Experience Built Over a Lifetime
My name is James S. Chandler Jr. I’m the founder of Jim Chandler Pools, and I’ve spent most of my life in the swimming pool industry.
My father, James S. Chandler, was a California swimming pool contractor, and I began working with him in 1970. Over the years, I worked in every phase of construction — excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite application, tile, masonry, concrete decking, plaster, equipment installation, and startup. That hands-on field experience gave me an understanding of pool construction that can only come from being directly involved in the work itself.
Around 1980, I moved into pool design and sales management for my father’s company, overseeing a sales and design team while continuing to stay closely connected to construction operations.
After my father retired, I continued working in the swimming pool industry for larger Sacramento-area pool companies. Working in those environments exposed me to a wider range of project types, design approaches, scheduling systems, and construction methods that later influenced how I built my own company.
In 1990, I started Jim Chandler Pools with a simple goal: build a beautiful, well-built swimming pool and have a happy customer at the end of the project.
That simple idea still guides how I approach construction today.
Every Property — and Every Family — Is Different
One of the most important things decades in construction teaches you is that no two properties — and no two families — are exactly alike.
Some projects are straightforward backyard family pools designed for relaxation, gathering, and everyday enjoyment. Others involve steep hillsides, vanishing edges, difficult access, retaining walls, or structural engineering challenges that require more planning and coordination. What all of them have in common is that they deserve careful attention from the beginning.
I’ve always believed good pool design starts by understanding the property first.
Every site presents its own conditions — elevation changes, drainage, access limitations, views, sunlight, existing structures, and the natural shape of the land itself. Rather than forcing the same layout onto every backyard, I prefer to study the property carefully and develop a design that fits naturally within the setting.
Hillside construction in particular requires careful planning long before construction begins. On more difficult sites, decisions involving grading, retaining walls, drainage, elevations, and structural support all affect how the finished project will perform over time. Much of the important work on those projects happens during the planning and engineering phase, before excavation ever begins.
That approach becomes especially important on vanishing edge projects, where structure, hydraulics, grading, and visual alignment all work together. Many of the projects featured throughout this website required extensive planning and engineering coordination long before construction began.
At the same time, not every project needs to be complex to deserve quality construction. Whether it’s a simple family pool or a technically demanding hillside build, the goal is the same: create a pool that fits the property well, functions properly, and will continue to perform for years to come.
Experience Beyond Construction
From 2012 through 2017, I served as a paid CSLB C-53 Swimming Pool Subject Matter Expert panelist for the California Contractors State License Board. In practical terms, the state contracted me to help evaluate technical knowledge, field practices, and construction competency within California’s swimming pool industry.
It was an experience that reinforced something I had already learned through years in the field: details matter. Proper preparation, sequencing, engineering coordination, and workmanship all affect the long-term success of a project.
That perspective continues to influence every pool I build today.
A Personal Approach to Building
Jim Chandler Pools is a second-generation custom pool building company based in Penryn, California. I personally oversee each project I take on, from the initial consultation and layout planning through excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, finish work, and startup.
I intentionally keep the number of projects limited each year so I can remain directly involved throughout construction. That allows me to maintain close oversight over each phase of the project and stay personally connected to the work being done on-site.
I’ve also developed extensive experience in 3D pool design and detailed CAD drafting. I enjoy the creative and technical side of the planning process — studying elevations, refining layouts, solving design challenges, and developing construction drawings that clearly communicate how a project will be built. Building departments have often commented on the quality and detail of my plans, which I believe comes from designing with real construction experience in mind.
Over the years, I’ve found that the best projects begin with honest conversations, realistic planning, and careful site evaluation. That’s why my process starts with an on-site consultation followed by a dedicated Design & Planning phase for clients who choose to move forward. This allows us to properly evaluate the property, develop layouts, coordinate engineering requirements, and establish realistic expectations before construction begins.
I believe serious projects deserve serious preparation.
★★★★★
“We had as near perfect an experience with Jim as our talented,
extremely knowledgeable and experienced contractor to make our
swimming pool dream a reality. We wanted a lap pool with an attached
spa and concrete deck just outside our home on an almost solid rock
ridge. Not a simple request, but Jim was always very upbeat that we
could get it done. He led us through a number of iterations of CAD
drawings that were so helpful to really envision what we would be
getting. We broke ground in early August and were swimming on
Christmas Eve.”— Christie C., Sierra Nevada Foothills | BBB Review | Read More Reviews | June 2024
Still Enjoying the Work
Even after decades in the industry, I still enjoy walking a property for the first time and beginning to understand what the finished project could become.
Pool construction combines engineering, craftsmanship, design, and practical field experience in a way few trades do. That challenge — and the opportunity to create something lasting for a family — is still what keeps me interested in the work today.
Thank you for taking the time to visit the site and look through the projects.
— Jim Chandler
Jim Chandler Pools