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If you’re considering purchasing a new swimming pool, then you already know it’s going to be a costly investment. Whether you’re looking for a standard swimming pool for personal use or a larger model to accommodate family and friends, it’s important to keep in mind the factors that influence the total cost.
Cost of Your Swimming Pool
The type of pool you’re looking for, as well as location and materials will contribute to the price you’ll ultimately pay. In addition, pools require secondary costs for maintenance and accessories that should also be factored into your budget.
Above ground versus In-ground
This is the biggest factor affecting the cost of your pool. In-ground pools cost a lot more than above ground options because the latter don’t require any excavation, which constitutes a significant fraction of the total pool installation. Additionally, the materials and equipment needed for above ground pools are considerably cheaper than those of in-ground pools. Overall, an above ground pool will cost only one-third the cost of installing an in-ground pool.
Location Cost
One of the most overlooked factors in cost is the location of your home. Your location determines energy costs, the size of equipment needed to complete the project, and the permits required. It can be costly and time-consuming to obtain the proper permits. Permits costs fluctuate according to the city they’re being granted by, but they are necessary and often require surveys and studies to be performed.
Soil conditions
The type of soil in your site is a key factor in determining the overall cost. Usually, a soil test is completed before other equipment are transported to the site.
You don’t want to discover that the soil is unsuitable or presence of groundwater after a hole is dug in the yard. Having to change the location of your pool, or spending more money to make the ground suitable for a pool, can add a lot to the estimated price of the project. Spending a few hundred dollars for soil test can save you thousands in the total cost of the project.
Cost of Materials Used
Fiberglass is relatively inexpensive compared to concrete or vinyl. A fiberglass liner is on the lower side of the scale, whereas vinyl sits in the middle. Concrete pools will average between a mid-to-high range, but are a better investment than fiberglass in terms of maintenance and longevity.
You may also need to consider the options for coping or decking material. The pool coping refers to the material covering the top of the pool structure, above the tile line, and tend to cantilever into the pool slightly. Typical coping materials include concrete, stamped concrete, coloured concrete, tile, stone, pavers, and wood.
The decking material options are the same as for coping. The style and amount of decking around your pool is a reflection of the way you intend to use that space. You need a bigger decking to entertain guests at the pool sides.
Pool Size and Depth
The size of your pool can be a major factor in price. Deeper pools require more material and labour due to the additional digging. This cost is often one of the biggest decisions to consider, as the larger and deeper the pool is, the more of an investment it becomes, regardless of materials being used.
Pool Accessories
Once your pool is constructed, you’ll need to maintain it all year long. This will require the cost of essential accessories.
A boundary to enclose the pool is a necessity if you have young children. An unenclosed pool can open you up to accidents and liability issues.
If you want to add a diving board to your pool, you’ll need to consider the cost. This can vary depending on product and height. Higher diving boards require deeper pools, which can raise costs.
A proper lighting system for your pool is essential. In-ground swimming pools have a large number of options when it comes to light setups. This is a significant part of your building costs if you plan to be using the pool at night.
Quality of construction – craftsmanship
The quality of pool construction is typically twofold: the materials used and level of craftsmanship. Depending on the proficiency of the company handling your project, the end result could finish sooner, look better, function better, last longer, and possibly cost more because of the higher cost of labour.
Pool maintenance costs
If your pool is properly installed using quality materials, you won’t have to worry about maintenance until much later. But like many other home additions, your pool will need some maintenance work in the form of cleaning, debris removal, pH balance testing, vacuuming, skimming, cleaning filters, leak detection, monitoring water levels, heater maintenance, winterising, shocking the pool, and reopening.
Pool repair costs As with maintenance, your pool will need certain repairs down the line. Although there is no need to start preparing for all repair costs, the research for your pool installation would be incomplete without considering the typical pool repair costs, which include repair for in-ground swimming pool liner; new liner; pool heater repair; and pool heater replacement.
Taking these factors into consideration will help you make the best decision in your new purchase. Having a comprehensive assessment that includes all of these factors will make your pool purchase much easier to manage. For more information, contact the Solda team today.
