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Ready to Take the Plunge?
Putting in a Pool
By Leigh Perkins
If you've thought about building your own pool, maybe now is the time. According to the National Association of Realtors, in-ground swimming pools add about 8 percent to the value of your home (above-ground pools, unfortunately, add no value but they do add lots of fun). Here's what you should know before you pool your resources:
In-ground pools are either concrete, vinyl-lined or fiberglass. Options with concrete, the most popular type of pool, are almost limitless for design and materials. A concrete pool takes several weeks to build, sometimes months for the finish work. Vinyl saves money and is a smooth surface for tiny feet, but most vinyl pools come as a package with little customization. Fiberglass does not chip, tear or alter the chemistry of the water. Vinyl-lined and fiberglass pools can be ready to go within a week.
In-ground pools range from $7,000 (for a basic vinyl-lined pool) to $20,000 for a fiberglass-shell pool to more than $50,000 for a concrete pool with tons of style and features (concrete pools start at around $18,000, which varies from state to state). Luxury materials, complex design, automatic systems and terrain can add to the cost. Above-ground pools range from $1,500 to $5,000.
Having an in-ground pool gives you the convenience of having a water fitness resort right at your house, the beautification of your landscape and the comfort of knowing nobody at the community pool ever has to see you in your bikini again.
