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Negative Edge & Infinity Pool Design in Paradise Valley & Scottsdale
The Engineering Behind the Illusion
On a steep hillside lot, a vanishing-edge wall is not just a "pool wall"—it is a massive structural retaining system holding back hundreds of thousands of pounds of water. When designing luxury outdoor living spaces in Arizona, our team at Innovative Custom Pools specializes in matching stunning aesthetics with rigorous hillside pool engineering.
For comprehensive backyard layouts and our complete aesthetic portfolio, please explore our primary guide to pool design in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. If you are ready to engage a full-service Paradise Valley pool builder for your entire property transformation, those resources detail our overarching construction services, while the information below focuses strictly on the hydraulic engineering and visual principles of negative-edge construction.
Advanced Hydraulic & Structural Features
Deep Pier Foundations & Double-Mat Rebar
Long vanishing edges (30–60+ feet) create significant structural deflection issues. We utilize drilled piers socketed into competent bedrock and cantilevered retaining walls with double-mat reinforcing to ensure the wall never shifts.
1/16th Inch Edge Tolerances
To create a perfectly silent, glass-like sheet of water, the spillway edge must maintain a strict ±1/16 inch tolerance. We achieve this through laser-leveled formwork, variable-speed pumps, and rigid structural design that prevents wall deflection under load.
Desert Climate & Calcium Mitigation
Phoenix pools lose up to half an inch of water daily to evaporation, creating severe calcium scaling on infinity edges. We utilize automated pH/ORP systems, dedicated auto-levelers on the catch basin, and premium glass tile to resist etching and mineral buildup.
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The Dual-Licensed General Contractor Advantage
A standard "pool-only" contractor is rarely equipped to manage the massive retaining walls, complex grading, and integrated hardscaping required for a hillside infinity pool.
Calculating Massive Surge Capacities
When multiple bathers enter the pool, massive volumes of water are displaced over the edge. We mathematically engineer buried surge tanks and lower catch basins to handle thousands of gallons of sudden displacement without overflowing or running the pumps dry.
Single Point of Structural Liability
As a dual-licensed General Contractor, we are legally licensed to build and warranty the entire structural ecosystem. We tie the pool shell, the vanishing-edge wall, the catch basin, and all related downhill retaining terraces into one monolithic, engineered structure.
Integrated Site Drainage
Hillside infinity edges drastically alter site drainage and slope loading. We engineer and install comprehensive sub-drains, weep systems, and hard-pipe daylight drains to prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up behind your walls and softening the slope.
Dedicated Edge Hydraulics
A true vanishing edge requires a smooth, uniform nappe (often 1 to 3 gallons per minute, per linear foot). We design dedicated vanishing-edge suction and return loops, entirely separate from the primary circulation system, allowing infinite flow tunability.
Start Your Luxury Pool Master Plan
Don't settle for "just a pool." Partner with a dual-licensed GC to engineer a flawless, resort-grade outdoor living environment.