Brett Ryan, C-53 License #1089432, builds resort-scale custom pools for Nellie Gail Ranch equestrian estates in Laguna Hills. Large lots of 0.5 to 1+ acres mean room for true estate pools with spas, outdoor kitchens, and privacy landscaping. Serving the community since 1999. Call (949) 555-0190 for your free design consultation.
Nellie Gail Ranch is one of south Orange County's most distinctive communities. Approximately 1,400 homes sit on large estate lots, many from 0.5 to over 1 acre, surrounded by rolling hills, mature oak and sycamore canopy, and the equestrian trails that define the community's country estate character. Homes in the $1.8M to $3M range carry a standard of outdoor living that demands more than a contractor-grade pool.
Brett Ryan has been building custom pools in Laguna Hills and the broader south Orange County market since 1999. Large lots in Nellie Gail Ranch are ideal for resort-scale builds. We routinely design pools of 45 to 60 feet in length, paired with raised spas, baja shelves, outdoor kitchens, sport courts, and full privacy landscaping. The rolling terrain calls for creative grading solutions and retaining features that become part of the design.
All permits are pulled through the City of Laguna Hills Building Department. We handle full HOA architectural submittals and have a 100% approval record in the community. If your lot includes equestrian facilities or trail easements, we coordinate setbacks and construction sequencing to protect your horses and comply with every requirement.
We are verified on the CSLB license lookup, members of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance, and hold current workers compensation and general liability coverage. Our energy-efficient systems meet California Energy Commission Title 20 requirements and qualify for ENERGY STAR rebates. Safety fencing and barriers meet all CPSC pool safety guidelines. We also work closely with MWDOC rebate programs to help offset water-efficient equipment costs.
Eight specialty services built around the large estate lots, rolling hills, and country estate character of Nellie Gail Ranch.
Nellie Gail Ranch lots of 0.5 to 1+ acres comfortably support pools of 40 to 60 feet in length. Over 80% of our builds in this community exceed 500 square feet of water surface. We design around the natural grade, mature trees, and equestrian sight lines to create pools that feel native to the estate. Raised bond beams, infinity edges, and beach entries are among our most requested features for this neighborhood.
Every custom pool we build in Nellie Gail Ranch includes an attached spa as standard unless you specifically opt out. Spas are hydraulically integrated with the main pool and share the same variable-speed pump system, reducing energy cost by up to 90% versus single-speed alternatives per U.S. Department of Energy benchmarks. Spillover, vanishing-edge, and raised spa configurations are all available. Heated to your preferred temperature year-round with smart-home integration.
Sixty-eight percent of our Nellie Gail Ranch pool projects include a full outdoor kitchen package. Estate lots provide room for covered outdoor living rooms with built-in BBQ islands, refrigeration, sink, bar seating, and fire features. We work with your landscape architect or handle the full hardscape design in-house. Materials are selected to complement the natural stone and wood tones common to equestrian property aesthetics throughout the community.
Water features bring sound, movement, and visual drama to estate pools. We offer more than 40 standard water feature designs including sheet waterfalls, rock grottos, raised sheer descents, and laminar jets. For Nellie Gail Ranch estates, we often design grottos that reference the natural boulder and sandstone outcroppings common to the rolling hills surrounding the community. All water features are integrated with automated pool controls for easy management from your phone.
Baja shelves, also called sun ledges or tanning ledges, are one of the most requested features on Nellie Gail Ranch estate pools. These 6- to 12-inch-deep entry platforms accommodate lounge chairs, toddler play, and pets while adding significant visual depth to the pool design. Our clients report saving an average of $4,000 per year in resort and hotel pool costs after building a backyard that replaces those visits. Standard dimensions are 8 feet by 12 feet with an optional umbrella anchor.
Nellie Gail Ranch has been an established community since the 1970s. Many existing pools are due for full or partial renovation. Our renovation scope includes plaster re-finish, new tile and coping, equipment upgrades to variable-speed pumps, LED lighting conversion, and structural repairs. Full renovation projects average 8 to 10 weeks. We handle all HOA design review submittals for renovation scope and pull any required City of Laguna Hills permit.
All new pools we build in Nellie Gail Ranch include a fully integrated automation system controllable from any smartphone. Temperature, lighting, water features, spa jets, and chemical dosing are all managed from a single app. Variable-speed pump scheduling reduces energy use by up to 90% versus single-speed systems per Department of Energy data. We install systems from Pentair IntelliConnect and Hayward OmniLogic, both compatible with Apple Home and Google Home integration.
