How Inground Pools Are Built

How To Build A Swimming Pool

This article was co-authored by Rob Litman. Rob Litman is a Landscaper, General Contractor, and the CEO of Vitoli Inc., a landscaping, hardscaping, ecoscaping, and swimming pool design company in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience in construction, Rob specializes in energy-efficient and drought-tolerant landscaping. He holds General Building Contractor and Registered Pool/Spa Contractor Licenses. In 2007, Rob won House of the Year in Gardena, California.There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 17 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 665,739 times.

Room For A Pool: The True Cost Of The Backyard Of Your Dreams

Swimmable symbol of the suburban “good life.”

Bikini Pools and Spas

Of all the seemingly innocuous, misleading phrases that real estate agents sprinkle into their listings copy, room for a pool is the one that always sends me into a spiral. It implies that luxurious pool house living is just a snap of the fingers away for whoever buys this home. Sometimes, the language goes even further and makes it seem like its actually a benefit that there is no pool, because then the homebuyer can design their own… Hooray!

This is what your yard will look like in January if you want a pool ready by May.

RAD and AquaTerra Outdoors

Sure, if youre going to get a pool, you want it designed to your specifications. However, the distance between room for a pool reality and inground pool ready for swimming is six figures far. And even if the process goes, shall we say, swimmingly, it still takes months from the moment of initial inspiration to the time you finally dive in. Since were hitting the summer streak when everyones ready to max out a credit card for easy pool access, lets look at how this particular home improvement process really works.

The Real Cost

Googles top results are going to lead you astray here. An inground pool is not $10,000 or even $20,000 as a starting point, let alone an average cost.

So, what about all those enticing search engine results, which show average cost of $10,000 or $20,000?

Thats just a way to get the salesmans foot in the door.

Concrete Or Gunite Pools

Concrete is one of the most popular materials for backyard pools. Other names for this material are gunite or shotcrete, which are application methods. The difference between them is the technique for mixing and then applying the concrete to the pool.

Of all three types of pools, concrete is the most durable and lasts longer than other materials. Its also more customizable due to concretes malleability. You can craft your pool in virtually any shape and size, as well as add finishes like colored plaster, quartz, and smooth glass beads.

The biggest drawback of a concrete pool is that theyre more expensive than other types. Both the level of customization and the difficulty of installation contribute to this higher cost. You can cut back on the costs by choosing less expensive finishes or decreasing the size of the pool, but it can still take from weeks to months to build the pool.

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Total Time To Build A Pool: 8 To 12 Weeks On Average

After designing, acquiring permits, excavating, installing the shell or gunite, and finishing with a , you can finally enjoy your backyard oasis! While two or three months can seem like a long time, its a blink of the eye in comparison to the years of fun that will be had in your new pool.

And although the pool building process can be an extended one, getting access to financing is super easy! Visit our Pool Financing page for more info on how you can get a special low APR through our Swimmingpool.com discount:

Disadvantages Of Concrete Pools

Far and away, the biggest drawback to a concrete pool is the high maintenance required to keep these pool pretty, clear, and clean. Not only does a concrete pool require more chemicals and brushing during the season, but it also goes through an expensive resurface on average every 8-15 years.

Another disadvantage of a concrete pool is its roughness of surface. Not only does this roughness lead to acid washing and easy algae growth, but also it can be very hard on childrens feet, and cause them to bleed after a few hours of playing in the pool.

Concrete pools also traditionally take a long time to build. This can be frustrating for homeowners as they have a constant construction zone in their yard for on average 3 months.

Concrete pools are not ideally suited for salt chlorination. Although salt chlorinators can be installed on concrete pools a concrete pool with require more maintenance and will require resurfacing earlier than if traditional water sanitizing was in place. Given the many amazing benefits of salt chlorination this is a disadvantage for concrete pools.

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Advantages Of Concrete Pools

The main advantage of a concrete pool is the fact that it can be designed and customized to fit any size, shape, or depth youd like. From a visual standpoint, a concrete pool can look very nice because of these customizable features.

Concrete pools add value to the property and are an asset when the owner looks to sell the home.

Concrete Pool Basics: Pros Cons And How Theyre Made

A pool is a pool is a pool, right?

Actually, not so much.

When youre planning such a big investment, you need to look into the three primary pool typesconcrete, vinyl liner, and fiberglassto understand the differences.

River Pools manufactures and sells only fiberglass pools, but we know you need all the information on all the pool types in order to make an educated decision on whats best for your needs.

For some people, concrete is the way to go.

