Costs

How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost? Let’s Break it Down

Asking how much does an inground pool cost? is a lot like asking how much does a house cost? There’s no simple answer. Inground pool prices are dependent on so many factors that the only meaningful way to find out the true cost is to get a quote from a contractor – or better yet, many quotes from many contractors.

But before you call in a contractor, it helps to do some homework ahead of time. First, to get a very rough ballpark estimate of what an inground pool costs, so that you know whether you can afford even the most basic pool. And second, to get an idea of the sort of things a contractor is going to talk about that determine the price of the inground pool, so that you can be prepared to tell him or her what you want. That’s the humble goal of this site – to give you the basic facts you need to begin the process of getting an inground pool.

For an Average Pool, Expect to Pay $25,000-50,000

Understanding that this is a very rough figure, you can expect to pay $25,000-50,000 for an inground pool. Of course, that’s assuming a pool of average size, in an average city with the average cost of living, average extras, and average materials.

Of course, you probably aren’t average.

Things that Might Raise (or Lower) the Price of an Inground Pool

Here’s a list of things that determine the final cost of installing an inground pool.

Size. The size of the pool is the biggest factor in determining how much it costs. For every square foot, expect to pay around $50.

Depth. This is part of the pool’s size, but it’s worth calling attention to it separately. If you want a deeper pool, that’s going to require more labor (digging) and materials. On the other hand, if you’re building a kiddie pool, the cost will be less.

Materials. The materials you use to line the pool play a big role in determining cost. Gunite (concrete) and fiberglass are considered the premium materials, and will cost more than vinyl.

 

A large, freeform pool such as this costs a lot more

Your area. Generally, the higher the cost of living in your area, the more you will have to pay. Also, you will need to pay for permits, which could be a significant cost depending on where you live.

Custom shape. If you want a non-standard shape for your pool, you will have to pay extra.

 

Extras You May Want or Need

 

It’s no exaggeration to say that extras can easily cost more than the actual pool. Here are a list of extras that can quickly add up. Of course, “extra” is relative. One person’s extras are another person’s must-haves.

Fencing. This isn’t strictly part of the cost of an inground pool, but it’s something to seriously consider. If you don’t already have an enclosed yard, you’ll need to get one. Otherwise, your pool poses a danger to children and pets in your neighborhood, and you open yourself up to liability.

Diving boards. The cost of diving boards isn’t incidental, as they can run $400 or more. Also keep in mind that if you want a higher diving board, you will need a deeper pool – which costs more money.

Slides. Similar to diving boards, slides will add a non-trivial amount to the cost of your pool.

Spas. Obviously, adding a spa to your inground pool seriously raises the price. However, for many people, a spa is a must-have whose cost must be factored in from the get-go.

Lighting. There are all sorts of lighting configurations you can get with inground swimming pools. If you’re planning to swim at night, this is likely to be a key concern for you.

 

Lighting can dramatically impact your pool’s appearance – and its cost

Obviously, you could go crazy with all sorts of other extras like kiddie water playgrounds, waterfalls, alcoves – you name it. These extras can send the cost of your inground pool through the roof, but for those with money to spend, there’s often nothing better to spend it on than a top-notch swimming pool.

Features

Vanishing Edge Swimming Pool

When you are setting up a plan for your new pool in Houston, you may have come across the term vanishing edge swimming pool. If you are confused about what this means, in this article, we are going to go over more about this term as well as how to create an amazing backyard setting that will attract your friends and family for any party you throw.

 

A vanishing edge swimming pool tricks your eyes into thinking that the pool is merging with the backdrop of the pool. Whether this is a mountain, ocean or another setting, it is beautiful. The unique water that flows over the pool’s vanishing edge makes you be able to relax and enjoy with great views. Other common terms for this pool is infinity pool, disappearing edge pool or a negative edge pool. Whatever you choose to call this pool, it is going to allow you to create your own backyard oasis that is rivaled by nothing. These pools are the ultimate luxury which is why you are going to see them at top resorts. For a long time, you would only see these swimming pools at the luxury resorts, but now they are more affordable and anyone that put so chooses can have one in their backyard.

 

These pools are designed so that the edge and the basin are not visible when you are standing in or around the pool, in front of the pool, above the pool or looking out from a window. It is a great design when you have a non-traditional backyard that has enough square footage past the pool to install the basin. What happens is there is a mirror like surface that is created with this type of edge and they go great with a modern design. You can have your own pool when you call us today so give us a call.

 

Once only found at exotic resorts and high-end hotels, tanning ledges are quickly becoming popular among homeowners installing inground pools. Also called baja shelves and sun shelves, more and more homeowners are incorporating tanning ledges into their pools because these features are both practical and beautiful. If you’re having an inground pool installed, here’s how you could use a tanning ledge to add both function and class to your backyard pool.

What is a tanning ledge, baja shelf or sun shelf?

Tanning ledges, baja shelves and sun shelves are all different terms used for the same inground pool feature. They’re large, shallow shelves. Typically big enough to fit at least a couple of lounge chairs and an umbrella, their size may range from 5 feet 6 inches by 12 feet to 8 feet 10 inches by 18 feet 1 inch. Their depth is usually between 6 and 12 inches, with 10 inches being an especially popular depth.

