Investment in an inground pool can be an amazing addition to your home, providing hours of relaxation, exercise, and entertainment. Unfortunately, however, installation costs vary widely depending on various factors; certain components stand out as more costly than others during installation process. At Pool Stop Online we aim to give our customers a thorough understanding of these costs so they are well informed before making this significant financial commitment.
Table of Contents
Excavation and Site Preparation (EPS)
Excavation and site preparation costs can be one of the initial and most significant components of installing an inground pool, and involve several key steps:
Excavation: Digging a hole for your pool requires heavy machinery and experienced operators, with costs depending on size, depth, soil type and any potential obstacles like rocks or tree roots.
Site Prep: Preparation involves leveling the ground, clearing away debris and ensuring proper drainage systems. Poor site conditions can quickly drive up costs for site preparation services if additional grading or drainage solutions are required to improve drainage or grade levels.
Excavation and site preparation can often be one of the more costly components of inground pool installation.
Pool Shell
A pool’s structure or shell, is also an important cost consideration. There are various materials to select from that each have different price tags attached:
Concrete Pools: Also referred to as gunite or shotcrete pools, concrete pools can be among the most costly. While their designs offer greater design versatility and they’re highly durable, their labor intensive installation process and associated material costs make them prohibitively expensive.
Fiberglass Pools: Fiberglass pools are often prefabricated and easy to install, typically taking less than one day from start to finish. While more affordable than concrete alternatives, fiberglass still represents an significant portion of overall costs.
Vinyl Liner Pools: Vinyl liner pools typically offer lower initial costs compared to concrete and fiberglass pools; however, their vinyl liners need replacing every 5-10 years, adding to long-term expenses.
Selecting the optimal pool shell type can have an enormous impact on both initial costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.
Plumbing and Electrical Systems
Plumbing and electrical systems that support an inground pool can be costly components: their proper operation can be essential.
Plumbing: This refers to the pipes and fittings needed to transport water through a pool’s filtration and heating systems, and may vary in terms of complexity depending on its size, additional features such as waterfalls or spas, as well as local building codes.
Electrical: For safe operation of the pool’s pump, filter, lighting and heating systems to function optimally, hiring a licensed electrician to install and connect these components is necessary to meet safety standards – although hiring such services will add significantly to overall costs.
Quality and complexity of these systems play a major role in the cost of an inground pool installation.
Pool Decking
A pool deck can be an additional significant expense. Your choice of materials and size of the deck will have an enormous effect on costs;
Concrete Decking: If budget is a major consideration, plain concrete may be your most economical choice, while stamped or stained surfaces offer more visually appealing finishes at additional costs.
Pavers and Stone: Utilizing pavers or natural stone for your pool deck design can add a luxurious aesthetic, yet come at a higher cost due to materials and labor expenses.
Wood Decking: Wood decks feature an appealing natural aesthetic but require ongoing upkeep, potentially costing more in the long run.
Selecting the ideal material for your pool deck is key for both its functionality and aesthetics, affecting cost significantly.
Pool Features and Accessories
Accessories for an inground pool can make its use more enjoyable and functional, but their costs can quickly add up:
Heating Systems: Installing a pool heater extends the swimming season but comes at the cost of both an upfront investment and energy costs going forward.
Water Features: While adding waterfalls, fountains, or jets to your pool is certainly luxurious, they require additional plumbing and pumps, increasing costs overall.
LED and fiber optic lighting create stunning visuals, yet have high installation and operational costs.
Automation Systems: Modern swimming pools often include automation systems for remotely controlling pumps, heaters and lighting from anywhere on their premises. Although convenient and relatively cost effective to implement, these systems can be costly to implement.
Additional features not only increase initial costs but also lead to greater maintenance and operational expenses.
Final Thoughts
It is crucial that when considering an inground pool installation, one understands all of its component costs that go into determining its total price tag. From excavation and site preparation through pool shell, plumbing, electrical systems, decking and additional features – each element plays a crucial role in setting its final cost and in making informed decisions and setting your budget.
At Pool Stop Online, we are committed to helping you navigate the complexities of inground pool installation, ensuring that you get the most value for your investment. Whether you are looking for advice on choosing the right materials or need assistance with planning and budgeting, our team of experts is here to support you every step of the way.
This particular post was carved by the experts at Pool Stop Custom Pools. Pool Stop has the legacy of building customized swimming pools for over 20 years in the DFW region. We have been constantly voted “Best Pool Company” in Rockwall under the title of Living Magazine by readers with respect to years. The major purpose of our service is to offer the community the best choice available in terms of designs and construction quality. Our team comprises of the expert professionals in the industry across the board. Pool Stop provides various services, such as Pool Construction & New Pool Design, Pool Supplies, Pool Cleaning Repair, Retail Pool Store, and Advanced Water Testing. Stop by today for a FREE Water analysis.