WHY ADD
WATER FEATURES
Reasons homeowners add water features to their pool
Water features change how your pool looks, sounds, and feels. Here are the most common reasons our customers in McKinney and North Texas add them.
- Your pool looks flat and needs visual depth or a focal point
- You want to block highway noise from US-75 or US-380 with the sound of running water [CONFIRM highway references with Derek]
- Kids lose interest in a basic rectangular pool without play features
- Your backyard design needs a transition piece between pool and patio
- The pool area feels disconnected from the rest of your outdoor living space
- You want your pool to look as good at night as it does during the day
- Buyers in your neighborhood expect upgraded pool features when you sell
- Your existing pool remodel is the right time to add features at lower marginal cost
If any of these sound familiar, call (903) 321-3172. We can assess the scope in one site visit.
WHY CHOOSE US
Why DSH for water features
Built Into the Pool, Not Bolted On
We plumb and engineer water features during pool construction so they integrate with the shell, plumbing, and automation system. No aftermarket bolt-on kits.
One Crew, One Plumbing System
Your water features tie into the pool’s circulation system with dedicated valves and controls. No separate pumps to maintain unless the design requires it.
Natural Stone and Custom Fabrication
We work with real stone, stamped concrete, and custom tile to build features that match your home’s architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Retrofit Expertise
Already have a pool? We add features to existing pools during remodels by tapping into the current plumbing and adding dedicated lines where needed.
OUR PROCESS
From concept to flowing water
Step 1: Design Consultation
We review your pool layout (existing or planned), discuss feature options, show material samples, and sketch placement options on site.
Step 2: Engineering and Plumbing Plan
Every feature gets plumbed into the pool’s circulation plan with correct flow rates, pipe sizing, and valve configurations. We handle permits if structural work is involved.
Step 3: Construction and Installation
Stone work, plumbing connections, electrical wiring for lighting, and pump/valve installation. Features built during a new pool build are constructed as part of the shell phase. Retrofit features on existing pools require a short drain-down period.
Step 4: Testing and Handoff
WATER FEATURE OPTIONS
Water features we design and build
DSH installs a range of water features for new pool builds and existing pool remodels across McKinney, Prosper, Frisco, and North Texas.
Rock Waterfalls — Natural or manufactured stone waterfalls built into the pool’s edge or a raised wall. Heights range from subtle 18-inch cascades to dramatic 6-foot features with grottos behind them. We source stone locally and stack it by hand for a natural appearance.
Sheer Descent Waterfalls — A clean, sheet-like curtain of water that falls from a raised wall or beam into the pool. Modern, architectural look. Available in clear or laminar flow. Pairs well with LED backlighting for color effects at night.
Scuppers — Water spouts mounted in a raised wall that pour arcs of water into the pool. Available in copper, stainless steel, or stone-faced designs. Typically installed in sets of 2 to 4 along a feature wall.
Deck Jets (Laminar Jets) — Arcing streams of water that shoot from the pool deck into the water. Flush-mounted in the deck surface and illuminated with fiber optic lighting for color effects at night. Popular for geometric and modern pool designs.
Bubblers — Low-profile jets installed on tanning ledges and shallow entry steps that create a gentle bubbling effect. Safe for kids, visually active, and they keep water circulating on sun shelves where algae otherwise builds up.
Grottos and Caves — A walk-behind or swim-under waterfall structure built with natural stone. Includes bench seating, lighting, and sometimes a mounted TV or speaker system. Requires substantial structural engineering for the stone load. Because DSH builds custom homes, we handle the structural calculations, footer design, and waterproofing in-house rather than subcontracting the masonry.
Rain Curtains — A series of individual water streams falling from an overhead beam or pergola edge into the pool. Creates a visual wall of water that can act as a privacy screen or a dramatic entryway to the pool.
Fire and Water Bowls — Elevated bowls that combine a gas flame with water spillover into the pool. Installed on pedestals or raised walls at pool corners or along the spa edge. Natural gas fed where a gas line exists, or propane for properties without service. North Texas wind is a factor: we position fire bowls on the leeward side of structures and use wind guards on exposed installations. Each bowl needs a dedicated gas line, shutoff valve, and electronic ignition with wind-resistant pilot.
REVIEWS
Pool remodeling customers, in their own words
FAQ
Common Questions About Pool Water Features
Yes. Most features can be retrofitted during a pool remodel. Deck jets require drilling into existing concrete. Waterfalls and sheer descents need a raised wall or beam, which we can build against the existing pool edge. Plumbing ties into your current equipment with dedicated valves.
Minimally. Running water actually helps circulation and reduces algae buildup in dead zones like tanning ledges. Features run on timers through your automation system, so they only operate when you want them to. The main maintenance addition is occasional cleaning of nozzles and checking water levels since features increase evaporation slightly.
It depends on the type and flow rate. Bubblers and laminar jets are nearly silent. Sheer descents produce a steady, calm sheet sound. Rock waterfalls produce the most audible sound, which many homeowners in McKinney use intentionally to mask traffic noise from US-75 [CONFIRM highway]. We adjust flow rates during installation to get the sound level you want.
Some can. Smaller features like bubblers and deck jets run off the main circulation pump with dedicated valves. Larger waterfalls and grottos sometimes get a dedicated auxiliary pump for optimal flow. Your automation system controls everything from one interface regardless of pump configuration.
Yes. All features DSH installs are compatible with both chlorine and saltwater systems. We use salt-rated materials on any metal components like scuppers and fire bowls to prevent corrosion.
Yes, if your pool has an automation system like Pentair IntelliCenter, Jandy iAquaLink, or Hayward OmniLogic. We install and program the system so each feature has its own on/off control, timer schedule, and flow adjustment accessible from the app.
Features built as part of a new pool are covered by the pool permit. Retrofit features that involve structural work (building a raised wall, modifying the pool shell) or electrical additions (gas lines for fire bowls) may require a separate permit from McKinney or your Collin County municipality. DSH handles all permitting.
Bubblers on a tanning ledge and 2 to 3 deck jets around the perimeter add visual and audible interest without taking up pool space. A single sheer descent from a raised wall behind the spa creates a focal point with minimal footprint.
Features built into a new pool add zero extra time since they're constructed during the shell and plumbing phase. Retrofit features on existing pools typically take 3 to 10 days depending on complexity. A simple bubbler install takes a day. A full rock waterfall with grotto takes 7 to 10 days.
With the right feature selection, yes. Bubblers and sheer descents handle wind well because the water stays close to the surface or falls in a controlled sheet. Deck jets and rain curtains can scatter in sustained winds above 15 to 20 mph, so we position them on the lee side of walls, pergolas, or the house. Rock waterfalls are unaffected by wind. We design around your property's specific wind patterns during the consultation.
WHERE WE WORK
Water feature installation available in:
We serve homeowners across Collin, Denton, and Grayson counties. Tap your city for local details.
McKinney · Plano · Prosper · Frisco · Sherman · Van Alstyne · Allen · Celina · Anna · Melissa · Fairview · Princeton
Ready to give your pool a second life?
Free written estimate, scheduling, and 30 years of pool construction experience behind every project.
BBB Accredited, A Rating . 30+ Years in North Texas