hardscaping — patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, and landscape lighting — across Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke counties. Pools are scoped as part of a complete outdoor living environment rather than a stand-alone trade.
Pool Types & Pricing
- Gunite (concrete) pools — $85,000–$200,000+. Custom shapes, hillside lots, 50+ year lifespan. The gold standard for luxury pool construction.
- PebbleTec & premium finishes — pebble-aggregate interior finishes for durability and a natural look; standard on our gunite builds.
- Infinity edge pools — $120,000–$300,000+. Vanishing edges for hillside properties with views.
- Spas & hot tubs — $15,000–$40,000 as a pool add-on. Spillover spas or standalone tubs with custom surrounds.
Hardscape & Outdoor Living Add-Ons
- Natural stone patio (flagstone, bluestone, travertine) — $35–$60/sq ft installed
- Paver pool deck — $25–$45/sq ft installed
- Outdoor kitchen with grill, refrigerator, sink, counters — $25,000–$75,000+
- Fire pit (gas or wood-burning, built-in) — $3,000–$15,000
- Outdoor fireplace with hearth — $12,000–$35,000
- Pergola / shade structure — $15,000–$45,000
- Retaining walls — $50–$150/sq ft face
- Landscape lighting (LED path, accent, pool) — $5,000–$20,000
Site Constraints That Drive Cost
Drainage and grading. Water must flow away from pool, house, and deck. Regrading runs $5,000–$25,000+. Utility access. 240V electrical, gas for heaters, and water connections cost $3,000–$15,000 depending on distance from the house. Setbacks. Most counties require 10–15 ft from property lines; HOAs may add restrictions. Soil conditions. Rock, clay, or high water table can add $5,000–$30,000+ for excavation. Equipment access. Excavators need 8–10 ft wide access. Septic separation. Pools must maintain required separation from drain fields.
Permits We Manage
Building permit, health department, fence permit (4 ft self-closing self-latching required), and electrical permit for pump, lights, and bonding. Permit timelines run 4–6 weeks in Loudoun, 3–5 in Fauquier, 2–4 in Clarke.
Construction Timeline
Design & permits 4–8 weeks. Excavation 2–5 days. Steel & plumbing 1–2 weeks. Gunite shell 1 day plus cure. Tile & coping 1–2 weeks. Decking & hardscape 2–4 weeks. Plaster & equipment 1 week. Fill & startup 3–5 days.
Common Mistakes
- Undersizing the pool deck — plan for 8–10 ft of deck on the main lounging side.
- Ignoring grading and drainage — engineer site grading before excavation.
- Choosing the wrong pool type for the lot — a properly built gunite shell lasts 50+ years on complex sites.
- Undersizing the heater or pump — a heat pump extends the season to 6+ months.
Related Resources
- Estate pools in Loudoun County — hillside gunite, infinity-edge, and natural pools engineered for Loudoun estates.
- Hardscaping & fire features — stone terraces, walls, fireplaces, and lighting that complete the outdoor room.
- Estate pool cost & permitting in Loudoun County — the full permitting and cost breakdown for rural Loudoun pools.
- Building a pool on rural land in Northern Virginia — well, septic, and site-constraint sequencing for AR-1 / AR-2 parcels.
- Outdoor kitchens for Virginia estates — cooking pavilions, masonry ovens, and covered dining terraces.
Next Steps
- Schedule a consultation
- Request a feasibility review
- Estate outdoor living — pool, hardscape, and pavilion as one program