In a market defined by architectural pedigree and uncompromising aesthetics, reputation is everything. And in the Palm Springs and Palm Desert corridor — where mid-century icons meet modern glass-and-steel estates — Melo’s Pools & Outdoors has quietly carved out a lane that few builders are willing to occupy.

“We’ve kind of built a name for taking on projects that maybe most of our competitors do not want to get involved with just due to how complex they are,” says co-owner Albert Melo. “A lot of the times we get involved early on in the early phases of the project. We’re willing to take our time and answer maybe a hundred questions before we’re even able to provide a price.”

That willingness to engage early — and absorb the risk that comes with it — has become the firm’s calling card.

From Engineering to Entrepreneurship

Melo’s path back to the family business wasn’t linear. He studied civil engineering in Orange County and was on track for a conventional engineering career before a pivotal mentor redirected him.

“I don’t think you’re an engineer,” a builder he interned for once told him. “You’re going to be a great businessman one day.”

At the time, it felt destabilizing. But looking back, Melo sees the value.

“I don’t think it was a waste of time. It’s actually helped me tremendously to be able to work on these projects and use that knowledge with architects and structural engineers and city inspectors.”

When he returned to the Coachella Valley to help his father with what was then a small pool service and remodeling operation, he never left. Twelve years later, that modest operation has evolved into an award-winning luxury pool firm capable of executing six- and seven-figure watershapes.

The transformation didn’t happen overnight.

“I became obsessed with the business side of things,” Melo explains. “How to be more efficient. How to create a better experience for the client. How to create a better sales process, a better construction process. Even if that meant every day just improving one percent.”

Over time, that obsession began attracting a different clientele.

“You kind of put your head up one day and you go, wow — you’re naturally just starting to attract that clientele that really wants quality.”

A Design-Savvy Market Demands Discipline

Palm Springs is not a forgiving design environment. It’s a place where architecture is cultural identity. Mid-century modern homes sit beside ultra-contemporary estates. Landscape, linework, and proportion matter.

“It’s heavily controlled by the looks of things and the design of the home,” Melo says. “Half of the pools we build, they don’t get used. It’s more for looks. It’s more to enjoy the outdoors with your cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine at night.”

That means the pool is rarely the star of the show. It’s part of a larger composition.

“Palm Springs is all about mid-century architecture,” he says. “It’s what governs the whole design of a pool.”

In some neighborhoods, that means restraint — preserving original palms and retrofitting older shells without disturbing architectural integrity. In others, particularly in Palm Desert and La Quinta, it means infinity edges, zero-edge pools, and expansive entry water features tied into modern estate construction.

The throughline is respect for place.

Owning the “Hard Projects” Lane

At some point, Melo’s firm stopped chasing typical work and started leaning into the uncomfortable.

“It naturally just happened,” he says. “We set expectations early. We tell them the truth. No, this is not going to take two months. Just the permitting process is going to take two months. The construction process can take another six.”

That level of transparency costs them jobs.

“There are clients that don’t want to hear that. They walk away. They go with the other company that maybe told them what they wanted to hear.”

But the clients who stay are different.

“In order to build a Ferrari, it takes time. It’s not how fast can you do it — it’s let’s do this right.”

For Melo, the client relationship has to be aligned before they commit to a complex project.

“That client has to see the value in what our company offers. If they see the value that we’re able to help them early on, that we know what we’re doing, and that we’re going to bring the right vendors and engineers into the project, then they’re willing to pay for it and they’re willing to wait for the realistic timeline.”

That alignment is what makes the difference between a successful high-end build and a slow-moving disaster.

The Acrylic Wall Project: Engineering Under Pressure

The project that crystallizes Melo’s reputation sits in the heart of Palm Desert — a modern estate anchored by an acrylic wall pool and a floating acrylic bar that appears to hover over illuminated water.

It began, as many of Melo’s projects do, with a simple directive from the homeowner.

“They were like, Albert, we want something different. We want something unique.”

One idea led to another. A transparent wall. Then a bar. Then a question no one had yet answered.

“What if we make the table out of acrylic?”

At the time, Melo didn’t know of anyone who had executed a fully integrated floating acrylic bar in that fashion. But the idea stuck.

“There’s so much planning involved,” he says. “There’s so many what ifs. There’s so many unknowns.”

The coordination required was immense. Acrylic vendor. Structural engineers. In-house CAD design. Hydraulics. Load calculations. Deflection analysis. The final email count approached two thousand messages between all parties involved.

“You’re almost working backwards,” Melo explains. “You need to provide a budget, but you also need to understand how that’s going to be constructed.”

