Dear General:
You can’t possibly imagine how badly my family wants a pool. But we don’t know where to start. What can I expect with new pool costs and accessories? How can I get us from the dreaming stage to the swimming stage?
Signed;
Pool-less in Plainfield
Dear Pool-less;
Don’t despair. You have to start somewhere. As is the case with any big project, you have to break it down. While I can’t tell you exactly what your new pool will cost and what you might need in addition to the pool, I can give you some advice to help you get started. You’ll need to get in-home estimates from your local pool professionals and decide how you’d like to finance your pool. So let’s break down how you can get a little closer to that “swimming stage.”
Pool Cost
On average here in the Midwest, a basic inground fiberglass pool or inground vinyl liner pool installed with a pump, filter, chlorinator with a simple concrete deck surround (and don’t forget, water) will typically fall somewhere between $25,000 and $65,000 without the optional accessories we’ll discuss later in the post. That said, there are many factors that will affect the overall cost of your pool.
- Your location. Unless you happen to have a backyard that’s perfectly level, full of easy-to-dig soil and unobstructed on all sides, your pool builder will have to factor in the challenges of your particular installation location into the price of your pool. You might need to have dirt hauled in. You’ll most likely need to have dirt hauled away.
- Pool size. Obviously, a larger pool costs more than a smaller one. You could ballpark estimate about $1800 per linear foot. Also take into consideration how you’ll be using your pool and how much room you’ll need in the rest of the yard for decking, furniture and landscaping.
- Pool design and features. A rectangular pool with basic features will be less expensive than a freeform pool with added features such as a beach entry or tanning ledges. Again, think about what’s important to you and your family–do you want to be able to exercise in your new pool? Play games? Or just relax in a little cool water at the end of a long day. Make a list of the features you want and communicate those priorities to your pool estimator.
- Your pool builder. Pool companies range from small, independent builders who will oversee every step of your project from start to finish, to big companies with multiple crews that are juggling numerous installations at once. One type is not necessarily better than another. It all comes down to which company you have a good feeling about. Do your research, and always get more than one estimate. Ask for references. Consider experience, honesty, quality, reputation, referrals and design ability. Also ask yourself–”Do I like these people? Would I want them to build my pool?”
Accessories for Pools
The term pool accessories refers to everything other than the pool itself, and there are plenty accessories for pools to consider. There are cool built-in features, like tanning ledges, beach entries for freeform pools, beach entries for rectangular pools, infinity edges, wading pools, wet decks and bubblers. There are great add-on features to pump up the atmosphere and fun, like wall and step jets, waterfalls, fountains, custom lighting, diving boards, slides, pool floats and sports equipment. There are convenient ways to keep your pool covered, comfortable, clean and safe, using heaters, chillers, automatic cleaning systems, alternative water purifiers, solar blankets, winter covers and automatic pool covers. And then there’s everything that will surround and enhance your pool, such as landscaping, concrete decking, patio furniture, fencing, ledge loungers and designer handrails. It’s quite a list, isn’t it? You might not need all of those things, but you’ll need to factor in what you do want when you’re thinking about cost.
Of everything I’ve listed above, probably the biggest consideration in terms of cost is concrete decking. (And fencing, if you need it.) There are so many concrete styles, coatings, and stamping options to choose from, and you’ll probably end up wanting a little more patio than you originally thought. Remember though, it’s a one-time investment, and you want to make sure you’ll have plenty of room to party around the pool. 
Keep in mind that any accessory that is structural needs to be done during construction, so you’ll need to talk to your pool builder up front about that. Many of the other accessories are optional, and you can always add them in the years to come, while you’re enjoying your pool.
In future posts, we’ll go into more detail on all of these accessories. There’s so much to talk about, so stay tuned! But for now, it’s once again time to for me to grab a float and enjoy my pool.
Until next time…
The General
Who is The General?
The man, the myth, the legend….we just call him The General. His organized, systematic approach to pool installations over the years had his crew members calling him “The General” and it stuck. The General has over 30 years’ experience in the pool and spa industry, working for one of Pool and Spa News’ “Top 50 Pool Builders.”
Over that time, he designed, sold, project-managed and installed over a thousand inground swimming pools. As a pool owner himself, he’s the perfect authority to give you the inside scoop, with amazing tips and tricks to make pool ownership a breeze!
Tanning Ledge Chaise
Tanning Ledge Umbrellas:
Electric Heat Pump Pool Heaters
Solar Pool Heaters
For your smaller kids who may not know how to swim there are many options out there. There are some that shade your little ones from the sun. You will be able to find floats for pools that keep your child comfortable and help them feel sturdy in the water. Even though floats can help your children feel more comfortable in the pool, 
Laminars are becoming more and more popular. They are strong, sleek streams of water that come from the decking surrounding your pool. The jets have a smooth uniform look and can be used with any inground pool design. You can add a LED color display to your laminars at night. 
Marigolds are annual flowers that are easy to grow. These flowers emit a smell that deters all insects, including mosquitoes. Marigolds are a popular addition to borders of your backyard and to add to your vegetable gardens. You can also grow them in pots and place them anywhere around your patio so they can do their job anywhere in your backyard. No matter where you choose to plant them, marigolds will do their job and keep mosquitoes away from your pool parties