Gunite Pool, Retaining Wall, and Fire Pit Build in Farmington Hills

Most backyards don't fail because of a lack of space. They fail because nothing in them was designed to work together. A pool sitting in the middle of a flat lawn, no defined zones, no hardscape to tie it all in - it just never feels finished. That's exactly the kind of problem we set out to solve on this Farmington Hills build.

Here's what we were working with - a large residential lot with serious potential and a homeowner who wanted the full package. Gunite pool, retaining wall, fire pit, the works. When you're doing a multi-element build like this, the sequencing matters just as much as the individual installs. Everything has to be planned in the right order or you end up redoing work.

The raised paver surround around the pool is one of those details that looks simple but makes a huge difference. It creates a clean, elevated deck that gives the pool a polished, resort-style feel. The retaining wall does double duty - it solves a real grading challenge while also adding a strong visual anchor to the space. Functional and sharp.

Throw in the fire pit and the covered outdoor structure near the house, and what you end up with is a yard that actually has purpose. There's a place to swim, a place to gather around a fire, and a shaded area to eat and relax. Every square foot of that backyard is now doing something.

That's what good outdoor living construction looks like. Not just pretty finishes - though those matter too - but a space that genuinely gets used. We do this kind of work all across the Farmington Hills area, and no two builds are the same. But the goal is always the same: a backyard worth staying in.