Whether youre looking up this information for the first time or simply need a refresher, here are some of the basics on concrete pools:

• Components

Let’s start by explaining what a concrete pool is in more detail.

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How Much Does An Underground Pool Liner Cost

Pool liners come in a range of thicknesses, and this affects the price you will pay. For example, a 28/20 mil 14 by 28 pool liner will average $600 while a thicker 28/28 20 by 40 pool liner will average $1,700. If you are replacing an existing pool liner with a new one, the labor costs associated with draining the existing pool, removing the current liner, and replacing it with the new liner are around $2,500.

Finally There Are Concrete Pools

The final type of pool is the concrete pools. Sometimes they are commonly referred to as gunite or shotcrete pools. The difference between the two is how the concrete is mixed and applied to the pool. To learn more about gunite versus shotcrete please see the Seasonal World Blog that talks about the difference between gunite and shotcrete pools. There are almost no limitations with a concrete pool. They are thought of as the higher end type pools. They have an interior finish that can be a white plaster or marcite, or a colored plaster. They can have pebble finishes, quartz finishes, all the way up to smooth glass bead finishes. This creates a very unique looking product. Concrete pools may come with porcelain, ceramic, or glass tile bands around the entire pool. They are also unique in that they can be constructed with negative edges, perimeter overflows, as well as benches and bars built right into them.

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Sun Pattern Around A Pool

If you want more sun or shade, you’ll need to pay attention to how the sun tracks across the sky and how each tree impacts the space.

Remember that the sun takes an entirely different path in the winter vs. the summer.

Direct sunlight on the pool makes a tremendous difference with regards to water temperature.

If your pool will not get direct sun for the majority of the day, you may want to consider getting a pool heater.

Additional Considerations And Costs

• Beyond maintenance costs, you also have several other associated costs to run a pool. This includes chemicals that cost between $70 and $700 per season and electricity costs, which run around $300 per year.
• If you do not use your pool year-round, you may have additional costs for opening and closing each year. Both services cost between $200 and $300 each year.
• Pools do not typically have a lot of resale value. Any resale they may have is dependent on the area. Pools can be considered a bonus by some buyers, but they can be a detriment for many.
• If you need to finance the cost of your pool, it is typical to get loans between 2 and 10 years, depending on your credit and the project cost.
• Adding a pool to your property raises your insurance premiums by between $50 and $75 per year.
• You must add water to your pool consistently. If you pay for public water, you have increased water bills when you need to top off your pool. If you have a well, you may only see a slight uptick in your electrical bill for the added well pump usage.

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How Do They Build An Inground Swimming Pool

On this page we will show you some actual construction photos from a few inground swimming pool installations. These photos cover steel wall pools, polymer wall pools, vinyl liner inground pools, and gunite pools.

Well give you a brief description of each photo to explain each stage of pool construction. This should give you a better idea of the construction process when buying a pool. Please note that the installation process for each type of pool is significantly different.

Lets discuss price: Below is a chart of rough prices for various sized inground pools. Please realize that these are only rough prices and that building costs do vary greatly from state to state and pricing also depends a lot on the specific features and options you decide to add to your pool.

Rough Average Base Prices for Inground Swimming Pools Across The USA

Phase 6 Plumbing & Equipment

Referred to as the Long Plumb of the total pool plumbing system is the network of pipes that carry the water to and from the pool. It is absolutely imperative that this part of the pool plumbing system be engineered correctly.

Taking into consideration every single component aspect from the swimming pool position, elevation, included water features, and the requirements for turn-over as according to the overall capacity of the pool and size of the pool pumps. A typical pool & spa combination will feature a network of piping that may exceed 12 total pipes in the main trench.

Our pool plumbing advantages:

• Supersede pool industry minimum plumbing standards
• Using less fittings to increase performance
• Minimum 2 or 2.5 inner diameter on all intake & return lines
• Supersede minimum VGBA bottom drain regulation standards

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Dry Autumn Grounds Also Reduce The Cost To Put In A Pool Near Richmond Hill

Excavation is one of the most challenging aspects of putting in an inground pool, as any of the top installation companies like AquaView Pools would tell you. It also makes it one of the most expensive parts of the project.

The dry autumn ground is a lot easier to work with which inevitably reduces the overall cost to put in a pool sometimes considerably. It may take a little bit longer for your concrete to cure in the colder weather, but since you wont likely be using your pool until next summer after its been built that shouldnt be a problem.

