How To Build An Indoor Pool

How Much Does An Indoor Pool Cost Maintenance & More

The most useful tool to calculate your home renovation costs for free.

Want to enjoy the luxuries of a pool all-year-round without waiting for a swim season to indulge yourself? An indoor pool is a perfect solution. Whats more, its very nature lends itself to privacy.

So, if you are thinking of getting an indoor pool, and want to know all about its advantages, cost factors, types of indoor pools, etc., then youve come to the right place.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about indoor pools. From construction cost and time to maintenance it has it all. So, lets begin.

Build And Enclose An Integrated Outdoor Pool

In recent years, this architectural trend has taken hold. Here, the pool is technically outside the walls of your home. Yet, it is integrated into the home design in such as way as to not look like an afterthought. In fact, these beautiful structures seamlessly integrate into the home and landscaping.

To gain the indoor component and make the pool usable year round, an enclosure caps off the design. Here, you can have the full advantages of weather protection and still worship the sun. And these glass structures can filter out harmful UV radiation.

For this approach, you typically have what is known as a lean-to enclosure. This means that one or more sides of the structure are attached to the home.

Another design possibility for these integrated pools is a retractable enclosure. As you might suspect, these can be opened for the true outdoor experience and closed whenever needed. Retractable enclosures can be manually operated or conveniently motorized. Other options for the lean-to enclosures include windows and doors, shading, and translucent or opaque panels for privacy.

Integrated and enclosed outdoor pools can be costly. However, when comparing like pool sizes and designs, the integrated, enclosed approach is generally less costly than the indoor pool.

Disadvantages Of Indoor Pools

That said, indoor pools do have some distinct drawbacks:

• Humidity. Pools lose a lot of moisture into the air, even if you cover them when not in use. Outside, thats no big deal. Indoors, it can be a real problem. You need special equipment to deal with the humidity of an indoor pool.
• Initial cost. Building an indoor pool costs considerably more than an outdoor pool of the same size. Oh, and do you have the space for this?

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Indoor Pool Vs Outdoor Pool: Which Is Better

A luxury pool will complement a homes interior or exterior, producing an attractive feature that everybody will enjoy. An indoor pool design that is in harmony with the architecture of your home and incorporates the newest technology will also add value to your property, whether it is indoors, outdoors, or even on a rooftop.

Nothing beats an outdoor pool, but sometimes, we wish someone would turn off the giant tap in the sky for most of the year in this country. An indoor pool may be used all year and is the logical choice for the everyday swimmer. You can swim whenever you want, despite how gloomy the weather is or how dark it is outside. Unlike an outdoor pool, the indoor pool does not require the annual winterization process, which involves closing the pool for some time to protect it from the elements.

Advantages Of Indoor Pools

Indoor pools come with an array of benefits, such as the following:

• Year-round use. If youre going to spend the money on a pool, and you dont live in a warmer climate, youll get more from your investment if you can use the pool 12 months of the year. In fact, if you calculate your cost per month the pool is available for use, the indoor pool may start to look like a good deal.
• Less maintenance. If you have an indoor pool, its a whole lot easier to keep leaves and insects out of it, eliminating the need to skim this stuff from its surface. But thats not allan indoor pool also prevents algae growth, which enters your pool clinging to other plant material. Swimmers also wont track grass and sand into the water. You wont even have that suntan lotion slick that tends to build up on the surface of outdoor pools.
• Protection from sunburn. When your pool is indoors, you can forget worrying about sunscreen, shade, and whether the kiddos will be scorched by the sun or wind.
• Safety. An outdoor pool is just so tempting, and a determined trespasser can get over almost any fence or enclosure you build outside. Theres no doubt about this: Its easier to control who is in your pool when its indoors.
• Privacy. Maybe youre not that social when youre doing your water aerobics, or floating on your back, taking a nap. Or maybe you just dont want to be social with everyone who can see you from over the backyard fence. With an indoor pool, you have as much privacy as you want.

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Indoor Pools With Skylights And Retractle Roofs

Windows, skylights and sliding glass doors are a great way to create an open feeling, but they can also lead to excessive heat in the summer. Ruddy says it is important to have skylights or high windows that open to let hot air escape otherwise, you could spend more on cooling your indoor pool room in the summer than you do on heating it in the winter. Better yet, an open roof system and lots of sliding glass doors enable you to treat your indoor pool like an outdoor pool in the summer, he says.

