NEED TO KNOW
In February 2026, Brooke Woods and her family took on the challenge of building their own pool, saving thousands by doing it themselves
But when they were quoted $2,500 to fill it, Woods refused to back down and sought a more affordable solution
Using nothing but two hoses and a lot of patience, the 32-year-old from Mount Dora, Fla., filled the pool herself, finishing the project on her own terms
Building a backyard pool is often seen as a luxury project — one that typically comes with a hefty price tag and a lengthy timeline. But for one determined mother, taking control of the process wasn’t just about saving money; it was about doing things on her own terms.
From the first shovel in the ground to the final drop of water, Brooke Woods and her family approached the project with a hands-on mindset. What they didn’t expect, though, was that filling the pool might cost nearly as much as some of the work itself.
Instead of accepting that price, the 32-year-old found a solution that was equal parts practical and a little unconventional.
According to Woods, from the time they began digging in February 2026 to when water finally started flowing in April, the entire process took only about two months — right on time for summer.
The pool, however, was no small backyard addition. It spans 36 feet by 23 feet, holds 16,500 gallons of water, and ranges in depth from 3 to 6 feet. While projects of that size often stretch across seasons, hers came together quickly.
Brooke Woods’ pool under construction.
Credit: brookeewoods/Tiktok
“We opted to ‘build it ourselves’ rather than go with a pool contractor,” Woods tells PEOPLE exclusively. “We took this route because after receiving quotes from pool contractors, we knew we could save time and money.”
With her husband’s construction background, they were able to manage permitting, coordinate subcontractors and even handle some of the labor themselves. “We are estimating around a 20% savings by taking this route,” she says.
Brooke Woods’ pool being filled.
Credit: brookeewoods/Tiktok
But just as the finish line came into view, one last expense — filling up the pool — threatened to undercut those savings.
“We contacted a few water truck companies and the quotes were around $2,500,” Woods reveals.
After everything they had done to keep costs down, it just didn’t feel like the right move. The answer, however, came from their neighbor.
“[They] had just put in a pool around the same size, so we chatted with them to see what their water bill was after they filled their pool [themselves],” Woods recalls. “They told us it was $300, so we knew it was more cost-effective to fill it on our own.”
Brooke Woods’ finished and filled pool.
Credit: brookeewoods/Tiktok
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So instead of hiring a truck, Woods notified the city’s water department, turned on two hoses, and committed to doing it herself. It took her approximately 36 hours to fill up her pool. Woods posted a video of the process on TikTok, and it went viral.
And although she was aware that hiring a truck could have been easier, as mentioned by dozens of commenters, Woods says she would “absolutely” do the “same thing over again” if she had to. “It was a fun experience to watch,” she tells PEOPLE.
Read the original article on People