Details mattered at a microscopic level — pool depth, waterline alignment, structural support, acrylic thickness, anchoring systems, tolerances.

And then came the fill.

“That was my first acrylic pool that we had ever done,” Melo recalls. “I just could not relax. I’m like, what if it leaks? What if it fails? All that pressure of the water — is it going to deflect that acrylic?”

He drove to the site late at night while the pool was filling.

“I remember it was halfway through the acrylic and there were no leaks. It was almost there.”

That night still stands out.

“Anyone that’s been in this industry remembers their first infinity edge pool, their first zero-edge pool,” he says. “With time and experience comes confidence.”

Today, the illuminated acrylic wall glows beneath the desert sky. The floating bar, supported by transparent columns, creates the illusion of weightlessness. It is architectural sculpture as much as it is watershape — and a defining example of what happens when a builder refuses to default to ordinary.

Designing With Restraint

Not every signature project is about pushing materials. Some are about knowing when not to.

On another featured property, Melo’s team preserved decades-old palm trees rather than remove them to simplify construction.

“We said, we have to keep these palms,” he explains. “It’s a signature look of Palm Springs.”

Structurally, that decision complicated the dig and required careful engineering to ensure root systems remained stable. But the payoff was visual continuity — a modernized pool anchored by historic palms that tied the property to its mid-century heritage.

“Sometimes restraint is the most important part,” Melo says. “The challenge is, when you’re working with big architects and successful clients, they don’t want to hear the word no. They have an idea and it’s our job to figure out how it gets done.”

That often means mediating between architectural intent and structural reality.

Landscape architects might draw a water feature flush against a home’s exterior wall, but structural footings may project 12 to 18 inches outward.

“We have to bring those concerns early on,” he says. “Sometimes the structural engineer has to redo their calculations so we can design our wall flush with the house.”

The discipline isn’t about limiting ambition. It’s about integrating it.

Process in a Custom World

In production building, process is standardized. In custom luxury construction, process must be flexible without becoming chaotic.

“It starts with, are we the right fit?” Melo says. “Usually that starts with a phone call or a Zoom meeting.”

From there, they request conceptual drawings — sometimes nothing more than bubble sketches — and begin mapping out what information is needed from civil engineers, structural engineers, and architects.

Because many of their builds stretch across months or even years, continuity is critical.

“I probably have five or ten projects right now where it’s been a year, some of them two years, and we’re just waiting to come back,” Melo says.

Pools may be shot to structural shell and then paused until vertical construction on the home reaches a certain stage.

To maintain momentum, Melo and his project managers maintain contact — site visits, emails, coordination meetings — even during dormant phases.

“We try to keep that communication alive.”

Looking Ahead

Despite industry recognition — including 40 Under 40 honors — Melo remains wary of complacency.

“The day you think you have it all figured out is when you don’t,” he says.

He credits mentorship from friends and associates who run nine-figure businesses for sharpening his understanding of financial systems and operational discipline.

“Yes, we’re building pools, but we’re also running a business,” he says. “We have to make sure we take care of that side.”

What excites him most isn’t reckless expansion. It’s controlled growth.

“Growth can be a double-edged sword,” Melo says. “We want to maintain our quality and find our sweet spot. We’re busy, but not so busy that it affects our quality.”

And perhaps most importantly:

“I’m excited to be able to say no to the ones that maybe don’t fit our values.”

In a market where aesthetics reign and reputations travel fast, that discipline may be the true differentiator.

For anyone who doubts it, just stand beside one of Melo’s exquisitely designed aquatic showpieces and bask in the splendor and technical prowess of true craftsmanship on display.

Some builders avoid the hard jobs.

Melo’s Pools & Outdoors built a name on taking them on.

Ready to take a deeper dive?

Listen to our entire conversation with Albert Melo of Melo’s Pools & Outdoors on the Pool Magazine Podcast.

Builder Credits: Melo’s Pools & Outdoors
Photo Credits: Jimi Smith Photography

When Alexa Dal Pino took over the reins of Dal Pino Quality Pools, she inherited more than a company. She inherited a legacy.

Founded in 1980 by her parents, Dick and Carol Dal Pino, the Auburn, California–based firm built its reputation on craftsmanship, integrity, and a deeply personal approach to working with clients. For more than four decades, the company has been a fixture in Northern California’s Sierra Foothills, designing and building custom pools that blend seamlessly with the region’s dramatic terrain.

Today, Alexa Dal Pino continues that tradition while pushing the company into new territory, combining the foundational values her parents established with modern design thinking, advanced engineering, and ongoing education.