To keep windows from fogging up, airflow must be maintained across the entire width of the windows. Some architects recommend placing vents in both the floor and the ceiling near each pane to ensure a clear view.

Does An Indoor Pool Add Value To A Home

It wont be easy since a swimming pool can actually make your home harder to sell. Many buyers consider it a liability rather than a luxury. Under the right circumstances, however, a pool could boost your homes value by as much as 7%, Houselogic estimates.

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The Case Against Indoor Pools

Theres always a catch, right? In the case of residential indoor pools, there are a handful of them, and theyre not insignificant.

Installation cost. Its no mystery why indoor pools cost more. Not only are you paying for the pool itself, but for the structure around it. Whether that structure is a standalone building or an interior space of a home, its bound to be a big project one that seriously jacks up the total cost of installation. On top of that, youll also need a pricey HVAC system and vapor barrier to protect against damaging moisture.

Indoor pools like this dont come cheap.

Maintenance cost. Experts say the air temperature in an indoor pool room should be two to four degrees higher than the water temperature. Otherwise, you could end up with too much evaporation, which is bad for the surrounding structure. The upshot is that youll need to keep the pool room warm and the dehumidifier running. The energy cost can be steep, especially if the pool room features those large windows that everyone loves.

Do you want to be inside on nice days? Indoor pools are ideal for cold and/or rainy days, but on a warm and sunny day, you might wish you had an outdoor pool. You could, of course, get a retractable roof for your indoor pool, but the cost and logistics of that are formidable.

Being inside on a nice day isnt so bad when the pool is under skylights and surrounded by large windows.

Vinyl /gunite/fiberglass Pools Installation #

After pool plumbing, the next stage gets determined by the type of pool. For indoor gunite pools, gunite material gets poured onto the steel framework to create the pool floor. On the other hand, fiberglass pools are ready-made, and all you need to do is position them in the pool area. Also, the construction time varies depending on your pool type.

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Indoor Pool Cost Calculator

A vinyl 12 x 16 indoor pool starts at $110,000, and costs as high as $220,000 for a 16 x 32 concrete indoor pool. Expect to pay $200 to $250 per square foot for your indoor pool, factoring in a four-foot perimeter around the pool, a roof and walls, plus the vital dehumidifier system.

Cost To Build Indoor Pool

An indoor pool offers year-round swimming, less maintenance because debris can’t get into the pool, and less chemical use as there is little sunlight disrupting chlorine levels. However, they come at a much higher construction cost and uses more energy.

Building An Indoor Pool Vs Building An Addition

Ideally, the best time to install an indoor pool is during the design and construction of a new home. This can also be done with an existing home but could end up costing more this way. Either way I would recommend consulting with an experienced architect or engineer who has experience with building an indoor pool room.

Adding on a pool house as an addition to the home allows for more flexibility, and can avoid some additional costs of building a structure over an existing pool, or building a pool within an existing home, in the basement or unused recreation room.

The size of an indoor pool is usually a factor. Smaller pools are easier to maintain and less expensive to operate. Many indoor pools may add a Badu Jet on one end, to allow you to swim continuously against a large volume of flowing water. No more flip turns!

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Gas Pool Heater Installation Cost

A gas heater has an average price of $1,350 to $5,500, including installation. A gas heater is the most popular choice for most homeowners. These can run off natural gas or propane, although natural gas is typically the more affordable option. Homeowners prefer this type of heater because they heat water the fastest. These systems are slightly more expensive initially, but they offer a lower price of use over time.

Pros And Cons Of Indoor Swimming Pools

When considering whether an interior pool is the right investment, you will certainly want to weigh the pros and cons. Although they may be different for you, depending on your interest in this project, here are some of the biggest things to consider. The first benefit of building one inside which leads most people to consider it, is the fact that they can be used year-round. It wont matter what the weather is like or where you live, because youll be able to swim whenever you want. These models also require less maintenance because they are out of the elements. This means they wont collect as much debris and dirt. They will remain in better condition for longer since they arent exposed to the harsh conditions outdoors.

