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A semi-inground pool sits partially below grade and partially above—combining the flush, polished look of an inground pool with the elevated versatility of an above-ground design. Ecopool's semi-inground option is built from the same aerospace-grade steel platform as every S-Series pool, making it stronger than concrete, faster to install, and adaptable to terrain that would stop traditional builders cold.
Traditional pool categories force an either-or decision: bury the entire shell or set it on top of the ground. A semi-inground pool eliminates that compromise. By recessing part of the structure into the earth and leaving the remainder exposed, you gain design options that neither extreme can offer—terraced retaining walls, integrated seating, panoramic hillside views, or a walk-in entry on one side with a raised deck on the other.
Because Ecopool's steel frame carries all structural load, the exposed portion can be clad in stone, stucco, brick, or any material that matches your home. The buried portion backfills like a conventional inground pool. The result is a seamless transition between pool and landscape that looks like it was always part of the plan.
Sloped lots have long been the Achilles' heel of pool construction. Excavating a hillside for a fully inground pool demands massive retaining walls, heavy equipment, and weeks of grading. A semi-inground Ecopool sidesteps all of that. The pool is set into the slope at the depth that makes sense—flush with the high side, elevated on the low side—so the natural grade does the work for you.
The exposed wall becomes a design feature rather than a problem: face it with stacked stone to echo the hillside, or finish it in smooth stucco for a clean contemporary line. Add a viewing window on the raised face and the slope that once felt like a limitation becomes the best feature on the property.
Set, level, and fill with water.
Less excavation than a fully inground pool.
Insulated walls retain heat day and night.
The beauty of a semi-inground installation is the exposed exterior. Where a fully buried pool hides its structure underground, a partially buried Ecopool puts one or more walls on display—and those walls become your canvas.
Wrap them in natural flagstone for a rugged, organic feel. Apply smooth render to continue your home's modern facade. Lay reclaimed brick for heritage warmth. Even integrate planters, built-in seating, or a swim-up bar along the raised edge. The steel structure carries every load, so the cladding material is purely aesthetic—no engineering restrictions on what you choose.
A semi-inground pool isn't a compromise—it's often the smartest way to build. Less excavation, lower cost, faster installation, and design possibilities that fully inground pools simply can't match. Here's why homeowners across the country are choosing partially buried Ecopool installations.
A fully inground pool demands complete excavation—moving cubic yards of soil, hauling it off-site, and grading the entire footprint. A semi-inground Ecopool cuts that excavation by up to 60 percent. Less digging means lower contractor costs, less heavy equipment on your property, and far less disruption to existing landscaping, irrigation lines, and underground utilities.
For properties with rocky substrate, high water tables, or shallow bedrock—conditions that make full excavation prohibitively expensive—a semi-inground approach turns an impossible project into a straightforward one.
A semi-inground pool creates natural elevation changes that landscape architects love. Step down from a raised deck into the water on one side. Walk out to a sunken patio on the other. Integrate built-in benches along the exposed wall, add cascading planters, or run a fire feature along the raised edge for evenings that feel like a resort.
This multi-level approach turns a flat, unremarkable backyard into a layered outdoor living space—or takes a naturally sloped property and transforms it into something truly extraordinary. Pair it with a baja ledge for a shallow wading area that connects pool and patio seamlessly.
When part of your pool sits above grade, you unlock features that a fully buried pool can't provide. Install a crystal-clear viewing window on the exposed face and watch swimmers from the patio. Add a waterfall that cascades over the raised edge. Integrate LED strip lighting along the cladding for a dramatic glow after dark.
These aren't afterthoughts—they're possibilities that emerge naturally from the semi-inground design. The steel structure supports them all without additional reinforcement, and every feature can be specified during your design consultation.
A fully inground pool offers a flush, grade-level aesthetic but requires complete excavation and works best on flat lots. A fully above-ground pool skips digging entirely but sits entirely on the surface. A semi-inground pool captures the advantages of both: the polished, integrated look of an inground installation on one side and the elevated design possibilities of an above-ground pool on the other. For sloped properties, challenging soil conditions, or homeowners who want a pool that creates visual drama, semi-inground is the strongest answer.
Traditional semi-inground pools rely on the surrounding earth for lateral support. Ecopool doesn't. Our tubular steel space frame is a self-supporting structure that carries the full hydrostatic load—whether buried, raised, or anywhere in between. That independence from soil conditions is what makes a true semi-inground installation possible on virtually any site.
Every semi-inground Ecopool is built around the same steel platform trusted across the entire S-Series line. A matrix of precision-welded 80-ksi high-strength steel tubes forms a rigid space frame that resists shock, pressure, thermal cycling, and ground movement—without relying on backfill for stability.
Dual hot-dip-galvanized skins sandwich a closed-cell polyurethane core rated at R-10, creating an insulated envelope that holds heat through cool nights and resists thermal gain on summer afternoons. The structure is so rigid it can be lifted by a single corner with minimal flex—a level of integrity that concrete and fiberglass simply cannot match.
Every semi-inground Ecopool includes the same smart water system found across the S-Series range. Micro-sensors track pH, ORP, and temperature continuously, feeding data to your phone in a clean, real-time dashboard. A commercial-grade UV-C reactor neutralizes 99 percent of pathogens in a single pass, while a peristaltic pump micro-doses sodium hypochlorite to maintain free chlorine near 0.5 ppm—drinking-water levels.
No salt generators. No stabilizer tablets. No chemical odor drifting across your patio. Just balanced, transparent water that's ready the moment you step in. Learn more about our chlorine injection system.
Every semi-inground module is fabricated in a climate-controlled facility using CNC plasma cutting and hot-air welding under aerospace-level process controls. Insulation is bonded, galvanized skins are fitted, and the interior Zycore™ membrane is heat-welded before the pool leaves the factory floor.
Dimensional lasers verify squareness and structural alignment prior to shipping. On your property, the pool is set into the partial excavation, leveled, and connected—single-module pools can hold water within hours. Multi-module designs assemble in under two days, without cranes, rebar, or weather delays.
Every semi-inground Ecopool is finished with our Architectural 3D Membrane—a textured, non-porous surface inspired by natural sandbars and layered stone. Made from Zycore™, a German-engineered polymer composite, it outperforms plaster, fiberglass, and tile in algae resistance, UV stability, and long-term color retention. The interior you choose on day one stays true for decades, whether your pool is fully buried, semi-buried, or raised.
Semi-inground Ecopool installations benefit from the same efficiency platform as every S-Series pool. Continuous R-10 insulation on all walls—buried and exposed—retains heat through cool nights and cuts energy consumption by up to 80 percent compared to uninsulated shells. Variable-speed pumps sip electricity. Optional solar integration can offset the remaining draw across the year.
Salt chlorinators, stabilizer tablets, fixed-speed pumps, and fossil-fuel heaters are omitted by design. The result is a pool that runs quieter, costs less to operate, and treads lighter on the environment—whether half-buried in a Texas hillside or recessed into a New England slope.
Every S-Series pool shares the same aerospace-grade tubular steel architecture, insulated core, and intelligent water management. Choose the installation depth and style that fits your property and your vision.
Fully buried for a clean, traditional pool aesthetic. Flush with your patio and landscape—perfect for luxury backyards.
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Above-ground with sculptural lines and a minimalist silhouette. A bold architectural statement that stands tall.
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Wrap the exterior in stone, stucco, brick, or any material. Inground, onground, or partial inground—your choice.
Learn MoreEvery S‑Series pool below can be installed as a semi-inground pool. Choose your size to view pricing, gallery images, and order details.