Growing Up in the Family Business

Dal Pino’s path into the pool industry was almost inevitable.

“I grew up around pools,” she explained. “Dal Pino Quality Pools was founded in 1980 by my parents, Dick and Carol Dal Pino, and they had a focus on craftsmanship, integrity, and really treating every client like a friend.”

From a young age, she helped out in the family business, learning firsthand what it meant to create backyard spaces that transformed how families lived and entertained at home.

“I really appreciated how they made people’s dreams turn into reality,” Dal Pino said. “So after college, I knew I wanted to continue that legacy and make it my professional career.”

In 2012, she officially took over leadership of the company, blending the founding principles her parents established with updated construction practices and contemporary design approaches.

The transition wasn’t about reinventing the company, she said. It was about evolution.

Preserving the Foundation While Modernizing the Business

When Dal Pino stepped into ownership, she immediately identified which elements of the company’s DNA needed to remain untouched.

“Our commitment to craftsmanship, our commitment to client relationships, and the culture we created within our team were non-negotiable,” she said.

But alongside those core values came a series of intentional upgrades.

Dal Pino invested heavily in education, particularly through programs such as Genesis and WaterShape University, expanding the company’s design capabilities and technical expertise. The firm began exploring new materials, refining hydraulic systems, and implementing updated construction techniques to improve structural performance and durability.

The design process also evolved.

Instead of simply presenting finished plans, Dal Pino began focusing more deeply on collaboration with clients.

“It became less about just creating a digital plan or a 3D image,” she said. “We started spending more time learning about the clients, their families, their lifestyles, and what they really wanted out of their backyard.”

Today, Dal Pino Quality Pools incorporates interactive design sessions where clients review concepts in real time, allowing changes to be made on the spot using advanced 3D design tools.

The goal, Dal Pino said, is to think beyond the pool itself.

“We’re considering architectural styles, lifestyle needs, and the entire backyard experience.”

Building in One of California’s Most Unique Markets

Dal Pino Quality Pools operates in a distinctive region of Northern California known as the Sierra Foothills, an area stretching east of Sacramento toward Lake Tahoe.

The terrain is dramatic, the summers are hot, and the landscape attracts homeowners seeking expansive properties with sweeping views.

“The foothills draw people because of their beauty,” Dal Pino explained. “Napa and Silicon Valley aren’t that far away, and people are drawn to the dramatic landscape and the open spaces where they can build large custom estates.”

Those conditions have created strong demand for high-end custom pools designed to complement the natural environment.

Infinity-edge pools overlooking hillsides, multi-level terraces, and architectural outdoor living environments have become increasingly common.

But while the region offers incredible design opportunities, it also presents significant construction challenges.

Engineering Solutions for Challenging Terrain

Building in the foothills means dealing with terrain that can vary dramatically from one property to the next.

“No two projects are the same,” Dal Pino said. “We deal with steep slopes, buried granite, lava cap, high water tables, expansive soils—you can find all of it here.”

Add in property setbacks, easements, and wildfire zone regulations, and the complexity multiplies quickly.

To navigate these challenges, Dal Pino Quality Pools relies on decades of experience and close collaboration with local engineers.

“We’re skilled in designing and building on slopes,” she said. “But communication with clients is just as important. I often show them photos of similar projects so they understand best-case and worst-case scenarios before we start.”

That transparency helps homeowners understand the potential surprises that can arise during excavation and construction.

A Team Built on Loyalty and Experience

Behind every complex project is a carefully assembled team of specialists.

Dal Pino describes her organization as a tight-knit network of employees and subcontractors who have worked together for decades.

“Some of our team members have been working with us for over 30 years,” she said. “And now we’re seeing multiple generations of our partners as younger tradespeople step into those roles.”

Although subcontractors are involved, Dal Pino notes that it’s typically the same crews working together on project after project.

“It’s the same skilled hands doing the work each time,” she said.

The result is a level of consistency that’s difficult to replicate.

“When you work together that long through thick and thin, you become a well-oiled machine.”

Projects That Push Creativity and Engineering

Some of Dal Pino’s most memorable projects combine technical challenges with imaginative design.

One recent project involved a multi-generational family that wanted a backyard capable of entertaining guests of all ages.

The final design included a Baja shelf for lounging, a dramatic slide and waterfall with a jump rock, and a layout that balanced recreation with relaxation.

But the most meaningful feature came from the homeowners themselves.

“As they visited different national parks over the years, they brought back stones from those trips and added them to the waterfall,” Dal Pino said. “Now when they look at it, they can point out where each stone came from.”

