Engineering the "Unbuildable" Lot

The Problem: Why Standard Pool Plans Fail on Hillside Lots

A typical pool plan—the kind that works on flat, stable ground in Gilbert or Chandler—is worthless on a Scottsdale or Paradise Valley hillside. Whether your property sits on the bedrock of Camelback Mountain, the shifting soils of the McDowells, or the caliche-heavy terrain of Paradise Valley's estates, a one-size-fits-all approach will either fail permitting or fail structurally.

The fix starts with a Geotechnical Engineering Report and a Soils Analysis. Before we draw a single line, we engage
a Professional Engineer to understand:

• Bearing capacity of your soil
• Groundwater levels and flow patterns
• Slope stability analysis
• Settlement projections
• Seismic risk assessment (Arizona Seismic Design Category)



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Our Hillside Engineering Specialties

SPECIALTY #1: Complex Retaining Walls

‍Slopes greater than 15% demand engineered retaining structures. We design walls that:
• Support negative-edge basins (some pools weigh 500+ tons when full)
• Anchor into bedrock or stable soil layers 4–6 feet below grade
• Incorporate drainage systems to prevent hydrostatic pressure failures
• Meet Scottsdale and Paradise Valley building codes for cantilever design

On our Paradise Valley mountainside project, we constructed a 16-foot negative-edge wall with a double-mat steel schedule (4-inch on-center vertical rebar, 6-inch on-center horizontal) and 12-inch thick shotcrete—not because it's pretty, but because it's engineered to retain the pool against mountain forces and preserve the "glass water" negative-edge effect for decades.


SPECIALTY #2: Bedrock Excavation & Air Hammer Work
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‍Not all soil is created equal. Caliche—that cement-like layer common in Scottsdale's foothills—and granite bedrock require specialized equipment.

We use:

• Air hammers for precision bedrock removal without destabilizing adjacent home foundations
• Form work and shoring systems where standard backhoe or track-hoe excavation is impossible
• Topographical surveying before and after excavation to confirm grades and protect existing structures

On the Paradise Valley project, limited access meant concrete trucks couldn't reach the site. We had to pump concrete 50 feet uphill—a process that created gravity-induced segregation challenges in the hoses. We solved it with specialized concrete mixes and incremental pour techniques that prevent clogging and air entrapment.

SPECIALTY #3: Advanced Drainage & Water Management

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‍Hillside pools amplify water management complexity. Every inch of runoff matters. We engineer:

• Subsurface drainage systems to intercept groundwater before it destabilizes your pool or foundation
• Surface grading that directs water away from critical structures
• Pump systems for sites where gravity alone won't move water safely
• Native plant integration to stabilize slopes post-construction

On the Paradise Valley project, we had to relocate an existing advanced drainage system that was in conflict with the pool area, then file a new Grading & Drainage Report with the city because the original G&D was insufficient for the permit. This level of detail is why we specialize in hillside—it's not just digging; it's engineering.

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