What types of pools can tanning ledges be installed in?

Tanning ledges are highly customizable and can be adapted to almost any pool style and construction. For instance, Trilogy Fusion Pools come with tanning ledge options for all of the line’s free-form modular designs (Gemini, Genesis, Synergy and Picasso). If you have a more square swimming pool, the modern Europa or Semi Circle design will fit perfectly alongside a pool’s straight side. Additionally, these shelves can be incorporated into most types of inground pools, including both fiberglass and vinyl inground pools.

What do people use tanning ledges for?

The large, shallow area of a tanning ledge is, of course, perfect for tanning. Lounging in a chair with a favorite beverage or book and sunning yourself is just one way you can use a sun shelf. These shelves are also ideal for:

  • Letting young children play in your pool (while supervised)
  • Giving elderly adults a way to enjoy a pool without struggling to get in and out of it
  • Splashing around in the water with your dog
  • Staying cool while doing yoga outdoors

How should a tanning ledge be designed?

Tanning ledges have become popular, in part, because they’re highly customizable. In addition to working them into almost any pool design, you can further customize a baja shelf by:

  • Adding bubblers (they’re the perfect depth for bubblers)
  • Placing a fountain between your sun shelf and pool
  • Changing the spillways that flow from your baja shelf into your pool
  • Illuminating bubblers, fountains and spillways at night with LED lights
  • Installing built-in umbrella sleeves for pool umbrellas
  • Selecting custom tiles to border your shelf

If you’re looking for a way to add both class and functionality to your inground pool, talk to your pool builder about how a baja shelf could transform your backyard pool into a resort-like oasis. They take up much less room than beach entries yet provide a shallow area for staying cool and splashing around. Your pool builder will be able to help you envision a tanning ledge, baja shelf or sun shelf that both meets your family’s needs and enhances your pool’s elegance.

 

Water Falls/features

Water in motion engages our senses; It’s beautiful to look at, relaxing to hear, thrilling to touch, and restorative to our bodies and spirits. A swimming pool with a water feature or waterfall is a water-on-water experience that serves as a focal point and lures you into its environment. Just like other elements of your property, you want to choose water features that complement your home’s and pool’s architectural style. They should also fit within your budget and personal taste.

Think about proportion and scale when selecting a pool or spa water feature, making sure that a fountain or fixture is not too monumental for the size of your pool and yard. If it’s an existing pool, is the shape geometric or freeform? Rocks, real or faux, look best with curvilinear, naturalistic-shaped pools, while more simple architectural features enhance a modern or rectangular shape. Unless it is a very basic water feature, hire a pool builder, electrician, plumber, or pool technician to install a fountain or waterfall.

 

Types of Water Features

Learn the different kinds of water features before shopping and consult a professional to make sure it’s logistically possible to install certain types; some just may not work with your pool, while others may create a water world beyond your imagination. The main types of features include:

  • Fountain: A wide range of styles are available, from spillovers to floating
  • Waterfall: Often built with rocks or boulders (real and faux) as part of a naturalistic pool design, waterfalls are one of the most popular water features when paired with swimming pools.
  • Water Wall: Just like it sounds, a waterfall spills out from a horizontal spout placed on a tiled or decorative wall near the pool.
  • Rain Curtain: A narrow and often wide sheet or curtain of water usually mounted on a wall, pergola roof, or overhang, that falls into the pool.
  • Scupper: Similar to a sconce, a scupper is a slot or spout that is attached to a wall or pedestal. Water flow styles include chute, trough, and sheet.
  • Sconce: A decorative element attached to pool walls out of which pour narrow streams of water. Sconces can be shapes, architectural pieces, urns, vessels, or characters, like animals.
  • Bubblers: Aka gushers, are small jets in the floor of a shallow surface of the pool that shoot streams of water that gurgle and bubble up; heights of the streams can be adjusted.
  • Spillover Spa: An integrated custom-designed spa that is raised above the pool, serving as a sort of utilitarian water feature as it spills or trickles into the swimming pool.
  • Deck Jets: Often called a laminar or pencil jet, this type of water feature is installed into pool decking and shoots a narrow, arching stream of water into the pool. For additional fun and drama, deck jets can be illuminated with color-changing LED lights.
  • Mist: Fog and misting systems are designed to create a curtain of mist and can reduce temperatures by as much as 30°
  • Statuary: Similar to a sconce in that a statue is usually figural–animal, fish, bird, or person. Water usually bubbles out or shoots a stream.

In floor systems

SAVE UP TO 30% ON CHEMICALS & ENERGY WITH AN INFLOOR SWIMMING POOL/SPA CLEANING SYSTEMS

In-floor systems are more than highly effective automatic pool cleaners. They also function as high efficiency circulation systems. They are so effective that they have been independently certified to save up to 30% on chemicals and energy for the life of your pool.

