There’s no backyard dream quite like a pool overlooking the ocean, that perfect reflection of blue water meeting blue sky.
But when you’re building on Florida’s coast from Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island to Vero and Ponte Vedra beauty alone isn’t enough.
Every coastal pool faces a cocktail of challenges that inland pools never see: salt air, shifting sands, high winds, glare laws, and environmental protections.
At Southern Pool Designs, we’ve spent decades engineering coastal pools that look like art and perform like infrastructure. Here’s what most homeowners (and many builders) overlook when building by the beach.
1. The Ocean Changes Everything: Design for the Elements
Salt air is relentless. It finds every joint, screw, and seal.
That’s why we don’t just “build near the beach” – we engineer for the coast.
Our coastal builds use:
- Marine-grade rebar and high-density shotcrete to resist corrosion from salt exposure
- Non-ferrous fittings and hardware (no rust streaks years later)
- Drainage and elevation plans that channel runoff away from dunes and foundations
- Salt-tolerant automation systems rated for humidity and corrosion
Even the equipment pad matter; we raise it above grade, shield it from salt mist, and design plumbing runs that minimize long-term chemical exposure.
2. Turtle-Friendly Lighting: Small Detail, Huge Consequence
If your home faces the beach, sea turtle nesting laws apply and violations can bring hefty fines or project delays.
Between March 1 and October 31, Brevard and coastal counties require turtle-compliant lighting, meaning:
- Lights must be amber, red, or low-spectrum LEDs (≤ 560 nm wavelength)
- Fixtures must be fully shielded and aimed away from the beach
- No visible white or blue light from the beach at night
At Southern Pool Designs, we integrate turtle-safe pool lighting into your design from day one so you still enjoy nighttime ambiance without harming nesting wildlife.
3. Structural Engineering Is the Foundation of Beauty
Coastal soil isn’t like inland sand – it shifts, drains, and compacts differently.
That’s why every Southern Pool near the coast starts with:
- A geotechnical review (soil borings or structural compaction tests)
- Overbuilt structural shells to withstand erosion or hydrostatic pressure
- Footing tie-ins and deepened beams for decks on fill or duneside slopes
We design like builders but think like engineers so the pool you see in year one still performs beautifully in year twenty.
4. Materials That Last in Salt and Sun
Even the prettiest tile or coping won’t survive if it’s not built for the beach.
We guide homeowners toward materials that perform under coastal stress:
- Porcelain or glass tile instead of porous stone (no salt pitting or staining)
- Natural quartz or pebble interior finishes that won’t fade under UV intensity
- Composite decking or shell stone that stays cool and salt-resistant
It’s not about spending more, it’s about spending wisely. Choosing the wrong materials on the coast can triple your maintenance cost within five years.
5. Think Storm-Ready from the Start
Hurricanes are part of coastal life and smart design can protect your investment.
We plan each coastal pool for:
- Wind loads that exceed inland code minimums
- Breakaway decking sections that reduce pressure on structures
- Proper backflow preventers to stop saltwater intrusion
- Equipment anchoring systems for uplift resistance
These are invisible details that define the line between “our pool made it through the storm” and “we’re rebuilding again.”
6. Coastal Luxury Is About Harmony, Not Excess
The best beachside pools don’t compete with the ocean, they complement it.
That’s why our coastal projects favor:
- Infinity edges that disappear into the horizon
- Subtle glass tile tones that echo the water’s color shift
- Integrated landscape lighting that’s turtle-safe and elegant
- Outdoor living extensions – fire features, cabanas, and bars designed for salty air
Each project starts in our Design Studio, where we map every sightline, sun angle, and material to your specific lot and view corridor.
Building a Coastal Pool? Choose Experience That’s Been Tested by the Tide
Building on or near the beach isn’t just construction – it’s coastal engineering, artistry, and code compliance fused together.
That’s what Southern Pool Designs brings to every coastal project from Cocoa Beach to Ponte Vedra:
- Decades of experience navigating marine permitting, turtle-light compliance, and dune protection
- Proven systems for corrosion resistance and long-term maintenance
- Award-winning design that celebrates the view, not competes with it
Your oceanfront pool should look effortless because every detail behind the scenes has been engineered to be that way.