Continental Ranch was the first master-planned community in Marana. According to Inside Tucson Business, the Town annexed 2,100 acres for it in 1987, and homebuilding picked up after the land was sold to a new developer in 1992. The community association describes Continental Ranch as sitting in the heart of Marana at the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, with two community pool facilities, parks and ball fields. To the east, the lower Santa Cruz River runs past the neighborhood.
That history shapes pool projects here. A pool built with a house in the 1990s has been through decades of Tucson summers, and its finish, tile and deck show it. Yards without a pool have mature trees, established landscaping and walls that were built long before anyone planned a dig.
Is your pool ready for a remodel?
Older pools in this area often show the same set of signs. None of them means the pool has to go, but together they tell you it is time to plan:
- Rough, stained or etched plaster. Original plaster wears thin and can scratch feet. We replace it with StoneScapes Mini Pebble, a more durable finish.
- Faded or scaled waterline tile. Tucson-area water is hard, with a high calcium and magnesium content, and the waterline shows it first. New tile changes the look of a pool more than almost anything else.
- Cracked or loose coping. Coping takes the most sun and foot traffic. Replacing it is a natural pairing with new tile.
- A tired or uneven deck. We remove old concrete and install travertine or pavers, which stay cooler underfoot. See our pool decks.
- A layout that no longer fits. Families change. A drained pool can get a tanning ledge, new entry steps, a raised spa or a water feature wall.
We handle the full remodel with our own crew: demolition, masonry, tile, coping, plaster coordination and decks, so you are not hiring three companies and hoping they line up. Read our resurfacing and remodel guide, and see our pool remodeling and resurfacing pages.
Adding a first pool to an established yard
A new pool in Continental Ranch is a different job from one on a brand-new lot. The yard has history.
Mature trees. Roots, leaf drop and shade all matter. We look at which trees stay and plan the pool and equipment so roots and litter cause fewer problems later.
Existing walls and access. Getting an excavator into an older backyard often means opening a section of block wall. The Town of Marana’s pool checklist requires that a screen wall removed for access be rebuilt to match its original design, texture, color and height. Access across a neighbor’s lot or HOA common area needs a written approval letter. We plan this before you sign, and we rebuild walls with our own block wall crew.
Older utilities. Electrical panels in older homes may need an upgrade to support pool equipment. We check the panel at the site visit so it is in the quote, not a surprise.
The barrier. Every pool barrier we build is at least 5 feet, following A.R.S. 36-1681. In an older home, doors and windows that open onto the pool area need a plan as well. Our barrier rules guide explains the basics.
Between the Tucson Mountains and the Santa Cruz River
Continental Ranch lies between the Tucson Mountain foothills and the Santa Cruz River. Along Coachline Boulevard, the Town’s 104-acre El Rio Preserve works as a collecting basin for runoff from the mountain slopes and overflow from the Santa Cruz River. That tells you which way monsoon water moves through this part of Marana.
In a backyard, the lesson is simple: know where your water goes now, and do not put the pool in its way. We grade new and replacement decks so runoff moves away from the pool and the house, and we keep equipment pads out of low spots. If your lot borders a wash, the Town can tell you whether a floodplain or erosion hazard setback applies.
Working with the Continental Ranch Community Association
The Continental Ranch Community Association runs an Architectural Review Committee and posts its ARC application and design guidelines online. We cannot speak for what the committee will require, so start by reading the current guidelines. Then we put together what most committees ask to see: a site plan with distances, the 3D design, finishes and colors, wall heights and equipment location. Our HOA pool approval guide walks through the process.
After association approval, we pull the Town of Marana permit and schedule the inspections. For town-wide details, including water providers, see our Marana pool builder page.
About Meraki
Meraki Pools AZ is a family-owned builder with an in-house crew and our own excavation equipment. We build concrete (shotcrete) pools only, design in 3D with a VR walkthrough, and include a written warranty schedule in every contract. AZ ROC #352797 (KA-5 Dual Swimming Pool Contractor) and #342505 (CR-21).
Getting started in Continental Ranch
- Decide whether you are remodeling an existing pool or adding a new one. If you are not sure, we can price both.
- Download the CRCA’s ARC application and design guidelines.
- Book a site visit. For remodels, we inspect the finish, tile, coping, deck and equipment. For new pools, we check access, trees, walls and the electrical panel.
- Review your 3D design and line-item quote. Most new custom pools we build run about $40,000 to $120,000 or more; see our pool cost guide.
Call (520) 342-8335 or request a free estimate.
Sources
- Inside Tucson Business: Continental Ranch’s rocky past led to stable future: first master-planned community in Marana; 2,100 acres annexed in 1987; land sold to a new developer in 1992.
- Continental Ranch Community Association: located in Marana at the foothills of the Tucson Mountains; two pool facilities; Architectural Review Committee, ARC application and design guidelines.
- Town of Marana: El Rio Preserve: 104 acres on Coachline Boulevard; collecting basin for mountain runoff and Santa Cruz River overflow.
- Town of Marana: Pool and Spa Application Checklist (PDF): wall rebuild and access rules; related work on the application.
- Town of Marana: Floodplain Management: floodplains and erosion hazard setback areas.
- Tucson Water: Hard Water: hard water has a high calcium and magnesium content and leaves calcium deposits.
