How much should you splash out on a swimming pool?
24th Nov '16 • By Emily Ayers
A swimming pool in your backyard is a great way to enjoy leisure time at home with friends and family. Not only does a swimming pool create fun activities for you and your family, it can also be an asset for your property.
Like any other aspect of your home – the landscape or the house itself – building and maintaining a swimming pool comes with its own costs. If you are considering building one yourself or hiring professionals to do it for you, then checking how much you might splash out is a factor you must consider.
Size Matters
First and foremost, you have to take into account the size of your property. If you don’t have much landscape around your house, then building a large swimming pool wouldn’t be the wisest idea. If you’re not on a large block, building a swimming pool can do little to increase property value. This is because not many people are looking for a new home with a small yard and a huge swimming pool. You need to take into consideration that not everyone wants to spend their time outside swimming, some would rather, for example use the area for recreational activities like cricket.
The Cost
The cost of a swimming pool is determined by its size and the building material chosen. If you’re looking for a pool on the cheaper side of things, then an above ground vinyl swimming pool is definitely for you. Vinyl pools can cost roughly around $10,000, however, you should keep in mind regulations and the cost of these, for example the cost of a pool fence.
Fiberglass and concrete pools come at a ranging pricing of $25,000 to $35,000. The benefit of a concrete pool it that they can come in any shape and size. If you’re looking for a custom pool, than a concrete pool is definitely for you. Fiberglass pools on the other hand, come in predetermined shapes and sizes. One of the greatest features on a fiberglass pool is that they can come with a owner lifetime guarantee or a 25 year guarantee.
Heating
If you’re thinking about heating your swimming pool, then you should know that gas heaters are the less expensive $3,000 to $4,000 to purchase and install than electric. Electric heat pumps can cost between $4,000 and $6,000. However, gas heaters have the highest running costs. Solar heating is also another option to consider, having a running cost of as little as a $1.00 a day.
Maintenance
Most homeowners can forget about the ongoing costs of owning a swimming pool. Pool maintenance needs to be conducted every couple of months to ensure the proper balance of alkalinity, calcium and pH levels. These levels need to be monitored to control bacteria and germs. Chlorine will also have to be regularly deposited into your pool and this can cost around $50 to $80 per bag.