Most Georgia pool projects start the same way: a homeowner calls whoever a neighbor used and takes the first quote. A short list built on purpose does better. Here's how to use this directory to build one.
Pick the construction method first
Georgia's pool builders work in three main ways. Gunite or concrete pools are formed on site, and 112 builders here say they build them. Vinyl liner pools use a fitted liner over a wall system, offered by 78. Fiberglass pools are a factory-made shell set into the ground, offered by 52. Each method has its own service page, so you can see who works in it near you before you call.
Read the rating with the review count
A 5.0 from three reviews tells you less than a 4.6 from three hundred. Compare companies with a similar number of reviews, read a few of the low ones on Google, and look for how the company answered them. Then ask the builder for two or three recent customers near you that you can call.
Look up the license yourself
Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors issues four classes of license: Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, Commercial General Contractor and Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier. This directory doesn't verify licenses. Ask the builder which license it holds, then check it on the Secretary of State's verification site.
Ask who handles permits and inspections
The 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, with Georgia amendments, is a mandatory state minimum code. Counties set their own permit steps on top of it. Cobb County, for example, asks for a pool design sealed by a land surveyor, engineer or landscape architect, and Gwinnett County requires site, steel, bonding, plumbing, electrical and final inspections before a pool is used. Ask each builder who pulls the permit and who schedules the inspections.
Make sure 811 gets called
Georgia 811 marks buried utility lines for free. Homeowners can call 811 or 1-800-282-7411, or file an online request, at least 48 hours and no more than 10 working days before digging. Ask your builder to confirm the request before excavation starts.
What to ask on the first call
Ask whether the company builds new pools itself or mainly services them, which construction methods it offers, and whether it handles decking and outdoor living or brings in someone else. Ask about financing, which 107 builders here offer, and about the warranty, which 49 mention. Get every answer in writing before you sign.