Cost: The cost of pool installation and pool maintenance

How much does a fiberglass pool cost?

One of the first questions potential pool owners want to know when they call our company is: How much does a fiberglass pool cost? Although this is a very difficult question to answer, I will try to do my best here to explain some general pricing guidelines.

The purchase of a swimming pool is much like the purchase of a vehicle or even a home. With so many options available, price range can vary drastically. Just as a Ford F150 can start around 20k with just a basic package, it can quickly cost over 40k once a shopper adds such items as power windows, CD player, all-leather interior, chrome finishes, extended cab, drive, 4 doors versus two, upgraded wheels, dual exhaust, spray-on bedliner, built-in GPS system, etc, etc. Consider so many upgrades? The answer is because most people understand the importance of getting what they want the first time so as to not having regrets down the road. Because most Americans spend over 30 minutes a day in their vehicles, they want to make sure their vehicle will provided them with comfort, quality, longevity, and ease of use. These same principles typically apply to most in-ground swimming pool shoppers. Understanding that they are going to have to see their pool everyday for as long as they live in their home, as well as minimum maintenance, most shoppers elect to get the pool that will make them happiest in the long-run. Unfortunately, some people only focus on the initial price of the pool, therefore sacrificing low-maintenance, quality, warranty, and aesthetics, which inevitably leads to regret, especially considering that unlike a vehicle, a swimming pool cannot be traded in if one is dissatisfied.

Now that you hopefully understand the vehicle analogy, I will list some of the most common “add-ons” found in the purchase of a swimming pool:

• Perimeter/waterline tile
• Colored pool surface finishes
• Fiber optic lighting
• Mosaic inlays
• Salt chlorine generators
• Coated colored handrails and ladders
• Water features
• Additional jetting
• Automatic vacuums
• In-ground and spillover spas
• Extra concrete decking
• Decorative concrete decking (stamped concrete, spray deck, colored broom finish, pavers etc.)

When an inquiry is made as to how much our pools cost, extent of installation is also a key factor. What I mean by this is that as a company, we have three different packages we offer our customers. Unlike most pool companies, we will do as much or as little as our customers would have us do. This flexibility leads to less stress and more saving for the customer. The packages are as follows, with their corresponding price ranges:

Bronze Package* Pools Include The Following:
Pool Shell - Lifetime Warranty, Large Non Slip Steps, All Freight Delivery & Installation, Excavation, Setting of Pool and Back Filling
Permit - All necessary permits.
Skimmer - Large Over-sized Skimmer
Bottom Drain - Dual Bottom Drains for Maximum Cleaning Power(on selected models)
Returns - 2 to 3 depending on pool
Pump - Energy Efficient, High Performance -3 Year Warranty
Filter - Over-sized Sand Filter - 3 Year Warranty
Plumbing - Pipes, fittings, flex and valves all commercial grade
Hand Rail - All stainless steel
Automatic Chlorinator - Easy to use at low cost
Soil - up to 4 loads backfill material and/or soil removal for use on pool
Concrete - 3’ of concrete decking around perimeter of pool
Set-Up Cleaning - Up to 2 cleanings and pool water balanced

Silver Package* Pools Include The Following:
Pool Shell - Lifetime Warranty, Large Non Slip Steps, All Freight Delivery & Installation, Excavation, and Setting of Pool
Tile - Standard selection of 2”x6”
Permit - All necessary permits.
Skimmer - Large Over-sized Skimmer
Bottom Drain - Dual Bottom Drains for Maximum Cleaning Power
Pump - Energy Efficient, High Performance - 2 Year Full Warranty
Filter - Over-sized Sand Filter 2 Year Full Warranty
Plumbing - Pipes, fittings and valves all commercial grade
Light - White LED(1 for under 25' long, 2 for over 26' long)
Ladder & Hand Rail - All stainless steel
Automatic Chlorinator - Easy to use at low cost
Soil - up to 4 loads backfill material and/or soil removal for use on pool
Concrete - 3’ of concrete decking around perimeter of pool
Vacuum & Test Kit - vacuum hose, vacuum head, pole, leaf net, wall brush and test kit
Set-Up Cleaning - Up to 2 cleanings and pool water balanced

Gold Package* Pools Include The Following:
Pool Shell - Lifetime Warranty, Large Non Slip Steps, All Freight Delivery & Installation , Excavation, and Setting of Pool
Coping - Concrete Cantilever
Light - Color LED(1 for under 25' long, 2 for over 26' long)
Permit - All necessary permits.
Skimmer - Large Over-sized Skimmer
Bottom Drain - Dual Bottom Drains for Maximum Cleaning Power (on selected models)
Pump - Energy Efficient, High Performance - 3 Year Full Warranty
Filter - Over-sized Sand Filter - 3 Year Full Warranty
Plumbing - Pipes, fittings and valves all commercial grade
Ladder & Hand Rail - All stainless steel (Handrail only for 24’ long or less)
Heater - Propane Gas 190,00 BTU Rheem
Tile - 2” x 6” many designs to choose from
Salt Chlorine System- Easy to use keypad, built in pool timer with freeze protection. No more chlorine tabs needed
Soil - up to 4 loads backfill material and/or soil removal for use on pool
Concrete - 3’ of concrete decking around perimeter of pool
Vacuum & Test Kit - vacuum hose, vacuum head, pole, leaf net, wall brush and test kit
Set-Up Cleaning - Up to 2 cleanings and pool water balanced

Platinum Package* Pools Include The Following:
Pool Shell - Lifetime Warranty, Large Non Slip Steps, All Freight Delivery & Installation , Excavation, and Setting of Pool
Soil - up to 4 loads backfill material and/or soil removal for use on pool
Permit - All necessary permits.
Skimmer - Large Over-sized Skimmer
Bottom Drain - Dual Bottom Drains for Maximum Cleaning Power (on selected models)
Pump - Energy Efficient, High Performance - 3 Year Full Warranty
Filter - Over-sized Sand Filter - 3 Year Full Warranty
Plumbing - Pipes, fittings and valves all commercial grade
Ladder & Hand Rail - All stainless steel
Heater - Propane Gas 190,00 BTU Rheem
Salt Chlorine System- Easy to use keypad, built in pool timer with freeze protection. No more chlorine tabs needed
Light - LED Color (1 for under 25' long, 2 for over 26' long)
Heatpump - Aquacal Heatwave Series (Pools under 14,500 gallons H110, Pools over 14,600 gallons H120)
Tile - 2” x 6” many designs to choose from
Waterfeature - Cascade 18" or 1 deck jet
Coping - Concrete Cantilever and Concrete Pump
Concrete - 3’ of concrete decking around perimeter of pool
Vacuum & Test Kit - vacuum hose, vacuum head, pole, leaf net, wall brush and test strips
Set-Up Cleaning - Up to 2 cleanings and pool water balanced

Concrete
Concrete pools typically cost about the same as a composite pool initially. When one analyzes long-term costs though, they will find a huge discrepancy. For example, concrete pools typically have to be re-plastered every 8-12 years. This repair usually costs between $6,000-$10,000. There is also a substantial difference each season on chemical/maintenance costs. With the disadvantages of high chemical use, constant wall brushing, discoloration, scrubbing, acid-washing, and surface roughness; it is rare that an educated consumer will choose concrete over composite unless the shape or size of the pool is very unusual and low-maintenance is not a concern.