Things to Consider Before You Take the Plunge.
Installing a pool is a major investment in your home. While the cost can vary, so can the impact on the value of your home. But there are other things to consider when considering a pool for your home.
LIFESTYLE
Many people would think that budget would be the first thing to take into consideration when deciding on a pool, however, I would challenge that cost come second to lifestyle. I will get into why budget comes second in my next section. But for now, let me explain the lifestyle aspect.
When we moved into our new (old) house in November, our plans were quite different. We were planning an attached garage, a real 3rd bedroom on the second floor and thinking of maybe getting a boat since we were so close to the water.
While deep down we knew there was an option of a pool, but it was more of a, “maybe one day” vs urgent. While we loved having a pool at our previous home, we were tired of fighting with the kids to go in and use it. And we were often deciding not going away as much because of the investment we had made in our backyard,
As we settled in, we also experienced one of our busiest winter season with our work and the girl’s hockey schedule. By the time February rolled around – we realized that our busy lives (kid’s sports, work, commutes) left us pretty tired by the end of the week and packing up to go some place else to relax didn’t seem like such a fun idea anymore. In addition, sports took up many of our weekends – making it difficult for trips.
This is when we decided to put a pool in. We figured it would allow us to really have a sanctuary here at our home. A place where we can relax on the weekends and the kids can cool off, without us having to go anywhere. This is really what works for our lifestyle.
So when your considering a pool, think about your lifestyle – do you like to travel in the summer months? Do you have a lot of activities going on that keep you from going away? Do you have the time to do the maintenance on the pool (cleaning, filling, balancing)? Do you like to have friends and family over?
All things that contribute to deciding if having a pool is a good fit for you and your family.
BUDGET
The reason why I say budget comes second – is that there are so many options. There is essentially a pool for every budget. While an in-ground pool can set you back anywhere from $40K – $80K depending on the size, landscaping and options, you can get a new above-ground pool for $5000 installed. If you have an even tighter budget, you can get a cute little stock tank pool for under $1000. At the end of the post, you will find some cute pool inspo for all budgets.
We knew for sure that we wanted to go with an unground pool. There was already an above ground that we were going to remove and since putting in our first unground at our previous house – we already knew how we would improve upon our first pool. We had our budget and we had our ideal look – so we stuck with that.
When we started shopping around, we had a pretty good idea of the cost of the pool. An inground pool price is pretty standard no matter what type you go for. We were in between fibreglass (like our previous pool), a full concrete pool and a concrete bottom. We got quotes from 3 different companies – and in the end we decided to go with a referral of a stonework company that would use a high-quality pool company to do the install, while he managed the entire job.
But the pool is not the only thing you have to consider…you have to think about the landscaping around the pool, fences, decks, tree removal, electrician…it all adds up. To how much you may ask? Well I’m going to lay it all out for your right here. (All prices are approximate and not including tax)
- Concrete bottom pool, installed (14’x28’): $30,000 CAD
- Electrician: $2500 CAD
- Professional Tree Removal: $650 CAD
- Gravel, Soil and Sod for re-landscaping (DIY): $1200 CAD
- Fencing: $4000 CAD
NOTES: Cost of the pool included the small machinery, upgrade to bullnose concrete, and all equipment. The tree removal cost is for one small tree but it was too close to the power lines for us to cut down, we did all the re-landscaping ourselves.
All of the above is considered to be pretty standard for in-ground pool installation. Of course, you may have more or less trees to remove, or a bigger or smaller fence to make. And if you hire professionals to do the landscaping that was disturbed during the installation process, it will for sure be more.
So at minimum, you are looking at $40,000. But that’s not all that you may need or want to do. Typically, you want to add additional patio space for seating and access, like us. If that’s the case, here are some other costs to consider.
Other things we added/purchased:
- Additional Stonework: $10,000 CAD
- Deck (composite with wood frame – DIY): $6,000 CAD
- New Garden Door (installed): $3,000 CAD
- Gazebo (Pre-Fab): $1,700 CAD
- Patio Furniture: $1,500 CAD
- Trees and Plants: $1,000 CAD
So in total, our backyard project set us back over $60,000 CAD (plus tax). I’m being fully transparent about this because I think it’s important to know what you are getting into when you plan to put in an in-ground pool. Sure they look great, but they require a huge financial and time investment.