Another project required a complete rethinking of a narrow backyard constrained by an existing retaining wall.

By relocating the rock wall nearly 15 feet into the hillside, Dal Pino’s team was able to create enough space for a full pool, spa, and outdoor living environment.

The pool structure itself ultimately became part of the retaining system, integrating functional engineering with decorative tile, water features, fire elements, and lighting.

“It looked like a design element rather than something that was necessary for the yard to function,” she explained.

Recognition from the Industry

The company’s commitment to craftsmanship and thoughtful design has earned Dal Pino Quality Pools numerous accolades, including multiple honors in the PHTA Awards of Excellence.

Those awards highlight projects that combine aesthetics, engineering, and construction quality at the highest level.

For Dal Pino, however, recognition from peers often centers on something more practical.

“I think what I hear the most from builders and subcontractors is that we’re organized and easy to work with,” she said.

Detailed plans, clear communication, and collaborative scheduling help projects run smoothly even when the construction conditions are complex.

Looking Ahead to the Future

With significant residential development continuing throughout the Sacramento region and Sierra Foothills, Dal Pino believes the demand for high-end outdoor living environments will only increase.

“Homeowners aren’t just asking for a pool anymore,” she said. “They want a full outdoor living environment that matches the architecture of their home and supports their lifestyle.”

That includes high-end materials, integrated technology, energy-efficient equipment, and wellness-focused features that blur the line between indoor and outdoor living.

Looking toward 2026, Dal Pino Quality Pools is investing in expanded design tools, updated showroom materials, and continued education for its team.

“Clients want resorts in their backyard,” Dal Pino said. “And they’re willing to invest in the quality and customization to get that.”

For Dal Pino, the mission remains clear: honor the legacy her parents built while continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible in custom pool design.

And in the foothills of Northern California, that means building spaces that feel as timeless as the landscape surrounding them.

Ready to take a deeper dive?

Listen to our entire conversation with Alexa Dal Pino on the Pool Magazine Podcast.

The Florida pool industry entered 2026 with a significant regulatory victory that could have lasting implications for builders, contractors, and homeowners across the state. In a unanimous vote, the Florida Building Commission approved language for the 2026 Florida Building Code that formally allows the continued use of single wire copper loop bonding in swimming pool construction.

The change follows months of advocacy from the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA), which argued that removing the method would unnecessarily restrict construction options and significantly increase costs for consumers.

Dallas Thiesen, Chief Government Relations Officer for FSPA, said the decision represents an important moment for both the industry and Florida homeowners.

“FSPA had put forward a proposal that would codify the provisions for number eight single wire copper ring bonding in the Florida building code,” Thiesen explained. “Traditionally, the Florida building code has always deferred to the National Electric Code on our bonding and a lot of our electrical provisions. But this year our industry felt it was necessary to establish single wire loop bonding as an approved and effective method in the state of Florida.”

The commission ultimately agreed, adopting the proposal unanimously.

Understanding the Building Code Process

The approval came as part of Florida’s regular building code revision cycle. The state updates its building code every three years, with proposals reviewed first by technical committees before advancing to the Florida Building Commission for final approval.

During the most recent cycle, the commission reviewed and confirmed a wide range of proposals that will shape the 2026 Florida Building Code. Among them was FSPA’s effort to ensure single wire loop bonding remained a recognized construction method.

“What happened last month was the building commission was voting on confirming all the proposals that had been submitted for the 2026 version of the building code,” Thiesen said. “The technical committees had already reviewed the amendments and the commission ultimately agreed with their recommendations.”

The unanimous vote ensures that single wire loop bonding will remain explicitly permitted in Florida’s pool construction standards moving forward.

Why the Bonding Method Was at Risk

The push for codification was largely driven by recent changes at the national level.

Historically, Florida has relied heavily on the National Electrical Code (NEC) for standards related to electrical systems and bonding requirements. However, revisions to the NEC introduced uncertainty around the continued acceptance of single wire loop bonding.

According to Thiesen, the NEC removed the method as an approved bonding option in recent revisions.

“With the National Electric Code, we’ve traditionally deferred to their standards regarding bonding,” he said. “However, in a technical interim amendment to their 2023 code and in the upcoming 2026 NEC code, they eliminated single wire loop bonding as an approved bonding method.”

FSPA and other industry stakeholders believed that decision was based on insufficient evidence and could negatively impact Florida builders and homeowners.

“We believed this was based on not very good evidence,” Thiesen said. “So the industry went out and studied the issue.”

Data That Helped Make the Case

One of the key factors behind the commission’s decision was research conducted by the Pool Industry Council examining bonding methods and voltage mitigation.

