What would you say the most basic of inground pools would cost? Let’s assume the ground is nice and flat, so excavation work would be minimal. And, let’s not include the cost of a fence and operational/maintenance costs, etc.
Just curious…
What is being included in the cost? Just the price of installing a concrete hole in the ground?
I can’t tell you the installation cost, because it will vary greatly depending on where you live. But you should also be aware of the issues that will come up that a pool salesman might not tell you.
For example, the operating costs of an inground pool can be quite high. A pool can lose between 1 and 1.5 inches of water a week. For a 20 X 50 pool, that’s around 625-975 gallons of water a week. If you’re heating your pool, that’s heat you paid for evaporating away. At current energy prices, that can be pretty expensive. Depending on where you live, the water might be expensive too. 625 gallons of water is about 200 toilet flushes, or 20 baths. You’ll want to cover the pool between uses, but you’ll still lose water to evaporation.
Also, if you don’t have a tall fence, you’ll want to get one. And check with your insurance company about whether your home policy covers swimming pool liability - backyard swimming pools claim the lives of several hundred children a year, so you’ll want to keep it protected. If you have small children, you might want to get a lockable cover or something, and make sure they are always supervised.
I know backyard pools are common in places like Florida, but here in Edmonton they will actually lower the resale value of your home. So check into that as well.
Well, maybe some decorative tile, too? Or, maybe I’ll just dig a big hole and skip the concrete.
Average prices I’ve heard of range from 60k-100k.
Numbers I’ve seen quoted on the forums at Trouble Free Pool range from $30K for a very basic pool with minimal deck and no landscaping to >$100K for a full outdoor living space with a hot tub and kitchen.
The cost difference between concrete, fiberglass, and vinyl pools is surprisingly small. There can be a significant difference from region to region. Also, the cost will depend on if heavy equipment can access the build location.