Project Spotlight: Boise Foothills Custom Pool with Mountain Views

Location: Boise, Idaho (Boise Foothills)
Pool type: Custom shotcrete with vanishing edge
Size: 16 by 38 feet with attached spa, vanishing edge, and tanning shelf
Project budget: $295,000 turnkey
Timeline: 16 weeks signed-to-swim

The Challenge

A Boise Foothills homeowner with a steep down-slope rear yard wanted a pool that captured the valley view rather than blocking it. The lot conditions made this a complex engineering project:

• Significant slope toward the valley
• Foothills rock requiring specialized excavation
• Wind exposure — common at Foothills elevation
• HOA design review (Boise Foothills HOA)
• Premium aesthetic to match the home’s modern architecture

The Design

16 by 38 foot rectangular pool with the long axis parallel to the valley view. Vanishing-edge spillway at the back drops into a concealed catch basin below the deck. Attached spa at the home end with sheer-descent waterfall. Built-in tanning shelf at the deep end.

Finish: dark blue PebbleTec for dramatic water color against the desert landscape. Travertine coping and pool decking. Hand-set glass mosaic waterline tile in coordinating blues.

Equipment: Pentair full premium — IntelliFlo VSF pump (oversized for vanishing-edge flow), IntelliCenter automation, MasterTemp gas heater (heat pumps lose efficiency at Foothills elevation in cold months), IntelliChlor salt system, IntelliBrite color-changing LED, hidden auto cover.

Wind protection: low retaining wall on the wind-side combined with windbreak landscaping (Russian sage, ornamental grasses).

Construction Highlights

• Foothills excavation hit rock at 4 feet — switched to hydraulic breakers for the lower 6 feet
• Engineered freeze-thaw concrete mix for Boise winter
• Vanishing-edge weir leveled within tight tolerance
• HOA approved on first submittal — clean rendering package
• Travertine deck staged on the slope side for safe access during construction

Year-Round Operation Plan

Outdoor pool at Boise Foothills is usable mid-April through mid-October with the gas heater. Auto cover closes nightly for heat retention. Winter: drained to below-skimmer line, plumbing blown out, premium winter cover installed. We do the close every fall as part of an ongoing service plan.

The Result

The pool became the focal point of the home’s outdoor living space. The vanishing edge creates the visual effect of water flowing toward the valley — best at sunset. Owner reports the home valuation increased significantly above project cost (Boise Foothills is a pool-favorable resale market for premium estates).

Cost Breakdown

• Custom shotcrete shell with vanishing edge: $98K
• Foothills excavation (rock breaking): $34K
• Premium PebbleTec, travertine coping + deck: $62K
• Equipment package (Pentair premium): $24K
• Auto cover hidden in deck: $22K
• Permits + HOA + design + engineering: $14K
• Plumbing, electrical, gas line: $18K
• Site work, retaining, restoration: $23K
• Total: $295K

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