Having a pool in your backyard is an excellent addition to your property. Not only will it provide you with countless fun hours, but it is also going to increase the value of your home, in case you ever decide to sell it. No one can deny all the benefits that one of these will bring to you and your family. However, this can be a significant investment so there are some things that you have to consider before making a payment.
Some people would say that having one of these in the backyard is just for privileged people i.e. the ones who can afford it. Generally speaking, they are not wrong, but you have to be aware of the fact that since these are becoming more and more popular, nowadays, homeowners are presented with multiple options, some cheaper than the others.
Clearly, the two things that greatly affect the decision of whether adding a pool is the right choice for you are cost and the space available. Due to this reason, in the following article, we are going to discuss these two in fine detail, but also, we are going to mention some other aspects of this entire process that you shouldn’t forget to think about. Since we are mostly going to focus on the price, you can read more about other things on compasspools.com.au.
How expensive is this investment?
Let’s start with something that most people are curious about – expenses. When we say ‘costs’ we are not only talking about the building and installing ones, but there are also some hidden ones like maintenance fees.
Obviously, the price is largely determined by the type you choose i.e. materials. You can choose between:
- Fiberglass is the most popular one. An average cost of the 25-foot pool is about $35,000, but there is also the cost of installing additional features, and don’t forget about the maintenance that is going to cost you a little under $4,000 for the 10-year period.
- Furthermore, you can go with the vinyl liner which is the cheapest option if you want to do everything by yourself (around $20,000). On the other hand, if you were to hire a professional you would have to pay anywhere between $35,000 and $65,000, depending on the different features. The maintenance expenses are around $11,500.
- Finally, the most expensive option is the concrete pool. Building this one is considered to be a lifetime investment since the price is between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on the size of it. Like this isn’t pricey enough, you would have to pay over $27,000 to maintain it over a period of 10 years.
How to decide on the size and the shape?
When it comes to choosing these, the most important thing that you have to consider is the space you have in your backyard. If you have always wanted a large pool, but getting one of these would mean taking the entire garden, then you should forget about it and move on. You cannot deprive your kids of having a treehouse or a swing set.
The next question you should ask yourself is “Why do I want one”? Yes, yes, we all want it because it is fun, but think about the activities that are going to occur. Do you want to swims lap every day or do you want to have a place to enjoy during hot summer days? You probably know that lap pools are longer than the recreational ones.
Moreover, do you want to install a Jacuzzi or have enough space for patio furniture? Have you got small children? If your answer is yes, then you have to consider building a portion of the pool specifically for them meaning a part of it isn’t too deep.
Another thing that is affected by the size of your yard is the shape of the pool. As you know, nowadays, professional companies allow you to create whatever you want to. This is a great thing because it means that you can adapt it to space you dispose of.
Naturally, if you plan on doing different types of fitness activities, then you should go with the linear-shaped one. On the other hand, if you want to improve the aesthetics of the garden, the curved one is definitely a better choice.
What is the cost of additional features?
We have already mentioned some expenses, but we did not include the price of the add -ons. You must be wondering what we are talking about. First of all, you can opt for installing LED lights into the pool. This is something that everyone does, not only because it is aesthetically appealing, but it also practical because you will be able to swim laps during night time. When it comes to the number of LEDs you will need to achieve that effect you are looking for, it depends not only on the size of the pool but also on the colors of the tiles on the bottom.
Tiles are our next add-on. Since these determine the overall design and due to the fact that the possibilities are endless, it is understandable that these come in numerous sizes, colors, and shapes. Clearly, if you are looking for the cheapest options, you should inquire about the most commonly used ones. Also, keep in mind that inlaid tiles and mosaics can be quite expensive.
In addition, you should definitely invest in a pool heater and cooler. These pieces of equipment are going to allow you to use the pool even when the temperatures start dropping. You know that there is a period between season when it is warm enough to sunbathe or swim but not warm enough to heat the water, right? Similarly, sometimes, during extremely hot days the water can become too warm and stop you from cooling off and relaxing.
Don’t forget about the pool covers. Most homeowners opt for buying these not only because they are going to prevent the debris from falling into the water, but also because there are also safety covers that are more secure and durable.
Finally, you can also get a slide. Who doesn’t love these? It doesn’t matter how old you are, we are sure that you are going to have a lot of fun with these. If you have children this is definitely an essential item that you need.
