What are the True Costs of Building and Owning an In-ground Swimming Pool?
Posted: Saturday, May 27, 2006
by Bill Cash
Have you ever wondered how much it would cost to install a beautiful in-ground pool in your backyard? Then once you have the pool, what would be your on-going costs to keep it maintained?
This article will discuss, and show, the true costs associated with building and maintaining an in-ground pool. Due to the many details being discussed, the article is divided up into 4 parts. Part 1 is below. The other 3 parts can be found at the web address given below.
GENERAL POOL COSTS
The cost of installing a new in-ground swimming pool is going to vary widely. You could have a decent size pool installed for as little as $10-12,000, or one that could reach towards 6 figures and upwards, depending on whether you want a gold-plated pool or not. Actually, I don't think gold-plated pools exist but you get the idea about the expense. We obviously we will focus on the lower end.
TYPES OF POOLS
Now on to the details, the first factor that will determine pool cost is the type of pool. Your choice will probably fall into one of the three following types:
1.) steel-walled, vinyl lined pool
2.) fiberglass pool
3.) cement (or unite) pool.
OTHER POOL FACTORS TO CONSIDER
The second factor is the size and shape. It should be obvious that the larger pools are going to cost more, but fancy shapes will also be expensive. You could potentially get an 18 ft x 36 ft rectangle for a cost similar to that of a 16 ft x 32 ft kidney shaped pool. You get the idea.
From here on, we'll deal exclusively with the cost of a vinyl lined pool, but please keep in mind, that fiberglass and gunite pools should be competitively priced depending on where you live. In fact, in some markets, there are so many pool builders that the gunite pools are cheaper than the vinyl ones.
Furthermore, some environments require a gunite pool. If all this is true, then why are we talking about a vinyl pool? Well, simply because the company I worked for only installed vinyl pools, and the pool that was installed at my home is a vinyl pool. I think we'll all be better off if I go with what I know best.
THE MAJOR COST OF POOL INSTALLATION
The first thing to remember is that one of the major costs of building a pool is labor. In fact, I heard once that materials for gunite pools are actually cheaper than vinyl-lined pools because the only material is basically cement mixture, rebar and piping. But this type of pool is quite labor intensive. On the other hand, the kit for a vinyl pool includes things that cost a bit more, like the steel walls, framing, steps and the vinyl liner, but many pool builders prefer to install these vinyl pools because they are much quicker and easier to install.
For more information on the actual costs associated with buying, installing, filling, and maintaining a new pool, please see the web site listed below. This article will end with your approximate total monthly outlay to own a pool.
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To read the rest of this article on the true costs of installing, purchasing and maintaining a new in-ground pool, please visit http://www.keepyourpoolclean.com/Cost_Pool_2.html
Michael Dinger has worked in the Pool industry and readily shares his experience on his web site www.keepyourpoolclean.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Bruce, this is an excellent and to the point article. We had our (vinyl lined) pool installed about four years ago and even though the expense was up there--but not out of your ballpark--we are still loving it. Actually, we had it put in more for the grandkids than ourselves. Although, water excercise is supposedly very good for someone my age and I do enjoy swimming and watching the grandkids play. We had the curving slide as well as a diving board put in and the kids love it. We have what is called a "Grecian T" which was the largest non-commercial pool we could get and to save on fencing, we used treated lattice--which turned out very nice indeed. We spend somewhere around $25,000 and had all the work done by contractors. We are "having our pool and loving it, too"! Have a great day. SEG
Thank you for sharing your story and I do hope things work out to your expectations forever.just to let you know, it is cement or Gunite, not unitewow. A little harsh don't you think?seriously, i'm sure it was just a typo!
POOLS ARE GREAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE MEANS BY WHICH TO KEEP THEM PROPERLY MAINTAINED. FOR ANYONE WHO IS A DO IT YOURSELF-ER IT CAN BE A ROYAL PAIN IN THE #$%#. I PURCHASED A HOUSE WITH AN 18x36 INGROUND 1/2 ABOVE GROUND AND I TELL PEOPLE THAT I DESPISE THAT POOLS ARE AWESOME! YOU SHOULD GET ONE ASAP! -yours truely "i'd rather live by the beach" mahopac n.y.
we had an inground swimming pool and it was wonderful. I think there are a lot of costs that go along with owning an above ground pool or a in ground pool.
inground pools are better IMO..they may cost more but they last longer...way longer than the above ground...nice article...
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