The study found that both single wire loop bonding and grid bonding effectively mitigate voltage gradients around swimming pools.

“We found that single wire loop bonding and grid bonding are both effective at mitigating voltage gradients,” Thiesen said.

FSPA also presented federal safety data to reinforce its position.

“From 2009 to 2025 there were 74 swimming pool and spa shock incidents reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” Thiesen noted. “Not a single one of them was related to failure of a single wire bond.”

That evidence helped demonstrate that the long-standing method remained a safe and viable construction practice.

A Method With a Long Track Record

Single wire loop bonding has been part of Florida’s pool construction standards for decades. While it has been formally codified in the state building code for more than 20 years, the method itself has been used even longer.

Over that time, Thiesen says it has consistently proven effective.

“It’s been codified for over 20 years in Florida, and it’s been used longer than that,” he said. “Time and time again it has been demonstrated that it effectively protects against stray voltage gradients.”

Those gradients can occur when electrical faults create differences in voltage around a pool deck, potentially causing shocks to swimmers or individuals standing near the pool.

Bonding systems are designed to equalize electrical potential across metal components and surrounding surfaces to prevent those hazards.

Cost Implications for Builders and Homeowners

Beyond safety, one of the most significant concerns for FSPA was the financial impact that eliminating the bonding method could have created.

Without single wire loop bonding as an option, builders and homeowners would likely have been forced into more complex and expensive grid bonding systems.

“The primary alternative would have been grid bonding,” Thiesen explained. “That means taking a single copper wire and adding cross strands to create a full grid.”

That approach requires significantly more material and labor.

“You’re increasing the amount of copper in the ground, which raises the material cost,” he said. “And it’s much more difficult to install, which increases labor costs.”

For new construction, those added costs could have been noticeable. For renovation projects, the impact could have been even greater.

Florida building codes require bonding systems to be brought up to current standards during certain renovation projects, including deck replacements.

“If you’re renovating a pool deck and you had to switch to a grid system, the entire deck could have to come out so the new bonding grid could be installed,” Thiesen said. “That could add 30 to 40 percent to the cost of the renovation.”

For many homeowners, that type of increase could put pool upgrades or repairs out of reach.

Preventing Confusion Across Jurisdictions

Another major benefit of the code update is consistency.

Florida has hundreds of local jurisdictions responsible for interpreting and enforcing building codes. Without clear language in the state code, interpretations can vary widely.

“I have 460 jurisdictions in the state of Florida,” Thiesen said. “If you leave room for interpretation, you could end up with 460 versions of the building code.”

By explicitly codifying the bonding method in the Florida Building Code, regulators eliminated that ambiguity.

“It’s always better to have the standard clearly written so everyone can see it,” he said.

Florida Setting Its Own Standards

The decision also reflects a broader philosophy about how Florida approaches building regulations.

While national codes often serve as the foundation for many construction standards, Thiesen emphasized that Florida must maintain the ability to adapt those standards to its own conditions and industry needs.

“Want the standards to be the Florida standard,” he said. “Even though we follow the NEC for most electrical requirements, there are times when the state has to decide what’s right for Florida.”

In this case, the state concluded that maintaining the bonding method made sense both from a safety and economic standpoint.

What It Means for the Pool Industry

For contractors, engineers, and pool builders across Florida, the decision preserves flexibility in how pools can be designed and constructed.

“It’s about having options,” Thiesen said. “Each pool is unique and each property is unique. The contractor, the engineer, and the homeowner should be able to decide which method is best for that project.”

The ruling also reinforces the role of FSPA as an advocate for the industry.

“I think this puts us squarely at the forefront,” Thiesen said. “We want safe construction methods, but we also want methods that make sense and keep pools accessible to consumers.”

With residential pool costs already rising due to inflation and increasing regulatory requirements, maintaining construction flexibility is critical for keeping backyard pools attainable.

“Our product has always been a very accessible luxury,” Thiesen said. “We want to keep it that way.”

Looking Ahead

While the Florida Building Commission vote represents a major milestone, Thiesen says the work of advocating for the industry continues.

Florida’s legislative session brings new proposals and policy discussions every year, many of which can impact how pools are built, maintained, and regulated.

For Thiesen and the FSPA, continued industry participation will be key.

“FSPA is working for you,” he said. “We are out there advocating for the industry and advancing the industry.”

He encouraged pool professionals across Florida to get involved and help ensure the industry’s voice remains strong in future regulatory decisions.

“We want your input. We want your help,” Thiesen said. “There are a lot of issues on the table, and we want every pool professional in Florida to have their voice heard.”