Speaking of exposure, an interior option is also going to have the benefit of less sun exposure. This protects you, your family and friends, and your swimming area from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Finally, interior options provide more privacy and security than outdoor options. You can even install automatic covers, put locks on the doors, and include additional safety features for added protection.

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How Much Does It Cost To Build An Indoor Pool

So, taking all of the above into account, heres what it will cost to build an indoor pool. That is of course unless you want to learn how to build an indoor pooland build it yourself.

The average cost for indoor pools is about $125-$200 per square foot. This amount varies depending on the type of installation you choose and any associated factors such as design, size, heating, type of enclosure, etc.

This is a difficult question to answer as individual circumstances such as design, size, material choices, and other characteristics vary wildly from case to case, but in a general sense, Concrete is the most expensive option as it not only has the highest initial installation cost, which on average can be around $60,000, but you also have to take into account the higher operating costs, which for a 12×24 pool can be upwards of $25,000 per 10 years.

Fiberglass is the mid-range and most popular choice, coming in at a $50,000 average initial installation cost for a 12×24 pool, but without comparable operating costs.

The most economical option is, of course, Vinyl. It has an average initial installation cost of about $37,000 for a 12×24 pool and a lot of design flexibility. This type of installation however has to take into account the more involved maintenance, as well as liner replacement about every 5-10 years at a significant cost.

Indoor Swimming Pools 101

Looking to install an indoor swimming pool? Heres our guide with everything you need to know!

Lets just agree that indoor swimming pools are the ultimate form of luxury.

If you have the required space, then congratulations already! But as you may know, installing one isnt something you can do straight away. From the type of pool to their installation charges, advantages and disadvantages, there are various things to consider.

So that you dont have to spend hours searching for all the necessary information, heres our comprehensive guide to indoor swimming pools.

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Choose The Correct Materials

The basic materials used in the dehumidifier for heat exchangers, fans and surfaces, can have different corrosion classes depending on the required lifetime.

It is recommended that the basic material is aluminium or hot-dip galvanised steel that has been powder coated. The heat exchangers should be made of aluminium that is epoxy-protected and coated.

The evaporators and condensers in particular need to have good protection, first with a primer using epoxy coating and then with top coating.

In general, galvanised steel or aluminium that is powder coated are the only materials that are suitable for swimming pool environments. Standard stainless steel should not be used.

Indoor Vs Outdoor Pool

It generally costs less to build a swimming area outdoors than it does indoors, with outdoor costs ranging between $10,000 and $100,000 and interior costs between $40,000 and $200,000. Building inside the home is usually more expensive because of the additional features and equipment needed to operate properly. There are a number of variables involved with an interior model, including whether you have or need a structure around your swimming area, whether youre installing it above-ground or in ground, how big the it will be, and the need for a dehumidification system. When you add in the cost of decking, heating the water, a dehumidification system, and building or properly adapting the structure that will contain the pool, the average price will be closer to the highest price of the range. The table below compares the price range of interior and exterior installation.

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Perks Of An Indoor Swimming Pool

• The health benefits of having a pool are unreal, swimming is one of the best cardio exercises for people of all ages. Its also great for building and maintaining muscle.
• Indoor pools are easier to clean. Theres much less debris than outside pools and they dont need to be winterized.
• The temperature in indoor pools can be easily controlled. Although youll be paying a bit more in electric, you can swim in any temperature you please.
• Even while its snowing outside, you can swim in an indoor pool. You can swim in the pool 365 days a year. If you use it often enough, it might be an equal investment.

Although cost is one of the only cons of having an indoor pool, its also usually the deciding factor. The enclosure for the pool included, an indoor pool can cost upwards of $200,000 . The yearly costs will then include any maintenance and then electrical and water costs.

What Makes An Indoor Pool More Functional & Beautiful

If you are installing an indoor swimming pool in Toronto, you will realize that there are many ways you can upgrade it to make it more functional and beautiful.

Focusing on functionality, you can add a heating system, lighting, integrated seating, pool covers, jets, and more to make your swimming experience more enjoyable. Furthermore, you can add water features, diving boards, and more to add the wow factor.

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Questions To Ask When Designing A Pool