Large estate lots in Nellie Gail Ranch rarely need just a pool. We offer full landscape and hardscape integration including concrete and natural stone decking, privacy hedging and screening, fire pit areas, sport courts, and drainage systems suited to the rolling hill terrain. Mature landscaping is a signature of the community's character, and we work to preserve or transplant existing trees wherever possible. Our landscape team holds a C-27 license and works under the same general contract as the pool build.
Twenty-five years of data from over 500 completed pool projects across Orange County's finest communities.
More than 500 custom pools built across Orange County since 1999. Over 60 projects completed in Laguna Hills and surrounding estate communities.
4.9 stars across 218 verified reviews. Our Nellie Gail Ranch clients consistently cite communication, clean jobsites, and on-schedule delivery.
Every HOA architectural review submission for a Nellie Gail Ranch pool project has been approved on first or second submittal. Zero denials on record.
Brett Ryan has built pools in south Orange County since 1999. Deep familiarity with Laguna Hills permit timelines, HOA requirements, and local subcontractors.
Our average Nellie Gail Ranch project includes pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, and hardscape at around $218,000. Some large-lot estate builds exceed $300,000.
Variable-speed pump systems we install reduce pool energy consumption by up to 90% versus single-speed pumps, per U.S. Department of Energy benchmarks.
Real reviews from Nellie Gail Ranch residents who built with Brett Ryan Pools.
"Brett and his crew transformed our half-acre lot into a full resort. The pool, spa, and outdoor kitchen came in at $218,000 and the result is beyond what we imagined. He handled every HOA submittal and the Laguna Hills permit without us lifting a finger. Ten out of ten."
"We have an equestrian property with two horses and an easement on the back of our acre lot. Brett understood the setback rules and designed the pool to work around the corral perfectly. Total project was $187,000 including pool, spa, water feature, and stone decking. On schedule and on budget."
"Our rolling hillside lot was a challenge. Brett's team graded, built a retaining wall, and installed a 55-foot pool with a raised infinity spa that overlooks the canyon. Project total was $265,000. It looks like a five-star resort and gets used every single day. The HOA loved the design on first review."
The most common questions from Nellie Gail Ranch homeowners considering a custom pool build.
Custom pools in Nellie Gail Ranch range from $80,000 to $300,000+. Large lots of 0.5 to 1+ acres often support resort-style builds at $150,000 to $250,000 that include a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, and full landscaping. Our average estate project in the community comes in around $218,000.
Most custom pools in Nellie Gail Ranch take 12 to 18 weeks from permit approval to final inspection. Larger estate builds with outdoor kitchens, water features, and full hardscape may run 20 to 24 weeks. HOA review typically adds 2 to 4 weeks before permit submittal.
Yes. All pool construction in Nellie Gail Ranch requires permits through the City of Laguna Hills Building Department. Brett Ryan handles the entire permit process including plans, engineering stamps, plan check coordination, and final inspections. Homeowners do not need to visit the building department.
Lots of 0.5 to 1+ acres easily support pools of 40 to 60 feet in length with room for a spa, baja shelf, outdoor living room, and privacy landscaping. Over 80% of our builds here exceed 500 square feet of water surface. Few Orange County communities offer this much design freedom.
Yes. We have experience building on equestrian-zoned lots throughout Nellie Gail Ranch. We coordinate setbacks from corrals and trail easements to ensure full HOA and city compliance. Zero setback violations on equestrian properties in the community to date.
Yes. Over 70% of our Nellie Gail Ranch builds use saltwater chlorination systems. Saltwater pools require less chemical maintenance and are gentler on skin and the mature estate landscaping surrounding the pool. All saltwater systems include automatic chemical dosing management.
Yes. We partner with pool-specific lenders offering 5 to 20 year fixed terms. Many Nellie Gail Ranch homeowners finance projects between $150,000 and $300,000. Monthly payments on a $200,000 pool at prevailing rates typically run $1,100 to $1,400 per month on a 20-year term.
The Nellie Gail Ranch HOA requires architectural review for pool projects. Brett Ryan provides complete HOA submittal packages including site plans, elevations, and material samples. We have a 100% HOA approval record in the community across all projects submitted to date.
We install variable-speed pumps that reduce energy use by up to 90% versus single-speed pumps, per California Energy Commission standards. Solar heating and LED lighting are standard. Systems qualify for ENERGY STAR rebates and MWDOC water efficiency programs.
Brett Ryan Pools serves Nellie Gail Ranch and the surrounding enclaves, cities, and coastal communities of Orange County.
Brett meets on-site, assesses your lot, and delivers a full 3D design and proposal within 7 days. No cost, no commitment.