The Ultimate Turnkey Swimming Pool Guide to Getting Your Dream Backyard
Everything You Need to Know About Inground Pools, Patios, and a Turnkey Outdoor Living—From Inspiration to Installation.
Introduction to Turnkey Pool + Outdoor Living Projects
What is a "Turnkey" Pool and Outdoor Living Space?
A turnkey project means we handle absolutely everything—from initial design to the final plant installation. Instead of juggling 6-8 different contractors, you work with one team that manages every aspect of your backyard transformation.
What We Handle in Your Turnkey Project:
- Complete design, 3D visualization, and material selections
- Permits, zoning approvals, and township coordination
- Site prep, grading, and excavation
- Inground pool installation (concrete, fiberglass, or natural swim pond)
- Electrical, plumbing, and irrigation systems
- Hardscaping: patios, walkways, retaining walls, and pool fencing
- Outdoor living features: kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces, and lighting
- Water features, including waterfalls, fountains, and streams
- Landscaping, plantings, and privacy screening
- Final walkthrough, cleanup, and maintenance training
Why Busy Homeowners Choose Turnkey Over Managing Multiple Contractors
When you act as the project manager for your own pool, you're stuck coordinating 6–8 different contractors—and hoping they actually communicate. That often leads to delays, finger-pointing, design mismatches, unexpected costs, and you on the phone hunting for answers.
What Can (and Often Does) Go Wrong
- Endless Delays
Your electrician waits on the pool installer, who’s waiting on the excavator. An 8-week job becomes 6 months of frustration. - Blame and Disputes
When issues arise, contractors blame each other. You’re left holding the bag—and the bill. - Budget Blowouts
Gaps in scope—like who’s handling trenching or material delivery—become surprise charges that push you 20–30% over budget. - Disjointed Design
Without a cohesive plan, your patio doesn’t match your pool, and your plantings get dug up for missed irrigation lines.
With Turpin, you get one team, one contract, and one clear path from vision to completion. Projects finish faster, designs work together, and every detail is accounted for upfront. We manage the chaos—so you can enjoy your backyard.
Imagining Your Dream Pool and Backyard Space
Your backyard transformation starts with a vision. Whether you're drawn to the dramatic elegance of an infinity edge or the natural beauty of a swimming pond, exploring possibilities is the first step toward creating your perfect outdoor retreat.
Elements That Transform Ordinary Backyards Into Extraordinary Escapes:
- Infinity Edge Pools Create your own resort-style oasis with an infinity edge that seems to merge with the horizon. Perfect for elevated properties, these pools deliver unmatched visual drama and that "wow" factor every time you step outside.
- Natural Rock Waterfalls & Boulder Features Bring the serenity of nature home with custom rock waterfalls and boulder accents. These organic elements transform your pool into a natural swimming hole, complete with the soothing sounds of cascading water.
- Integrated Spas Extend your pool season and enhance relaxation with a seamlessly integrated spa. Enjoy therapeutic jets year-round while maintaining the visual cohesion of your overall design.
- Recreational & Natural Swimming Ponds For those seeking something beyond traditional pools, our eco-friendly swimming ponds offer crystal-clear water without chemicals. These unique water features blend naturally with your landscape while providing a refreshing swimming experience.
- Outdoor Kitchens with Bar Seating Transform poolside dining with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. From built-in grills to bar seating for guests, create the perfect entertainment zone for memorable gatherings.
- Fire Features That Extend Your Seasons Add warmth and ambiance with custom fire pits or elegant outdoor fireplaces. These features create intimate gathering spaces and ensure your outdoor living area remains inviting even on cooler evenings.
- Lighting & Sound Integration Often overlooked but always impactful—professional lighting transforms your space after dark, while integrated sound systems set the perfect mood for any occasion.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Browse our gallery of completed projects to see how West Chester families have transformed their properties. From modest backyard upgrades to grand resort-style retreats, find inspiration for your own outdoor paradise.
Client Showcase A Pool in Kennett, PA
How to Plan the Perfect Pool and Outdoor Living Project
Making informed decisions early ensures your project stays on budget, on schedule, and exceeds your expectations. Here's everything you need to know to plan with confidence.
Your Turnkey Project Timeline
Design & Discovery
- Initial consultation and property assessment
- Design development with revisions
- Material selection and final approval
Permitting
- Township applications and approvals
- We handle all paperwork and follow-ups
- Timeline varies by municipality
Construction
- Excavation and major construction
- Pool installation and hardscaping
- Integration of all features
Final Touches
- Landscaping and planting
- System testing and adjustments
- Your complete walkthrough and training
Budget Ranges for Complete Turnkey Projects
The Backyard Upgrade
($100,000+)
Perfect for smaller yards or homeowners taking the first step toward a backyard transformation. This package includes a compact fiberglass pool (est. 24' x 12'), a saltwater system, paver decking, and code-compliant fencing—everything you need for safe, stylish summer fun. It’s an ideal fit for young families, empty nesters, or anyone looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor escape without overcomplicating the process.
