You want a backyard that actually gets used, not one that looks nice for a week in June and sits empty by August.
Most homeowners on Long Island start with one idea: a pool. But the ones who end up loving their outdoor space thought bigger about how the pool connects to the patio, where people sit when they are not swimming, how the space works for a Tuesday evening and a Saturday night with twenty guests.
This guide covers how to plan a pool build and outdoor living space on Long Island that works for your property, your family, and your budget.
Start With How You Live, Not What You Want to Build
Before you pick pool shapes or browse patio tile on Pinterest, answer a few honest questions. How many people will use this space regularly, four or forty? Do you entertain often? Do you want outdoor dining or will you eat indoors? Do your kids need a shallow play area, or are you building for adults?
A family with young children needs a different layout than an empty-nester who wants a cocktail lounge with a spa. Start with lifestyle. The materials and dimensions follow.
The Pool: What It Actually Costs on Long Island
Pool costs on Long Island are higher than the national average. According to 2026 data from Angi, a standard inground pool costs $44,500 to $87,500 nationally. On Long Island, several factors push that higher:
- Soil conditions. High water tables on the South Shore and rocky soil in Nassau County can add $2,500 to $ 5,000 or more for dewatering or extra excavation.
- Permits. Towns like Oyster Bay, Smithtown, and Southampton have strict pool codes. Permits, surveys, and engineering run $1,500 to $4,500.
- Fencing. New York State requires safety fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates. Not optional.
- Winterization. Long Island’s freeze-thaw cycle demands proper plumbing to prevent cracking and pipe bursts.
For a custom inground pool with quality finishes, budget $75,000 to $150,000+, depending on size and material. Concrete pools offer full design flexibility but take 3 to 6 months to build. Fibreglass installs in weeks and costs less to maintain long-term.
Beyond the Pool: Designing the Space Around It
The pool is the anchor. The space around it is what makes your backyard a destination.
Pool house or cabana. A dedicated structure provides shade, storage, a changing area, and a bathroom, so guests do not track through the house. On Long Island, pool houses range from simple sheds to fully finished buildings with kitchenettes. We build pool houses as part of the overall project designed to match your home’s architecture.
Outdoor kitchen and dining. A built-in grill island with counter space and seating changes how you use your backyard from Memorial Day through October. Place it close enough to the pool for conversation, far enough to keep food areas clean.
Patio and hardscape. Concrete pavers, natural stone, or travertine around the pool create the footprint for everything else. Your material choice affects slip resistance, heat retention, and maintenance.
Landscaping and privacy. Privacy screening, such as arborvitae, ornamental grasses, or masonry walls, defines the space and blocks sightlines from neighbors. Landscaping is part of the design from day one, not an afterthought.
Why One Contractor Should Handle the Entire Project
Here is where most backyard projects go sideways. The homeowner hires a pool company, a mason for the patio, a landscaper for planting, and a GC for the pool house. Four contractors. Four schedules. Zero coordination.
The result is a patio that drains poorly. A pool house designed without considering sightlines from the kitchen: landscaping torn up because someone forgot about underground plumbing.
When one contractor manages the full scope, everything is designed together, built in sequence, and finished as a cohesive space. At Upright Plus, we handle pool builds, pool houses, backyard surrounds, and landscaping as one integrated project. One project manager. One schedule. One team that owns the outcome.
Timing: When to Start Planning
If you want to swim next summer, planning starts now, not in the spring.
Pool contractors on Long Island book months in advance. Design takes 1 to 4 weeks. Permits take additional weeks. Construction time ranges from 6 weeks for fibreglass to 6 months for concrete.
The homeowners, who began planning in July, had already started the previous fall. Wait until April, and you will be swimming in August or next year.
What Happens When You Cut Corners
A cheap pool install on Long Island is not a bargain. Improper excavation leads to settling and cracking. Skipped winterization can destroy plumbing during the first freeze. And a backyard designed in pieces, without a master plan, always feels disjointed, no matter how much you spend.
The homeowners who love their outdoor space ten years from now invested in doing it right the first time.
Your Next Step
Call Upright Plus at 631-246-9816 to schedule a free backyard consultation. We will walk your property, discuss how you want to use the space, and design a plan that integrates the pool, patio, structures, and landscaping into a cohesive project.
Visit our showroom at 585 Bicycle Path, Suite 10, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 to see material samples for hardscape, stone, and outdoor finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a pool on Long Island?
A custom inground pool on Long Island costs $75,000 to $150,000+ in 2026, depending on size, material, and site conditions. Concrete pools cost more but offer full design flexibility. Fibreglass is faster to install and requires less maintenance.
How long does it take to build a pool?
Fibreglass pools take 3 to 6 weeks after permits are approved. Concrete pools take 3 to 6 months. The design and permitting phase adds 4 to 8 weeks to the timeline before construction begins. Plan to swim by summer.
Do I need a permit to build a pool on Long Island?
Yes. Every town in Nassau and Suffolk County requires a permit for in-ground pool construction. You also need surveys, engineered drawings, and safety fencing that meets New York State code. A full-service contractor handles all permitting.
Can I build a pool and pool house at the same time?
Yes, and it is often more cost-effective to build both together. Coordinating excavation, utilities, and hardscape in one project avoids rework and ensures the pool house is designed to complement the pool layout and sightlines.
About the Author
Tom Marr has been building and renovating homes across Long Island, Manhattan, and the Hamptons for over 43 years. He is personally involved in every project, meeting clients on-site, accompanying them to tile stores and kitchen showrooms at no extra charge, and ensuring every detail meets his standards.
His team includes in-house carpenters, dedicated project managers who stay on the job all day, and office staff who answer calls in real time. Upright Plus operates an on-site showroom at 585 Bicycle Path, Suite 10, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776, where homeowners can see roofing, siding, stone, tile, and wood selections before making a decision. Tom’s clients include homeowners he has worked with for over 40 years, a track record built on trust, transparency, and craftsmanship.
Reach Tom directly at 631-246-9816 or email upriteplus@yahoo.com.