How Much Does a Fiberglass Pool Cost in Kentucky?

Thursday Pools fiberglass pools are an affordable, durable, and elegant choice for any backyard in Louisville or the surrounding communities in Kentucky. 

If you live in or around Louisville, Kentucky, you’re never short of things to do and places to go. Spring is all about Derby season in the “Ville”, so it’s off to Churchill Downs. And the Bourbon Trail is a must-do when out-of-town guests arrive, any time of year. Downtown, the Speed Art Museum and the gallery in the 21c Museum Hotel offer thought-provoking places to contemplate the works of artists from around the globe. (Not to mention a knock-out brunch at Proof on Main!) 

But isn’t it nice sometimes to just stay home and enjoy your own backyard? (Especially when the summer heat and humidity sets in!) Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a staycation with your own beautiful fiberglass inground pool? And though there are definitely factors to consider when it comes to these pools, like fiberglass pool cost, local regulations where you live, etc., there are resources to help you plan. You can create your own, private backyard oasis by choosing a Thursday Pools fiberglass pool for your family. You’ll get a lifetime of low pool maintenance enjoyment and quality family time. 

Why choose a fiberglass pool?  

• Fiberglass pools are easier and less expensive to maintain than vinyl or gunite. The crevices in vinyl pool liners and the rough surfaces of gunite pools are havens for algae, which means more time spent on maintenance and more money spent on chemicals. However, the smooth, gel coat surface of a fiberglass pool holds bacteria and algae at bay, which means more time swimming, less time maintaining, and lower chemical use over the life of your pool. 
• Fiberglass pools are more durable than vinyl or gunite. There are no liners to replace, and they never need resurfacing. They’re quick to install, and the smooth, non-skid finish is safe and easy on swimsuits and tender feet. And, if you want to share your pool with the four-legged members of your family, the gel coat finish means they’re also way more pet friendly than either vinyl or gunite pools. 
• Fiberglass pools are highly compatible with Kentucky’s Crider soil. The loamy soil in Kentucky is easy to excavate, which will facilitate your inground swimming pool project. Crider soil also has a high capacity to retain moisture so it can shrink and swell with varying weather conditions. The best quality fiberglass pools are better equipped to deal with the shrink-swell pressure than either vinyl or gunite pools are, particularly with innovations like the Geo-Anchoring Pool system. 

What’s the average price of a fiberglass pool, installed? 

Fiberglass pool prices vary based on the size of pool you want and where you live. You’ll need to contact a Thursday Pools dealer near you to get a quote on your fiberglass pool project. But if you’re just getting started on your research and want a ballpark price for your own fiberglass pool, you can approximate $1800 per linear foot. 

Let’s take a look at how that ballpark formula might apply to some Thursday Pools designs.

Sun Day 

If you’re after the graceful curves of a freeform pool, our Sun Day design might be the perfect complement to your backyard. It’s available in three sizes with a maximum length of 39’. The smallest size is 30 feet long by 15 feet wide. At an average cost of $1800 per linear foot, a basic installation might run around $54,000.

Aspen

If you have a large yard and truly want the best of both worlds—both wide-open swim space and lots of built-in spots for relaxing—Aspen is the pool for you. With a built-in, 12”-deep tanning ledge, you’ll have the perfect perch to watch over the kiddos while they swim. The Aspen (Design Patent US D851,781 S) is available in three sizes. Let’s check out the largest, which is 40 feet long by 16 feet wide. Applying our formula of an average cost of $1800 per linear foot, a basic installation would be $72,000.

What about a beach entry? 

You can turn your Kentucky home into an instant beachfront property with one of Thursday Pools’ fiberglass beach entry pool designs (Patent US 10,472,839). They’re the only truly zero entry fiberglass pools on the market. There are two to choose from. Sandal is a curvy, flirty freeform design, and Grace is a classic rectangular design. Beach entry designs will average $1800 per square foot. 

Since we like to “go big or go home” in Kentucky, let’s take a look at what the largest size of the Grace design might cost. It’s 40 feet long by 16 feet wide. Applying our formula of an average cost of $1800 per linear foot, a basic installation would be $72,000.

What does a basic fiberglass pool installation include? 

The definition of a basic installation varies from one pool builder to the next. So it’s crucial to inquire about what’s included (and more importantly, what’s not) as you’re collecting bids on your new fiberglass pool. This will help ensure you’re comparing apples to apples.

For example, some pool builders include as standard: lighting, heaters, a set amount of pool decking, and even an automatic pool cover in all their quotes. Others will price these items ala carte. Additionally, there are costs involved in pool installation that may or may not apply to your project, depending on where you live and how accessible your backyard is. You’ll want to inquire about these costs as you’re interviewing prospective builders.

Potentially hidden costs of installing an inground fiberglass pool.

1. Site Preparation. Site preparation refers to anything that would get in the way of setting the pool in the ground. For example, the removal and/or relocation of under and above-ground utility lines or cables such as gas, phone, sewer, and septic would fall under site preparation, as would moving irrigation systems and downspouts. And once your pool builder starts to dig, any underground “surprises,” such as a layer of rock no one expected to find, could add to your bottom line pricing. (However, this is unlikely in Kentucky, due to the great quality of our soil.) If additional equipment needs to be rented, or the excavation ends up taking several days longer than expected, that expense may well be listed by your pool builder as “additional site preparation”, a cost they will pass onto you. You should ask your pool builder to clarify what factors involved in your pool installation project could potentially cause site preparation issues.
   
