Pool design and construction covers everything from the first sketch to the final plaster cure: site evaluation, permitting, excavation, structural work (gunite/shotcrete or vinyl liner or fiberglass shell), plumbing and electrical rough-in, decking, tile and finish, and equipment setup for pumps, filters, and heaters. In Fort Myers this also means working around a high water table, sandy soil, hurricane wind-load codes, and Lee County permitting, all of which affect timeline and cost more than in drier inland markets. This category lists 44 businesses in the area that handle new pool builds, from small backyard plunge pools to full outdoor living packages with spas, screen enclosures, and outdoor kitchens.
Before hiring, buyers should look at a few things beyond price. Ask whether the company is a licensed general or pool/spa contractor in Florida (not just a subcontractor working under someone else's license), how many crews they run at once, and who actually pours and finishes the shell versus who subcontracts it out. Get a written contract with a fixed-fee or itemized allowance structure, a realistic timeline (Southwest Florida builds commonly run 4 to 8 months once permits are pulled, longer during hurricane season backlogs), and clarity on who pulls permits and handles inspections. Check how they handle warranty claims on the structure versus equipment, since those often come from different manufacturers with different coverage periods.
Our scoring weighs licensing status, review consistency over time, responsiveness, and complaint patterns rather than a single star average, so a contractor who fixed early problems well can rank differently than one with the same rating but a pattern of unresolved issues. For a side-by-side comparison of the top-rated firms in this category, see our ranked guide to Fort Myers swimming pool contractors. To see exactly how we calculate the rankings, read our methodology.