There are many factors to consider when purchasing a swimming pool. First, you'll need to consider the type of pool you will purchase: will it be an above ground pool or an in ground pool? Let's look at above ground pools first.
Above Ground Pool Prices and Quality
Question: How much will our above ground pool cost, and if it is an expensive pool does that guarantee quality and durability?
Answer: Just because an above ground pool is expensive does not guarantee anything, for that matter most of your more expensive above ground pools are generally cheap pools that will cost you upwards of ten thousand dollars, and they only last a few years.
Beware of companies that advertise on television and show a beautiful pool with a ridiculously low price. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. These companies will do the same with magazine ads, only to do a bait and switch when they show up.
There are many good above ground pools out there, Artesian Pools and Strong Pools make great pools, but beware of the riser pool made by Strong Pools, because it has its issues. These two manufactures have a difference of about one thousand dollars in their price; both have great warranties and will not only last for many years of enjoyment, but they will keep their look over the years.
How many times have you seen an above ground pool get put up in the neighborhood and a year or two later they look twenty years old? An Artesian 24-foot round pool should cost you in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars with installation, the Strong Pool would be about one thousand more.
Question: How much can you lose on an above ground pool purchase?
Answer: Up to ten thousand dollars if you make a bad choice. It is not a good idea to purchase an aluminum deck for an above ground pool. I recommend a wood deck or a composite deck, which is much more attractive, more durable, and will probably cost less too.
Read more: Above Ground Pools: Types, Prices, Dimensions
Inground Swimming Pools
Natural Pool
Now let's take a look at inground pools. Here we have really five types of pools to choose from: There is the natural pool which is filtered with plants and can even have fish in them, with a structure that is basically a vinyl liner pool. Initial cost can vary upon plants, type of fish, and stone work, but will generally run around $30,000 and up. This is a great pool if you are more interested in a pond than a pool.
Personally, I would not spend much on it because vinyl liners have a limited life to them, and it can be a mess to replace the liner on a large pond with vegetation, rocks, and fish. The cost is not that cheap because of the designing, planting, installation, and more, and your loss could be up to ten thousand after replacing liner and surroundings.
Note: fiberglass and concrete pools can also be natural pools.
Vinyl Pool
Second, we have the vinyl liner pool. Its initial pool cost is around $35,000, and it falls into the category of a temporary pool. Liners today generally last between five to nine years, depending on how your pool was installed. If the pool did not have an over-dig and was put in exactly to specifications, that might increase the life of the liner. The problem is a lot of vinyl liner pool companies put the pools in fast and do a slight over-dig to make sure they do not get wrinkles in the liner. This causes the vinyl liner to get stretched and it has now had years taken off the life of the liner.
Also, if the pool is put in out of square, it will shorten the life of the liner. We have people who call us to replace the vinyl liner in their pool, and they want to give us the spec sheet for the liner that came with the pool. We never go by that. We have to measure the pool ourselves and it has not once come up to the measurements on the spec sheet of the customer. Replacing a vinyl liner will cost you between four thousand to six thousand dollars with water. This is also what will bring the value of your home down when you go to sell it.
The problem with swimming pools and home sales is that three red flags come up when someone sees a pool. 1. How much maintenance is the pool going to take? 2. How much will it cost me to run that pool each year? 3. What are my future expenses on that pool? With vinyl, you have fairly high maintenance, more cost in chemicals with the pool, and future expenses. Home value can even go down ten to twenty thousand dollars.
Gunite Pool
Third we have gunite pools or concrete pools. This is a permanent pool, which is high maintenance, high chemical cost, and elevated electrical costs. This pool will have to be resurfaced on average every 10 years, and that can cost from ten to fifteen thousand dollars depending on the type of surface.
The price of gunite pools depends on the size and scope of the work, although there are large companies out there that are selling them very cheap because of the economy. My feelings on this is if you have thousands of pools that you have put in and you kept your customers happy, then you should not have to cut your cost on your pools so drastically.
Most gunite pools from reputable companies start at around $50,000. I would beware of the companies that are offering the same pool for much thousand less. These pools can bring the value of your home down too, usually less than a vinyl pool, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss can be as much as twenty five thousand or more if resurfaced twice during your ownership.
Fiberglassed Pool
Fourth we have the fiberglass pool wall with a concrete bottom. The initial cost for a pool like this is around twenty five thousand and up. This pool is still a high maintenance pool due to the concrete bottom, and a lot of times I have seen these pools put in and the bottom painted with a waterproof paint, which can lead to disaster.
The life of these pools is determined by the installer, but the bottom of the pool will need resurfacing at a cost of around five thousand dollars. The pool tends to look cheap and will take away from the value of your home, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss is around ten to fifteen thousand dollars.
Fiberglass Pools
Last, we have fiberglass pools. The initial cost is around thirty five to forty thousand dollars and up. Maintenance is low, operation cost is low, and future cost is very low. It also value to your home because of all the above. Your gain is extra money when you sell your home, and years of enjoyment without all the work and headaches. But going with the wrong manufacturer, or picking the wrong company, because you are basing your decision on price can cost you more than you save.
Want to see about how much that fiberglass pool will cost with all your favorite pool accessories?
Use our Design and Price Tool to walk through your options and approximate price!
For instance, the pool you have chosen appears to be the same, but the cost difference between the two companies is around five thousand dollars. Well, you could end up the loser when the concrete does not turn out right or the pool was installed improperly, etc. There are many things that could go wrong that will cost you more than the five thousand you saved.
Maybe you pick the wrong manufacturer and save five to ten thousand and then find out that you really lost around twenty five thousand and now have a non-functioning pool in your backyard. Pool choices are tough decisions, you are spending a lot of money, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that will cost you even more.
If you're trying to choose the right inground pool type for your home, you can download our free ebook below to get an in-depth comparison of the main inground pool types!
At River Pools, we manufacture world-class fiberglass pools for customers across North America. If you're interested in getting a fiberglass pool, you can check out our catalog of models, visit our video library, or request custom pricing using the button below.
Up Next:
Pool Construction: Comparing Concrete, Vinyl Liner, and Fiberglass Installations
The Top Hidden Costs of an Inground Pool After Installation
Editor's note: This blog post was updated on October 16, 2020.