Frequently asked questions about swimming pools

• – Vinyl Liner – $1,500 to $2,000 per ln. ft.
• – Fiberglass – $1,700 to $2,300 per ln. ft.
• – Gunite/Concrete – $2,000 to $5,000 per ln. ft.

• – Vinyl Liner – $60,000 to $80,000
• – Fiberglass – $68,000 to $92,000
• – Gunite/Concrete – $80,000 to $200,000

Contact your local building department and inquire about inground swimming pools construction requirements. Most likely, they will give you a list of what you need to get your construction permit done. However, some municipalities have strict laws and regulations regarding swimming pools, and their approval process could be dramatically extended and could cost more than average.

There is an infinite number of pool additions and accessories that you can add to your pool to make your pool dream come true. Spas, tanning ledges, and splash decks can be part of the fiberglass pool or added separately for easier customization. To heat, include a gas heater or heat pump. Illuminate for nighttime fun, add color lights. To care about your skin, add a salt or mineral system. To control your pool remotely, add pool automation. For extra security and less maintenance, add an automatic pool cover. The list goes on as long as you know what you want!

Standard inground swimming construction time will vary depending on the pool type, size, pool features, and project location. Also, some backyards are more accessible to dig than others.

Typical standard pool construction time is as follows:

• – Fiberglass – 2-4 days
• – Vinyl Liner – 2-4 weeks
• – Gunite/Concrete – 3-6 months

Spa, tanning ledge or splash deck, spillovers and cascades, heater, lights, upscale sanitation system, pool automation, automatic pool cover, mosaic tiles, deck or wall jets, therapy jets, bubblers will increase the construction time and the bottom line cost.

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• – Chlorine is a standard sanitation method, can be installed inline between pump and filter, or a cheaper version is a floater.
• – The Mineral system uses 50% less chlorine and an inline unit.
• – Saltwater system (Salt Chlorine Generator) uses salt to chemically process into chlorine and requires electrical feed.

Every pool requires proper maintenance and balanced chemical use to reduce the tear and wear of the surface. Overly chlorinated water will cause the discoloration of the surface no matter the type of the pool.

Vinyl Liner pools will require the change of liners every 3-4 years or upon unrepairable damage caused by sharp objects. The average cost of liner replacement is $5,000.

Concrete or Gunite pools will require acid washes and re-plastering every 7-10 years. The average cost of re-plastering is $10,000-15,000.

Fiberglass pools don’t require any resurfacing due to Gelcoat durability. They are flexible and can withstand a lot of abuse. Fiberglass pools are also temperature resistant to the freeze-thaw cycle that occurs during the year. In addition, fiberglass has a shock-absorbing ability that allows it to flex up to 2 feet.

There are also new concrete construction techniques that allow concrete to flex, but the cost for such a gunite pool type is high.

This concept will apply to any pool type, fiberglass, gunite, or vinyl liner.

Extensive hydro pressure underneath the pool can push the pool vessel/shell out of the ground unless the installer has done a proper job. Three “must-do” rules will apply – pool always must be kept full of water, masons must build adequate bond-beam that the manufacturer or technology requires, and builders must install dewatering pipes. The differences are that if the ground moves or pressure is severe, the pool will crack with a concrete pool, the wall can collapse with vinyl liner pool.

Fiberglass has a shock-absorbing ability that allows it to flex up to 2 feet. They are also temperature resistant to the freeze-thaw cycle that occurs during the year

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Not every pool is created equal, nor any swimming pool will add value to the house value. And the current value of the house is definitely a significant factor in future evaluation. The higher the cost of the property, the higher potential it will have in recouping the pool construction cost.

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