The Great Outdoor Idea
($140,000+)
Designed with everyday enjoyment in mind, this package features a medium-sized pool (est. 32' x 15'), expanded patio areas, and room for popular add-ons like a fire feature or waterfall. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and wow-factor, offering enough space for the whole family to swim, play, and unwind. Whether it’s a quiet evening outside or a weekend of entertaining, this setup delivers lasting versatility.
The Grand Plan
($180,000+)
This is where you'll host extended family gatherings and encourage your high schoolers and their friends to emerge from their video gaming caves and into the sunlight. Large projects like these are often completed in phases, with additional plantings, waterfalls, fire pits, pavilions, and other outdoor features added at a later date. In these cases, we plan ahead by addressing space considerations for the required equipment, where to bury the utilities, and more. These situations are site-specific and customized for your unique needs.
Full Custom
($250,000+)
This is where creativity meets possibility. From swim-up bars to vanishing edges, fire walls to multi-zone audio systems, your backyard becomes a fully integrated extension of your home. If you can dream it, we can design and build it—with timeless materials, thoughtful details, and a cohesive vision from start to finish.
The sky is the limit with Turpin. Check out our gallery to get inspired.
Special Considerations for Chester County Properties
Making Your Backyard Dreams into a Reality
Choosing the Right Builder for a Stress-Free Experience
With more than two decades of experience designing and building outdoor living spaces in Chester County, Turpin has developed a turnkey process that removes the uncertainty homeowners often face during construction. From the moment we begin, your project receives our full, undivided attention— no confusion about who's responsible for what. We handle every aspect in-house, ensuring a streamlined experience that saves you time and stress.
What This Means for You:
- One dedicated team from design through completion
- Single point of contact throughout your journey
- We manage all trades internally—no vendor juggling
- Transparent scheduling with no mysterious delays
This unified approach is especially important when you're investing in a custom inground pool. Rather than managing a patchwork of contractors, you get a cohesive design and a clear plan that guides everything—from the excavation to the finishing touches. Our inground pool environments are never cookie-cutter. Instead, they’re crafted to blend naturally with your property, using organic shapes, native plantings, and timeless materials. Whether you’re drawn to the clean lines of a modern layout or the relaxed flow of a swim pond, our team creates spaces that feel like they’ve always belonged in your backyard.
The Turpin Difference
Our Three Core Promises
1 - Start-to-Finish Service
Your project never sits idle while we jump to another job. From day one until the last plant goes in the ground, you get our full, undivided attention.
What This Means for You:
- One dedicated team from design through completion
- Single point of contact throughout your journey
- We manage all trades internally—no vendor juggling
- Transparent scheduling with no mysterious delays
2 - Naturalistic Designs That Feel Like They Belong
We don't build sterile blue rectangles. Our designs blend seamlessly with Pennsylvania's natural beauty, creating spaces that feel like they've always been there.
Our Signature Style Includes:
- Organic shapes and natural stone selections
- Native plants and layered textures
- Swim ponds with boulders and aquatic plantings
- Streams and waterfalls that mimic nature
- Thoughtful integration with your property's natural features
3 - A Truly Seamless Process
No confusion. No surprises. Just clarity at every step.
Your journey with us begins with a discovery call to understand your goals and explore possibilities, followed by an on-site consultation to walk your space and develop custom solutions, leading to a clear proposal with transparent pricing and no hidden surprises, and culminates in managed construction with regular updates and consistent progress, all ending with a final walkthrough to ensure everything is perfect.
The difference between a turnkey project with Turpin and managing multiple contractors yourself is night and day. With our team, you get upfront pricing with minimal surprises, one cohesive design vision, and a single point of contact who handles everything from start to finish. That means less stress, clear accountability, and regular communication—all without having to chase down updates or resolve conflicts between trades.
When you go the DIY coordination route, you risk unpredictable costs, disjointed designs, and the headache of managing five or more vendors who may not be on the same page. With Turpin, you stay informed and confident every step of the way.
Our Relationship Doesn't End at Project Completion
Post-Project Support:
- Complete walkthrough showing you how everything works
- Comprehensive warranties on workmanship and materials
- Seasonal maintenance packages available
- Spring opening and winterization services
- We're always just a phone call away
Our Promise: You're not just getting a pool or outdoor space—you're gaining a long-term partner who ensures your investment continues to bring joy for years to come.
See What’s Possible In Your Backyard
We strive for a cozy feeling, a sense that your landscape, no matter how new and different, belongs with your home and family. Take a look at our portfolio and see what we mean.
FAQs What People Ask Before Getting Started
We believe in transparency from day one. Here are honest answers to the questions we hear most often:
Let’s Build Your Dream Backyard The Easy Way
When you work with Turpin, you don’t have to juggle multiple contractors or manage a chaotic timeline. You get one point of contact, a stress-free process, and a unified team of experts who care about every detail of your project. From first design sketch to final walkthrough, we handle it all. You can trust us to get you the results you want from your pool project professionally.