   Note: Excavation issues are less like in Kentucky, due to fiberglass pools are highly compatible with Kentucky’s Crider soil. The loamy soil in Kentucky is easy to excavate, which will facilitate your inground swimming pool project. Crider soil also has a high capacity to retain moisture so it can shrink and swell with varying weather conditions. The best quality fiberglass pools are better equipped to deal with the shrink-swell pressure than either vinyl or gunite pools are, particularly with innovations like the Geo-Anchoring Pool system.
2. Access. Your new inground fiberglass pool will be delivered in one piece, which means your pool builder needs clear access to your yard for the pool and necessary construction equipment. Access issues could include trees, brush, or fencing that might need to be moved or removed prior to installation. Your pool builder might also need to build a “temporary driveway” with gravel or protection mats to gain needed access. These costs could also end up on your total bill, so be sure to ask each pool builder to include in the bid what accessibility issues might need to be addressed on your project.
3. Permits. As with any other building project, permits are required prior to installing an inground swimming pool. Some builders take on that task for you and include the cost in the contract, but some don’t. So during the project’s estimation phase, be sure to ask if they’re taking care of procuring and paying for the permits or if that’s on you. If you’re responsible for obtaining the pool permit, call your local municipality for pool permit prices. There may also be other costs involved, depending on your local ordinances. For example, you may also be required to put up a temporary fence during construction or implement erosion control measures.
4. Restoration. Heavy construction equipment can cause sidewalks and driveways to crack. Unless otherwise stated in the pool contract, the repairs of your existing driveway and/or the removal of any temporary driveway installed for accessibility to the site will be your responsibility. You’ll also want to think about new and existing landscaping after the project is complete. A “rough grade” is typically part of your pool contract but a “finish grade” is not, and a finish grade is what you need to seed or sod your lawn. You might also need to add topsoil. Large landscaping and hardscaping designs can often cost as much as the pool, so it’s important to have a complete plan and estimated costs ahead of time. Remember, not everything has to be done at once. You can start enjoying your pool right away and add on to your landscaping over the years.
5. Electrical. An electrician will have to run the wiring for the pool equipment and lights. Few pool builders include electrical in their quotes because they don’t typically have an electrician on their team. If you already know an electrician you trust, you might prefer him or her to do the work to the pool builder’s specs. Your current electrical system may or may not have enough power or space in the breaker box to meet the needs of the pool equipment, so you may need to add a sub-panel or upgrade your electrical system.
6. Dirt Hauling. When you dig that big hole, you have to put all that dirt somewhere. If you don’t have a spot for it (or don’t know someone who wants it), then you’ll have to pay someone to haul it away. The cost of this will be determined by how many truckloads of dirt there are and how far away the dumpsite is. Your pool contract might specify that only a certain amount of dirt will be hauled away, or it may say that dirt hauling is your responsibility. Unless you have a plan for the dirt, be sure to read your contract closely and ask your pool builder how much dirt will result from the excavation as well as how much of it is up to you to remove.

Kentucky swimming pool regulations. 

Some states, like Alabama, leave swimming pool regulations up to individual counties. However, in Kentucky, state-wide laws apply to residential inground pools. 

Here’s what you should know: 

• A barrier fence at least 48” high is required around the pool and the maximum allowable gap from the bottom of the fence to the ground is 4”. 
• If the wall of your house serves as one of the four barrier walls, you must have one of the following: 
  • An automatic pool safety cover. 
  • Alarms on any doors with direct access to the pool area with deactivation switches at least 54” above the threshold of the door. 
  • In some cases, self-closing, self-latching doors may be accepted but are subject to inspection. 

Fencing, alarms, automatic pool covers and other barriers-to-entry are not usually part of your pool contract, so it’s a good idea to get fencing estimates ahead of your pool estimates. (Or, check to see if your existing fence meets the requirements.) Your pool builder will be able to advise you on these matters. 

Enjoy the benefits of the fiberglass pool lifestyle. 

Fiberglass pools create a spot for legendary parties. Louisville is a city that loves to entertain and we’re always looking for new ways to make a splash. Recently, the world’s first and only fiberglass pools with beach entries (zero entries) and sunken living areas were introduced on the market. So, if you’re a trendsetter who loves to throw a party, you could be among the first to have one of these innovative and unique fiberglass pool designs. Your pool parties will be the talk of the town! 

You’ll get the best of both worlds. Fiberglass pool have loads of built-in features like tanning ledges, wrap-around benches and swim-outs that make it so easy to visit and relax. But most fiberglass pool designs also have wonderful, wide-open swim lanes. So, if you’re looking to include swimming exercise in your workout routine, a fiberglass pool with open swim lanes can help you accomplish that goal. Once you’ve experienced the fiberglass pool lifestyle and all the health benefits of swimming, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one. 

Thursday Pools has a fiberglass pool design for every Louisville family and every budget.

Whether your home is in downtown Louisville, or a beautiful surrounding community like Indian Hills, Hurstbourne Acres, Langdon Place, Anchorage, Crestwood, Northfield, Pewee Valley, Douglass Hills, Windy Hills, Prospect, Graymoor-Devondale or Jeffersontown, there’s a Thursday Pools design that will fit right in to your backyard’s style. 

Thursday Pools fiberglass pool designs come in a great variety of shapes and sizes. You’ll want to consider how much pool your yard will fit (and how much pool you really need and want). You should also think about how you’ll use your pool, and choose a pool that fits your family’s personality. As you get further along in your research, check out our handy Pool Cost Calculator and Pool Selector Tool to get a better idea of how much your total pool project might be. (But the only way to know for sure is to get an estimate!) 

Ready to take the plunge? 

Are you ready to take the plunge and get a FREE estimate on your very own fiberglass pool? There’s only one way to find out the true cost of your dream pool… Contact a Thursday Pools dealer today!