Your kids take a vote on whether or not you should install an in-ground pool every year—and truth be told, they are kind of outgrowing that little pink blow-up number. It’s going to be awesome to cast your “yes” vote right along with them this year!
They’re going to flip out, aren’t they?
We’re excited for you and your family! A swimming pool is a coveted home upgrade here in Florida. It’s going to increase the value of your home. Moreover, having the ability to walk out your back door and jump into the cool, soothing water is an experience you will never grow tired of. Have you already got your dimensions in mind? What about the shape? Are you going with the traditional rectangular shape? These two decisions certainly affect the overall cost of installing your new swimming pool.
Who will build it?
If you haven’t gotten around to hiring your contractor yet, it’s a good idea to shop around. You can check out local online review boards or ask family and friends if they have the name of a company they trust. Once you have some names in mind, it’s a good idea to contact at least three of them and have them come out to give you an estimate on the job.
Your first cost to consider is which company to use. You might be surprised at this thought, but we suggest throwing out the lowest estimate right away. That’s because the lowest bid is the most likely to be the company that cuts costs so they’ll still earn a decent profit. You don’t want them to use shoddy materials or skip steps that will wind up costing you a fortune to repair down the road.
What about landscaping?
Lots of pool contractors handle the entire project creating your design, installing the pool, and, even adding the surrounding landscaping. However, if you’ve got a good eye and some experience with landscaping, you can save a lot of money by doing the job yourself.
Of course, you should consider the amount of time it’s going to take you to complete the job. When you add that into the equation, you may decide to let someone else handle the landscaping—whether that is your original contractor or someone else.
Where else can you save money?
According to Home Guide, it costs anywhere between $50 to $125 per square foot to install an in-ground swimming pool. That’s a pretty broad range. The difference in cost depends on factors including, but not limited to:
- Pool material
- Shape
- Size
- Customization features
- Landscaping
- Lighting
- Decking and walkways
- Water features
Material and size
The material that you choose affects the cost of your swimming pool installation. We tend to think of concrete where in-ground pools are concerned. However, an in-ground pool can be made of fiberglass or vinyl as well. A vinyl pool liner is the cheapest option, however, it will need to be replaced about every 10 years or so. The other two materials are comparable in price, but concrete pools last about twenty-five years longer than fiberglass.
The difference in cost, regarding the type of material used, grows more widespread as the size of the pool increases. For example, a 10′ x 20′ pool ranges from approximately $18,000 for a vinyl liner up to $26,000 for a concrete pool. If you are installing a 25′ x 45′ in-ground pool, a vinyl liner is going to cost about $100,000 but installing a concrete swimming pool of that size will be closer to $146,000—give or take.
The shape
The most popular in-ground swimming pool shapes are:
- Rectangular
- Radius, also known as a free-form shape
- Classic design, as in Roman or Greek
- Kidney
- Geometric shapes, such as circles, hearts, or ovals
- L-shaped
The shape of your pool makes a difference in the cost as well. Rectangular and L-shaped pools are easier to lay out, for instance, than rounded edges or geometric designs.
Customization features
Additional features, including landscaping, lighting, decking, walkways, and water features add aesthetic value to your pool design. The ambiance you create makes a difference in how your guests react to the space—and, of course, your goal is to make them wish they never had to leave! Not to glorify yourself, but, instead, to ensure that your guests are having a wonderful time. Some estimate that any customization that you do to enhance your pool area ranges in cost from $2,000 to $10,000.
LED lighting makes it possible to have an array of colors flood your pool with light. It’s fairly inexpensive to install, but the dramatic effect that you can create is pretty spectacular! A few well-placed flood lights can suffice, as well, though. Tiki torches surrounding the water light up the night with a soft glow and deter bugs and mosquitoes from inviting themselves to the party
We touched on landscaping already, however, we didn’t mention that rocks are an awesome landscaping tool. And, when compared with the cost of plants, shrubs, and the like, it’s a very economical choice. River rock can be purchased in an array of colors that will work with any color scheme.
Pool decking and walkways vary in expense depending on the material used as well. Concrete can be stained and designed in a number of beautiful ways. It can be hard to detect it’s concrete at all by the time all is said and done. It’s an inexpensive project and, as we said, the end results are beautiful. It’s worth your time to investigate using concrete for flooring and walkways.
Water features are extremely popular and vary greatly in cost. A cascading waterfall or a huge water slide is, naturally, going to be more expensive than a single water wall for instance. Small water features are very affordable these days. They create a sense of tranquility conducive to relaxation too. There’s just something about the sound of running water that has an “ahh” effect on most people.
Breaking the good news
Your family is going to be thrilled with the news that you’re getting an in-ground pool. Summer just got a lot more exciting! And, it will be just as exciting every year from now on! Swimming pools create the perfect spot for families to gather during the extended swimming season.
Your friends are going to love your new addition as well! They may elect you as the official “party thrower”—you should accept that distinct honor, by the way. After all, you are going to have a pretty amazing spot for throwing parties and having get-togethers. Enjoy every single one of them to the utmost because that’s how great memories are made.