You've decided you want a pool....

here's what you need to know first.

Swimming pools are a symbol of the American Dream. Our desire to pursue this dream is fueled by visions of the children laughing, splashing and having fun or the tranquility of floating in the calming water.  No wonder everyone dreams of having this constant source of recreation right in their own backyard. Most people don't have any idea about how to go about getting one installed. The following information was designed to answer the most common questions we are asked by people just beginning to investigate the possibility of installing a pool in their own backyard.

Types of Inground Pools and Costs

The first thing to decide is which type of inground pool will best meet your needs.  Our personal preference, for many reasons, are vinyl lined or gunite pools.  Although we only install inground vinyl lined pools at this time, we are happy to provide you with the name of a reputable gunite pool builder in the Puget Sound area.

Vinyl-lined Inground Pools have a rigid polymer or steel wall, a sand or vermiculite floor, and are lined with vinyl. These pools are durable, easy to take care of, and beautiful. Liners are available in a wide variety of patterns and are available in several different shapes and sizes. The price of a basic vinyl lined pool typically starts around $25,000 - $29,000.

Gunite or Plaster Pools have a rebar framework that is covered with shotcrete with a final layer of plaster to provide a smooth finish. Gunite pools typically start around $35,000 - $39,000. Gunite pools are more flexible in design and can be very elaborate. We have seen some residential gunite pools that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your imagination and budget are the limiting factors when considering gunite.

Fiberglass Pools are large fabricated units that are placed in the excavated area and plumbed.  They are usually the least expensive inground pool to install.  

We often hear people talk about being able to get a pool installed in Arizona or California at much lower prices. It's important to understand why this might be the case. It's actually very simple. The building season in Western Washington is fairly short, pools are less common but demand becomes very high during hot summer months, and there are very few qualified pool builders. When you limit the supply, have a demand that exceeds that supply AND throw in the fact that there are few ways to satisfy the demand--prices will be higher. Prices would naturally be lower in areas where there is a pool at almost every residence, the weather is great 12 months out of the year, and pool builders are a dime a dozen.

Appropriate Site

A professional pool builder can help you decide if your site is appropriate for a pool, however, there are a few things you can prepare in advance to help with planning. If you have a septic system, you will need a copy of the "as-built" that shows where the system is installed and where the backup drain field is located. If you do not have a copy of this document, it can usually be obtained at your local health department. If you have a plat or site drawing for your property with dimensions, house placement, and parcel number, these items can be very helpful. You must have room on your property for the pool allowing for appropriate setbacks.
There may be some obstacles to overcome in order to install a pool on your property so be prepared for the possibility of some planning delays. We have had to have septic systems redesigned and have applied for variances with the county in order to get a pool in. Obstacles can often be overcome during the planning process.

Planning

Planning for a pool can be the most exciting and most frustrating experience. Many people wait to begin planning until the sun starts to shine. By the time spring rolls around, most pool builders have several pools in queue and are very busy installing pools for those who began planning over the winter. As a result, most pool builders won't have the time to give you the attention you need and deserve for the initial stage of planning if you wait until the spring or summer months to begin planning. The moral of this story is simple--start planning several months in advance! It is also impossible for everyone to be the first pool in the queue so be prepared to have a shortened swimming season the year your pool is installed.  Don't worry!  You'll have many more years to enjoy your pool

How to choose a pool builder

Now that you've decided that you can afford a pool and understand when you should begin your planning--it's time to choose your pool builder. First, make sure that the builder you are using has been around for a while. Second, look for a builder who is a member of the NSPI (National Spa & Pool Institute). The builder should be willing to show you some of their projects so that you can see first hand what the finished product looks like. It's not a bad idea to speak with more than one builder but the most important deciding factor should be your comfort level. Make sure that the builder is competent, has references, is appropriately licensed, and specializes in swimming pool installations. Try to talk with the project coordinator or actual person who will be in charge of the project BEFORE you sign a contract.  If you only speak with a sales representative, you may never see him or her again.  Make sure you are comfortable with the people who will actually be in your backyard!!

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