Photograph by Alise O'Brien
On a sizzling summer day, there’s nothing more enticing than the prospect of taking a dip in a private swimming pool. When that pool happens to be located in your own back yard, the day gets even brighter—but there are several factors to be considered before the contractor starts digging.
Pool shapes and sizes can be adapted to fit just about any landscape, but, says John Jacobsen, president of St. Louis pool builder Liquid Assets, “the cost of a pool has a lot to do with how flat your yard is. A hill or a change in grade or elevation requires leveling or retaining walls, which adds to the expense.”
Street access to the yard, as well as trees with large root systems, can also increase overall cost. “Even those [trees] that don’t look particularly close to the site may need to be dug up,” Jacobsen explains.
The availability of ample sunlight and a pool’s proximity to the house also play important roles, reducing the expense associated with the electrical and heating systems required to maintain a pool.
Then there are the materials to consider. Gunite, which is preferred by many pool builders in the region, is a mixture of cement and sand that’s sprayed onto a rebar framework. It can be configured in unlimited ways, and the cost is determined by square footage, not by shape. For those seeking a more affordable option, vinyl pool liners or fiberglass pools are a good alternative and are especially good choices in regions with long periods of cold weather where winter freezing and thawing cycles can damage a rigid concrete structure.
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, keep in mind the three P’s of pool building:
- Purpose: What are your main reasons for building a pool? Relaxation and beauty, or play and exercise? Often the initial priorities, such as wanting a diving board or a built-in spa, won’t hold up when you think about how the pool will be used over the long run.
- Price: Know your budget ahead of time. In-ground pools start around $22,000 for a basic 32-by-16-foot model, but costs can double when landscaping, lighting, decking, fencing—it is required by law to install a protective barrier around an in-ground pool—and increased homeowner’s insurance are factored into the bill.
- Preservation: The chemicals needed to keep swimming pool water in top condition can run as much as $100 a month. Saltwater pools are increasingly popular because of their low-maintenance costs. However, salt can be corrosive to ladders, chrome rings, and mortar around stonework. Ken Mikes of Baker Pool Construction suggests homeowners take the time to learn the pros and cons of saltwater pools and stresses they “are not maintenance free.”
POOL TALK
Pool owners across the metro area share advice about living with a back yard swimming pool.
- Alexis Wagnon, Ladue: “When they tell you it takes three weeks to build, it’s not continuous, because there are breaks for rain. It takes longer than you think, but it’s worth the wait.”
- Scott B., Chesterfield: “Budget an additional 50 to 75 percent of the base price for things like grading, sod, landscaping, lighting, fencing, and pool furniture.”
- Brett Gaither, Richmond Heights: “Putting in a pool was the best decision we’ve made; it expanded our house with an outdoor living space and gives our family something fun to do together.”
- Tim McDowell, University City: “Examine hidden costs first: yard/driveway fix-up after the project, electric capacity for equipment, and gas lines for the heater.”
- Trisha Verstappen, Ladue: “We love our pool, but we definitely use it less than we should because it’s situated far from the house.”
- Robert W., Ladue: “Get at least two quotes.”
- Yadira Hurley, Central West End: “We went with a smaller [saltwater] pool and a bigger heater. It heats up quickly and gives us the flexibility to decide in the morning whether we’ll swim later that day.”
