Pool Houses & Guest Houses · Pittsburgh & Western PA
Pool Houses, Guest Houses & Detached Garages
We design and build pool houses, guest houses, barns and detached garages that look like they were always part of your property. Every building is planned around how you will use it and finished with custom carpentry from our own crew.
Built to Match
A pool house builder in Pittsburgh who designs and builds it all
A pool house gives swimmers a place to change, rinse off and grab a drink without tracking water through your home. A guest house gives visitors or family their own space a few steps away. Both work best when they are designed to match the brick, siding, roof lines and trim of the main house.
Our pool house design and construction and guesthouse design and construction services cover everything from the first sketch to the final inspection. As a design-build contractor, we handle the drawings, permits, utilities and construction with one team and one contract.
- ✓ Pool houses, cabanas and poolside pavilions
- ✓ Guest houses and in-law suites
- ✓ Barns and detached garages
- ✓ Custom carpentry and trim done in-house
The Process
How an accessory building comes together
A simple garage moves faster than a guest house with a kitchen and bath, so we set a realistic schedule with your estimate.
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1
Site Visit & Design
We walk the yard, talk through how you will use the building and draw a plan that fits the property.
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2
Zoning & Permits
We confirm setbacks and lot coverage with your township and prepare the drawings needed for permits.
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3
Foundation & Utilities
Site work, footings or slab, and the trenching for power, water and sewer lines the building needs.
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4
Build & Finish
Framing, roofing, siding, mechanicals and interior finishes, then a final walkthrough with you.
Pool House vs. Guest House
Which backyard building fits your plans?
A pool house supports a day at the pool. A guest house is built for people to stay overnight. Many homeowners start with a pool house and plan it so it can serve guests later. Here is how the two compare.
| Pool House | Guest House | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Changing, storage and poolside entertaining | Overnight stays for guests or family |
| Bathroom | Half bath or outdoor shower is common | Full bathroom with a shower |
| Kitchen | Bar, fridge or outdoor kitchen | Kitchenette or full kitchen where zoning allows |
| Heating & insulation | Optional, depending on how you use it | Required for year-round comfort |
| Zoning review | Usually reviewed as an accessory structure | May be reviewed as a dwelling unit |
| Flexibility | Can be planned to convert to guest use later | Doubles as an office, gym or in-law suite |
Planning Ahead
What to plan before you build an accessory building
In Pennsylvania, the rules for pool houses, guest houses and garages are set by each township or borough, not the state. Size, height, distance from property lines and what you put inside all affect which permits you need.
Good pool house design in Pittsburgh starts with these questions, so the building fits the lot, passes review and works the way you expect from day one.
Permits & setbacks
Township rules on size, height, lot coverage and distance from property lines.
Utilities
Power, water and sewer or septic lines for a bathroom, kitchen or bar.
Matching the home
Brick, siding, roofing and trim chosen to tie into the main house.
How you will use it
Cabana, guest suite, workshop, barn or garage, each planned differently.
Barns & Garages
Detached garages and barns built like the rest of your home
A detached garage keeps fumes, noise and workshop dust away from your living space, and it can be sized for tall doors, extra bays, a boat or a second-floor room. As a detached garage builder in the Pittsburgh area, we design each one to suit the lot and the house.
Barns give you room for equipment, storage, hobbies or animals, with the timber details and siding you want. A straightforward garage typically takes a few weeks of construction once permits are in hand, while larger or finished buildings take longer.
- ✓ One, two and three-bay detached garages
- ✓ Bonus rooms and guest suites above the garage
- ✓ Barns for storage, equipment and hobbies
- ✓ Electric, heat and water added as needed
Our Work
Pool houses and backyard buildings we have built
Related Services
Finish the whole backyard with one team
Outdoor Living & Outdoor Kitchens
Patios, pavilions and outdoor kitchens beside your pool.
Learn more →
Questions
Pool house & guest house FAQs
Is a pool house worth it?
A pool house is worth it if you entertain often, want to keep wet feet and chlorine out of the main house, or need a dry place to store pool equipment and chemicals. Built well and matched to the home, it also adds appeal for future buyers. A pool house builder in Pittsburgh who knows local zoning can help you size it for how often you will really use it.
Can you put a bathroom in a pool house?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular features. A half bath or a full bath with a shower keeps swimmers out of the main house. It does mean running water and sewer or septic lines to the building and pulling plumbing permits, which we plan into the design from the start.
What do people put in a pool house?
Most pool houses include a changing area, a bathroom, hooks and storage for towels, and a closet for pool equipment and chemicals. Many add a bar, fridge or small kitchen, comfortable seating and a TV. Some are also set up to work as a home gym, office or guest room.
Can someone live in a pool house?
Yes, if it is permitted and built to code as a livable space. That usually means a full bathroom, heating and cooling, insulation and a kitchen or kitchenette, plus approval from your township. If you think you may want overnight guests later, we can plan for it now.
Do you need a permit for a pool house in Pennsylvania?
In most cases, yes. Pennsylvania leaves these rules to each township or borough, which typically require a zoning permit for setbacks, height and lot coverage, and a building permit above a certain size. Electrical, plumbing or mechanical work adds its own permits, and we handle that paperwork for you.
Can a guest house have a kitchen in Pennsylvania?
It depends on your municipality. Some townships allow a full kitchen in a guest house, while others limit it to a kitchenette with a sink, small fridge and microwave so the building is not treated as a second home. We check your local zoning before we design the space.
How long does it take to build a detached garage?
A standard detached garage typically takes a couple of months from signing to final inspection, including permits, foundation work and construction. Larger garages, barns, or buildings with finished rooms, heat and plumbing take longer. We give you a realistic schedule with your estimate.
How much does a pool house cost?
Every pool house is quoted after we visit the site and review the scope with you. Contact us to schedule a consultation and we’ll give you a written estimate.
Where We Build
Pool houses and guest houses across Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
Based in New Castle, we build pool houses, guest houses, barns and detached garages anywhere within about 90 minutes of our shop, covering the entire Pittsburgh area and the communities around it.
Premier Custom Builders
4471A Mitchell Road, New Castle, PA 16105
724-944-0920 · By appointment
PA HIC #028559