Infinity Edge Pool Builders in Virginia

An infinity edge pool — also called a vanishing edge, negative edge or zero-edge pool — is a concrete pool built with one side that has no coping. Instead of a raised edge, the water flows over a precisely levelled weir wall into a hidden catch pool below, then recirculates. From the house or the deck, the water surface appears to run straight into the horizon.

How an infinity edge pool works

The effect comes from three parts working together. The weir wall is the section of pool wall the water spills over; it has to be built dead level along its whole length, or the sheet of water breaks up. The catch pool (sometimes called a trough or surge tank) sits below and collects the overflow. A dedicated pump then returns that water to the main pool, so the flow is continuous while the system is running and the main pool always sits at the same level.

Because the water is falling, an infinity edge is also a water feature. On our Negative Edge project overlooking Lake Anna, the sound of the weir wall helps mask boat motors from the lake. At Thorny Point in Stafford County, the catch pool is fitted with colour-changing lights that illuminate both the water and the face of the weir wall after dark.

Where an infinity edge makes sense

The classic site is a sloping yard with a view — a lake, a river or a long vista — where the vanishing edge frames the scenery. Both our Lake Anna and Lake of the Woods projects were built for exactly that reason. But it does not require a view or a slope. At Thorny Point the pool sits between the house and a pool house with a 3-foot change in grade, and the infinity edge was placed so that the homeowners see the waterfall the moment they step outside — the drop most infinity pools hide became the main feature.

The Lake of the Woods project uses a stone-faced false vanishing edge to preserve the view toward the lake. That project detail does not establish that a similar wall, infinity edge or pool cover can replace required fencing on another property. Barrier and fencing arrangements must be checked for the specific site with the local permitting authority.

What to expect from the build

An infinity edge is a custom concrete (gunite) construction. The weir wall, catch pool and return plumbing add engineering, materials and pump capacity that a standard pool does not have, so an infinity edge costs more than the same pool with four conventional sides. How much more depends on the length of the edge, the height of the drop and the site — a raised bond beam on a sloping lot is a different job from a level yard. We give a firm figure only after we have walked the property; a free on-site consultation is where that starts.

Everything else on the pool is unaffected. Our infinity edge builds have included raised spas, tanning ledges, swim jets and automatic safety covers — the covers are designed with a hidden leading edge that tucks under the coping so the clean line of the vanishing edge is preserved when the pool is closed.

Infinity edge pools we have built

The projects below are infinity and negative edge pools designed and built by The Pool Company Construction across Fredericksburg, Stafford County, Lake Anna and Northern Virginia. Each page has photographs of the finished pool and a description of what the site required. If you are considering one, request a free estimate and we will look at your property.