For many families, building an in-ground pool is part of the American dream. The addition of a swimming pool provides endless hours of summer fun for children and adults alike, and increases the value of your home. But before you sign a contract to build, you should do your homework to determine if building a pool is right for you.
Type of Pool
There are just two types of in-ground backyard swimming pools: fiberglass and gunite.
A fiberglass pool is prefabricated from a mold, trucked to the site and lowered into the hole with a crane. Fiberglass pools come with many advantages like lifetime warranties, ease of cleaning and reduced chemical usage. But along with these advantages comes the limitation of size and shape.
A gunite pool has reinforcement bars lining the hole that are shot with a concrete-like material, then finished with plaster. Warranties generally cover a few years and the porous plaster allows algae to penetrate, making brushing and cleaning a bigger job. But the homeowner can design any size, shape and depth of pool he desires.
Cost of Excavation
Whether you choose a fiberglass or gunite pool, a hole has to be dug. If you're fortunate enough to live in an area where the soil is soft, the cost to excavate usually runs around $800.00 to $1,500.00. Those who live in soil conditions that include boulders, rocks or caliche (hardened deposits of calcium carbonates), the cost to excavate cannot be predicted. It is not unusual in areas like Las Vegas for a pool excavation to run as high as $20,000.
For either type of pool, pumps and filters cost around $3,500. Include a natural gas heater and add anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the size of the pool.
Cost of a Fiberglass Pool
Depending on the shape and size of the pool, the shell will cost from $15,000 to $25,000 installed, not counting the excavation or accessories. The benefit of a fiberglass pool is that construction time is usually less than three weeks.
Cost of Gunite Pool
To many homeowners, a gunite swimming pool adds a touch of class over a fiberglass model. Pool design is virtually limitless, and the cost to build is much higher compared to a molded shell. Again, not counting digging costs, an average-sized gunite pool will cost anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000. The drawback to a gunite pool is the time of construction, which is usually two to three months.
Obtain Soil Report
If you don't have the soil report that came with your house, ask your neighbors what the underground soil is like. As a last resort you may have to hire a company to come to your home and drill to obtain soil samples. It's better to know in advance than to discover after signing the contract that three feet under your backyard is solid rock.
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