Rethinking Your Backyard with a Custom Pool House
A swimming pool changes the way a family uses their backyard, but a pool house transforms the entire outdoor living experience. Whether you are looking for a simple shaded structure where guests can towel off and grab a cold drink, or a fully appointed retreat with a kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping quarters, the design options are broader than most homeowners realize. At Grander Construction, we have designed and built pool houses across the Greenville-Spartanburg area that range from elegant covered pavilions to self-contained guest suites, and the right answer depends entirely on how you want to live outdoors.
The Upstate South Carolina climate gives us a pool season that stretches from late April through early October, which means your pool house will see heavy use for more than half the year. That kind of daily use demands thoughtful design, durable materials, and construction quality that holds up to sun, rain, humidity, and the constant traffic of wet feet.
Simple Shade Structures and Covered Pavilions
The most straightforward pool house option is a covered structure that provides shade, a place to sit, and basic shelter from afternoon thunderstorms. These range from freestanding pergolas with ceiling fans to fully roofed pavilions with stone or concrete flooring, built-in seating, and outdoor lighting.
Even a basic covered pavilion benefits from careful engineering. The structure needs to handle wind loads, and in the Upstate we occasionally see straight-line winds from summer storms that exceed 60 miles per hour. Posts should be set in concrete footings that extend below the frost line, and the roof should be tied to the posts with engineered hardware rather than simple lag bolts. These details are invisible when the pool house is finished, but they are what keep the structure standing through a decade of South Carolina weather.
Electrical service to a simple pavilion opens up practical options: ceiling fans for airflow, recessed lighting for evening use, and weatherproof outlets for blenders, speakers, or phone chargers. A single 20-amp circuit run from your main panel may be sufficient for a basic setup, but we typically recommend running a small sub-panel to the pool house location for future flexibility.
Mid-Range Pool Houses: Changing Rooms and Outdoor Showers
Stepping up from a simple shade structure, a mid-range pool house adds enclosed space for changing, an outdoor shower, and possibly a half-bath. This level of pool house keeps wet swimsuits, muddy feet, and sunscreen-covered kids out of your main home, which is a practical benefit that homeowners consistently tell us they appreciate more than any aesthetic feature.
Changing rooms need adequate ventilation to prevent mildew, especially in our humid climate. Louvered vents, exhaust fans, and moisture-resistant wall finishes like tile, PVC beadboard, or marine-grade paint are standard in our builds. Flooring should be slip-resistant and easy to clean: concrete with a non-slip sealer, porcelain tile with a textured surface, or composite decking material all work well.
Outdoor showers are one of the most popular pool house features we install. A hot-and-cold outdoor shower lets swimmers rinse off chlorine or sunscreen before heading inside, and it is useful for hosing off after yard work or washing the dog. Drainage needs to be planned carefully to direct water away from the pool house foundation and the pool itself. We typically route shower drainage to a small dry well or french drain rather than connecting it to the home sewer system, though local code requirements vary.
Full-Service Pool Houses with Kitchenettes
A full-service pool house includes a kitchenette or outdoor kitchen, a full or three-quarter bathroom, and enough covered living space to function as a standalone entertaining area. This is where pool house design starts to overlap with accessory dwelling unit territory, and the construction requirements step up accordingly.
Kitchenette options range from a simple wet bar with a sink, mini-fridge, and countertop to a complete outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, smoker, side burners, refrigerator drawers, ice maker, and dishwasher. The key infrastructure decisions are water supply, drain waste vent connections, gas line routing if you want a gas grill, and electrical capacity for appliances.
Countertop materials for pool house kitchens need to withstand direct sunlight, rain, and temperature swings. Granite and quartzite are popular because they are naturally UV-resistant and nearly indestructible. Outdoor-rated quartz products have improved significantly in recent years and offer more color consistency than natural stone. Tile countertops are budget-friendly but require periodic grout maintenance.
Luxury Retreats: Guest Suites and Entertainment Spaces
At the top end, a pool house becomes a fully self-contained guest suite or entertainment pavilion. These projects include bedrooms, full bathrooms, laundry, climate control, and sometimes full kitchens. In terms of construction, they are essentially small homes that happen to be located next to a pool.
Climate control is the big differentiator at this level. A ductless mini-split system is the most common HVAC solution for pool house guest suites because it provides both heating and cooling without requiring ductwork. A single-zone mini-split can condition 500 to 800 square feet efficiently, and multi-zone systems can handle larger spaces with independent temperature control in each room.
Entertainment-focused pool houses often include features like a large-screen TV alcove with weatherproof audio, a fireplace or fire pit integrated into the structure, and a bar area sized for hosting. Outdoor-rated televisions and speakers have become more affordable and more durable in recent years, making year-round outdoor entertainment practical even in the Upstate where winter temperatures occasionally dip into the twenties.
Matching Your Pool House to Your Home
Architectural cohesion between your pool house and your main residence matters for both aesthetics and property value. A pool house that looks like it belongs on a different property creates visual tension that diminishes the overall appeal of your outdoor space. We match rooflines, siding materials, trim profiles, and color palettes so that the pool house reads as a natural extension of the home rather than an afterthought.
This does not mean the pool house needs to be a miniature replica of your home. It means the design language should be consistent. If your home has a craftsman aesthetic with exposed rafter tails and stone accents, the pool house should incorporate those same elements. If your home is a clean, contemporary design with flat rooflines and stucco, the pool house should follow suit.
Do I need a permit for a pool house?
In Greenville and Spartanburg counties, any permanent structure with a foundation requires a building permit. If your pool house includes plumbing, electrical, or gas service, each of those trades will require separate permits and inspections. Setback requirements from property lines also apply, and pool houses with living space may be classified as accessory dwelling units, which have additional zoning requirements. We handle all permitting as part of every project.
How far should a pool house be from the pool?
We recommend a minimum of eight to twelve feet between the pool edge and the pool house structure. This provides enough deck space for circulation, keeps the pool house foundation outside the influence zone of the pool excavation, and meets most local code requirements for structure-to-pool setbacks. Closer placement is sometimes possible but requires engineered footings designed for the specific soil and pool shell conditions on your property.
What is the best flooring for a pool house?
Slip-resistant porcelain tile and sealed concrete are the top two choices for pool house flooring. Both are durable, easy to clean, and resistant to moisture damage. Luxury vinyl plank is a good option for enclosed, climate-controlled spaces but should not be used in areas that will be regularly exposed to standing water. Natural stone like travertine or slate looks beautiful but requires sealing and periodic maintenance to prevent staining.
Can a pool house add value to my home?
A well-designed pool house can increase property value, particularly in neighborhoods where outdoor living amenities are expected. In the Upstate market, a quality pool house typically recoups 50 to 70 percent of its construction cost in added home value. The return is highest when the pool house complements a well-maintained pool and landscaping package and when the design matches the quality level of the main home.