From first call
to first swim — 45 days from ground-break.
Industry standard is 3 to 6 months from ground-break. Ours is 45 to 60. Same specialized crews, tight sequencing, Scott on site. Here's exactly what happens between your first call and your first swim — including the design and permits work that comes before the build clock starts.
Free design consultation
Day 0 — Week 1. You call or book online. The RutherfordMade team comes to your house within 3-5 business days, walks the yard, listens to what you want, takes measurements, and talks through budget honestly. Free. No sales pitch. If the site is not right for what you want, you get a straight answer before design begins.
Custom 3D design
Week 1 — Week 3. You see your new backyard before a shovel touches the ground. Pool shape, hardscape, kitchen placement, fire features, lighting — rendered in 3D so you can actually see it. We revise until you love it. That's the "You've Gotta Be Crazy" design guarantee at work.
Contract & permits
Week 2 — Week 4. Once the design is locked, we sign. The price is what we quoted — no surprise change orders, no hidden fees (price lock guarantee). RutherfordMade handles the permits, HOA paperwork where needed, and financing coordination if you need it. Steps 1-3 happen before the build clock starts.
Site prep & excavation — Build Day 1
Build clock starts at ground-break. Tree removal, grading, and excavation start with the excavation crew RutherfordMade uses regularly. Scott is on site, and you get daily updates instead of radio silence. The 45-60 day countdown is measured from ground-break to first swim — not from the first meeting.
Pool shell & hardscape
Build Days 7 — 30. Gunite, plumbing, equipment, patio surfaces, stonework, and outdoor-living features are sequenced with specialized crews that do that trade year-round. They are the same crews RutherfordMade uses project after project, so the backyard is coordinated instead of passed around.
Finish, fill & first swim
Build Days 30 — 45 to 60. Tile, coping, interior finish, equipment startup, lighting calibration, and smart-tech setup come together. Pool fills. Water is swim-ready and crystal-clear within 30 days (crystal-clear water guarantee). Scott walks through every system with you before the first swim.
Most pool builders juggle. We finish.
The three reasons RutherfordMade builds in 45-60 days from ground-break while the industry averages 3-6 months.
Owner on every job
No project manager relay. Scott makes decisions on site. When the unexpected happens — and it always does — it's resolved that afternoon, not next Tuesday.
Same specialized crews, every project
Not subcontractor roulette. Each phase is handled by crews that do that trade year-round, and RutherfordMade uses the same trusted crews from project to project.
We don't stack builds
Most builders take on 15-20 projects at once, then spread resources thin. We run a deliberate volume — a handful of builds running in parallel, each with full attention.
Ready to start your 45-day build?
The RutherfordMade team comes to your yard within 3-5 business days of booking and gives you a straight read on what is possible, what it costs, and what should happen next.
Book Consultation View GalleryOr call Scott directly: (706) 701-2788