Turning Heads with Vinyl

When Scott Savage launched Savage Pools & Patios in 2020, his goal wasn’t to build the most pools — it was to build the right ones. Based in Central Ohio, Savage’s company specializes in designing and installing outdoor living environments, tackling about 30 projects each year. While the company offers standard packages, the real showcase lies in projects that push the boundaries of backyard design.

One recent build — nicknamed “The Mine Shaft” by the team — demonstrates just how far Savage Pools & Patios is willing to go to exceed a client’s expectations, even with a vinyl-liner pool. With over 200 tons of Tennessee-sourced boulders, a sloped equipment structure designed to mimic a mine entrance and oversized dive rocks cantilevered over the water, the pool takes on a rugged, adventure-park aesthetic that defies what most imagine when they hear “vinyl liner.”

Vinyl-liner pools are often considered a more affordable option, but Savage explains that in this situation, the decision wasn’t about cutting costs. The client had their sights set on a very large pool, and using vinyl made it possible to maximize the size within the scope of the project.

While fiberglass is Savage’s preferred pool medium due to its speed and consistency, it can’t match vinyl’s flexibility in terms of dimensions. Gunite was also on the table, but the client opted to skip the additional cost and longer install time. “He wanted something to blow his socks off,” Savage says. “He told me, ‘I want this backyard to be a wow factor. I want the pool to be large. We want lots of space, and I want all the bells and whistles.’ ”

The build includes more than just the pool, which measures 24 feet by 50 feet and is nine feet deep. The entire backyard is a themed experience: five fire features, four waterfalls, three LED Colorvision Bubblers, five laminar jets, a tanning ledge, a multilevel travertine patio, two outdoor structures (including a 20-foot-by-20-foot Timber Frame pavilion), a custom gas firepit, integrated lighting and a dual outdoor audio system.

The standout feature may be the 12-foot-long dive rocks that jut over the water, engineered with calculated counterweights to ensure stability and safety. “It took some ingenuity because you need the proper footings for these large boulders to sit on and not move with freeze-thaw cycles,” Savage says. “They also need the proper weight on the backside to walk out to the tip of the stone and feel like it’s not going to fall over.”

Savage designed the project himself, as he does with all his work, using his background in both business and design. He entered the landscaping industry in 2009 after a stint in corporate sales, inspired by watching Amish craftsmen install a patio at his home, a project he designed but did not have the expertise to build. 

“I was intrigued by that process and asked if I could help the last couple of days,” he says. “It was cool how they could change this backyard from nothing to something.”

He started sketching backyard designs by hand, later moving to software as his skill set and client base grew. When he launched his company, he made full outdoor transformations his focus.

“We’ve niched ourselves in the market by offering turnkey solutions,” Savage says. “We’re able to do the full project from start to finish so the customer doesn’t have to hire multiple subcontractors to complete different parts of the job.”

The Mine Shaft project officially began construction in June 2023 and was nearly complete by the fall of that year. Final touches resumed in April 2024, avoiding Ohio’s muddy, frozen winter months.

The result is a one-of-a-kind outdoor environment that challenges assumptions about what a vinyl-liner pool can be. And while Savage doesn’t see a surge of clients requesting this level of design for vinyl pools, the project demonstrates that with the right vision and expertise, even traditionally budget-friendly pool types can be elevated to luxury status.

Beyond The Mine Shaft, Savage Pools & Patios continues to explore the boundaries of backyard design. One standout example is a natural pool project featuring biological filtration, wetland plantings and no chemicals — a concept that’s rare in the Midwest and typically more popular in Europe. “That was a completely different pool than we’ve ever done,” Savage says. “Not something you see every day in Ohio.”

Across all projects, Savage prioritizes thoughtful equipment selection, often incorporating UV sanitization and oversized filters to reduce chemical demand and enhance water clarity. But the focus extends beyond aesthetics — the company continuously refines construction methods with an eye toward long-term performance and lasting functionality. “Clients get to see this vision come to life in their backyard,” Savage says. “The final product is always worth the wait.”