Early Negotiations Can Lower Your Swimming Pool Construction Cost in Richmond Hill

As mentioned previously, swimming pool installation companies in the Richmond Hill Area are starting to slow down in the Autumn months.

This can give you, the customer, some room to negotiate costs when signing a contract for swimming pool construction, helping you to save money, time and competing with other homeowners during the busiest times .

Make sure you book your pool installation service early so you can save on costs!

The 4 Different Types Of Inground Pools

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The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

If you want something cleaner and more reliable than a rock-and-mud swimming hole in your backyard and more permanent than an above-ground pool, there are four main types of in-ground pools. While wood is a possibility, the cost of building one that would not deteriorate in a few years narrows the choices down to the most popular and efficient. Keep in mind that there are variations of the main types, allowing you more options.

Here’s what you need to know about the four types of in-ground pools.

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Request An Estimated Final Cost To Build A Pool On Your Richmond Hill Property

While looking to save on pool costs in the Richmond Hill area, you want to make sure you are not compromising working with a top-tier pool installation company.

With the professionals at AquaView Pools Inc., rest assured that they will be the pool installation company you will be able to rely on with your home and your money.

To learn more on how, contact AquaView Pools today for more information!

Aquaview Pools

Inground Pool Sizes & Prices

The average swimming pool size is 14 by 28, and 6.5 feet deep but some homeowners have either a higher budget or less space for an average size pool. For head-first diving, a depth of at least 9 feet is recommended by The Red Cross. Below are standard pool sizes and pool construction costs.

Inground Pool Sizes & Prices

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Can I Build An Inground Pool Myself

While some people do opt to take on a DIY inground fiberglass pool project, most DIY inground pool projects are with vinyl liner pools. Of course, as with fiberglass pools, youre going to have to do your own excavation, backfill the pool, install the liner, plumbing, and hardware, and do the coping and patio.

Cost Of Inground Saltwater Pools

The average cost of an inground saltwater pool is $35,000 for the pool and another $1,100 to $2,200 for the salt water generator, bringing the total cost to around $36,100 to $37,200. Saltwater pools do not need any chemicals added, are easier to maintain, and don’t have a chlorine smell.

For homeowners who would prefer not to use traditional chemicals in their pool, a saltwater swimming pool uses a system that converts the salt in the water to chlorine, but the levels are much lower than in a chlorine pool, so it is kinder to clothes and your skin.

Estimating Long-Term Salt Water Pool Costs

• Replacing the cell in the generator every 36 years at the cost of $800 .
• Adding salt to run your saltwater pool An average pool measuring 14 by 28 with a depth of 6.5 feet has a water volume of just under 20,000 gallons, and for that much water, you will need around 11 x 40-pound bags of salt, which should total just under $100.

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Picking The Proper Site

Picking the best place for your pool is as important as the pool itself. An experienced pool contractor can provide valuable insight, but be sure to consider the following pool-placement tips:

• Capture the Sun: Take advantage of free solar energy by choosing a pool location that’s open to the sun and well away from any trees. Such a location will not only warm up the water, it’ll also reduce the number of leaves that drop into the pool.

• Block Breezes: Building a pool in a windy location greatly increases water evaporation, which means you’ll have keep adding water to maintain the proper level. Strong winds can also make you feel uncomfortably cool when wet. Create a windbreak by erecting a solid-board fence, or by planting a row of thick shrubs.

• High and Dry: Dont set the pool in a low-lying area, which could result in the pool flooding with mud and debris during periods of heavy rain.

• All Clear Above and Below: The pool shouldn’t be located beneath overhead telephone or electrical wires, or directly over buried sewer lines, septic systems or electrical cables.

• Keep Eye Contact: Whenever possible, build the pool within view of the house. That way, you can keep an eye on swimmers even while you’re indoors.

Gunite Shotcrete Or Concrete Pool Cost

A gunite pool costs between $29,000 and $60,000 with most paying around $50,960 on average for a 14 by 28 pool. The long-term 10-year cost of ownership to maintain a concrete pool averages $27,500 which is the highest of any pool material.

• You have more options regarding creative shapes for your pool.
• Typically require more chemicals and electricity to keep them swimmable.
• It may need an acid wash every four years to remove any mold or algae.
• The method used to remove the algae will also weaken the structural integrity of the concrete. This will also hasten the need for it to be resurfaced.
• Gunite pools need to completely be replastered every 10 to 15 years, which costs around $10,000.
• Gunite is the name of the process to apply concrete to a form that will create your pool shapeits created by spraying the concrete and sand mix over a metal shape made of rebar.

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