CUSTOM ENGINEERED

FOR IMPROVED CLEANING

Built right into the pool shell, Paramount’s automatic in-floor swimming pool/spa cleaning systems are engineered to clean your entire pool, including floors, steps, benches, even spas. Nozzles pop up sequentially to direct a power jet of water to direct debris towards the MDX-R3 drain. When not operating, the nozzles disappears back into the pool floor, making it virtually invisible. There are no vacuum hoses left floating in the pool. All that’s left is a sparkling clean pool that’s ready to enjoy. Our in-floor systems are so effective that it will clean 99% of your entire pool, guaranteed, as well as significantly reduce heating and chemical costs for the life of your pool.

 

Air Bar

Create the look of a bubbling volcano, river rapids or an exciting aerated feature on your pool & spa floor, bench or shelf. Airbar is a channel system installed flush with the bottom of your pool that delivers a rush of bubbles, infusing life and excitement into still waters. 

Available in complete kits – 27″ Octagon, 23″ x 27″ Hexagon, 42″ Square and 53.5″ x 42″ Rectangle – that create fun and unique water shows. Or combine your imagination and our Airbar fixtures and create your own shape! Comes in white and grey and virtually invisible when installed. 

 

Lighting

 

Energy-efficient RGBW pool and spa lights

Jandy WaterColors pool and spa lights offer energy efficiency in an ultra-slim profile and simple installation. The addition of the White diode to our existing RGB lights will even further enhance the brilliance of the nighttime pool experience by providing a purer white tone. WaterColors are ETL classified and fit into existing niches from Pentair and Hayward as well as Jandy ProNiches.

Features

  • Dedicated white LEDs in addition to Red, Green and Blue LEDs
  • Choose from nine vibrant colors or five dramatic light shows
  • Long life, less than 50 watts of power, available in 120V and 12V versions
  • Controlled by a single light switch or seamlessly interfaces with our Smart Color Control

 

Cool by Design

The Jandy Pro Series WaterColors Nicheless LED lights with HydroCool™ technology use an innovative, energy-efficient design that harnesses the cooling power of water to create a cooler running, longer lasting* light. Designed to fit in a standard 1-1/2″ return fitting, these lights are smaller to accommodate complex pool designs, and operate at lower wattages, while providing the same brilliant illumination as previous models.

*Based on internal testing

Features

  • Bright illumination that reduces energy costs using less wattage than ever before
  • Triple-material, unibody construction design eliminates common leakage failure points
  • The diffuser lens provides better blending of light for the clearest and most consistent lighting in its class
  • Quarter moon and half moon lens covers are available as optional accessories to eliminate reflective shadows/halos on the pool floor

 

Automation

Smart Device. Smart Pool. Smart You. Intelligent pool control from your smart phone, tablet, or web-connected device.

iAquaLink allows you to control your pool anytime, anywhere. Using our free app for your smartphone or web-connected device, you can control all the elements of your pool or pool/spa system, even when you’re on the go.

iAquaLink can be used on more mobile device platforms than any other pool control system.

iAquaLink is Easy & Convenient

  • On the golf course or on the go, control your pool anytime, anywhere with iAquaLink.
  • Most intuitive and user-friendly mobile pool controller ever.
  • iAquaLink can be used alone, or combined with the complete line of wall-mounted or wireless AquaLink® interfaces.
  • User accounts can be created in minutes, used immediately, and the service is free.
  • Control multiple pools from a single app.
  • Have the pool or spa ready to use as soon as you get home. Forgot to turn the temperature down while on vacation? Not a problem with iAquaLink.

Complete Control

Global, 24/7 control of any device connected to the AquaLink System.

  • Pool, spa, and solar valves
  • Pool temperature
  • Spa temperature
  • Waterfalls
  • Spillovers
  • Laminar jets
  • Light dimmers
  • Pool cleaner
  • Color and white lights
  • Landscape lights
  • Filter pump
  • Booster pump
  • And much more

Features

Powerful & Versatile

Upgrades available for virtually any AquaLink, Jandy®, or Zodiac controller ever made.

  • Exceptional WiFi reliability with stronger signal strength
  • No unsightly wires, wall panels, or charging bases required
  • Compatible with virtually all residential WiFi and Ethernet networks
  • Easy, hassle-free online registration. Professional installation required

For the pool professional, iAquaLink 2.0 delivers the easiest installation ever and offers:

  • Faster and easier installation with no need for laptops, cables, or software to download
  • Simple WiFi setup using any smartphone or tablet
  • Enhanced WiFi performance with strongest signal strength
  • Compatibility with virtually all routers

 

 

Visual – Pool Style aesthetic

Mix and match the different styles and come up with a very specific design style

Roman

Modern

Rustic

Cultural

Classical

Lagoon

straight edge

curved

lap

leisure

Example: Modern straight edge design, include the vanishing edge but use Lagoon style foliage.

 

7 items you don’t want to miss with your new pool

Comfort – do you enjoy the feel of your pool?

Aesthetic – are you impressed by what you see?

Durability – is there longevity in your purchase?

Efficiency – how’s your electric and gas bill gonna look?

Economy – did you break the bank?

Luxury – have you gotten what you paid for?

Happiness – well that’s self explanatory.