Aside from the major work, we did most of the landscaping and building ourselves. This probably saved us about $5000, but took a lot of our time this summer. Not to mention the time spent at home while the work was being done by the different professionals. I can’t stress this enough – you need to be home when they are doing the work. Plans can change, there are questions from the professionals and not to mention making sure everything is being done as per your expectations.
OUTDOOR SPACE
The last thing to consider when planning a pool is the space you have. This is going to give you your options for a pool. Where you are located, the size, zoning, and the type of earth beneath your feet will impact where you can place a pool and what type of pool you can have.
For example, in our last home, we had a small backyard, with a retaining wall in the back. This meant that a pool company would not have a lot of space to reinforce the walls of an unground pool. Our only option was a full concrete or a fibreglass in-ground pool, or an above ground. We chose a fibreglass pool – which had great benefits (ie almost indestructible and quick installation) but is limited in the sizes and shapes options. Many of our neighbours in that area opted for above ground pools.
In our new home, we went with a concrete bottom pool due to the amount of space we had. We were lucky that while we are close to the water, we are high enough that we aren’t as impacted by spring flooding, which would have again limited our options as well as meant additional measures would be required to ensure the pool wouldn’t “pop” out of the ground if the water table rose too much. We noticed many other people had full concrete pools, or none at all.
It’s important to look at the space you have and think about how you think people will move around it – consider the space between your home and the pool, where the fence would be placed, seating area, access to the pool, as well as privacy. These are all things to consider with the type of pool and where you place it. Also consider where you get the most sunlight – nothing is worse than an unused pool because its never in the sun.
SO YOUR GOING FOR IT! WHAT’S NEXT?
Once you’ve decided that you’re going to put a pool in – make sure you go to see different companies with an open mind, but a clear understanding of your space, budget and what you want. It’s important to keep an open mind because they may have different options that you didn’t consider OR not be able to give you exactly what you want due to limitations listed above.
No matter who you go to see, you will need your land title certificate (the document that shows your property lines along with your dwelling location, etc) – its called different things in different areas, but regardless, you need to bring it so the company can understand the space they have to work with. Make sure it is up to date.
A good pool company should be able to give you a high level idea of the different by-laws in your area regarding a pool, but its a good idea to check them out for yourself first. Many are online, but you can also call or visit your city office to understand better. You need to respect the different lines (property, servitude, power line access). Another important aspect is fencing rules – pools can be dangerous for children and many municipalities required you to properly secure the space to keep young kids from having easy access.
Be sure to talk to a few different companies and evaluate them not just on cost, but their knowledge, their reviews and their installation process and post-installation support. Make sure they come to see your yard before you get the final price and sign a contract – ensure it includes all the equipment and all the installation costs. Be sure to get commitment on a start date and ask what happens if they are delayed – as it ultimately impacts your plans. Also be sure to ask about costs for changes incurred due to their errors in estimating and their coverage for any damages done. Be sure to understand what “installed” means – do they re-landscape your yard from the machinery?
Finally, you will be responsible for getting the proper permits, and its best not to wait. Some municipalities take longer than others, and your planned start date could get delayed if you don’ have your permit in time. Make sure the company you are hiring provides you the plans based on your current land title for you to use to obtain the permit. Sometimes, some changes will have to be made to the plans – in which case, you will also need to let the company know.
ENJOY
We have not regretted, not for one minute, the decision to put a pool in either of our homes. In fact, I have yet to meet someone who has. While some may complain from time to time about the little maintenance tasks, the pleasure far outweighs the pain.
Like any other home project, just make sure you are aware of all the options, the costs and work closely with your construction teams to ensure a smooth process all around – and then you will be enjoying your backyard for many summers to come.
#POOLINSPO (from the ‘gram)
IN-GROUND POOLS
ABOVE GROUND POOLS
STOCK TANK POOLS
Don’t be shy if you have any questions on the topic. While not a professional pool installer, after going through the process twice, we have a good idea of how it works. Ask away in the comments below, or share your thoughts!
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