A Background Oasis…or Money Pit?

Short Answer: With new pool construction costs estimated to be between $44,499 and $87,349, it’s important to understand why pools are so expensive to build and whether it makes sense for you to get one

As with many things in life, it only makes sense if you use it, right? Many argue that to be the same case with pools. They’re great places to hang out, especially as it's getting more hot outside as the summer months drag on. Plus, they can also raise your home’s value when you’re ready to move. But, why are they so expensive? What’s the point behind all the construction that goes into it?

Pools are expensive to construct in part because there’s quite a bit of construction and various materials that go into a pool. Also, depending on how sophisticated your pool’s design is and the kinds of materials you want used, your pool might be even more expensive than $87,349 since it might take longer to build and require more laborers to build the pool, which increases construction costs. A pump used to circulate the pool water to help filter the water and distribute the chemicals used to keep the pool clean will also need to be installed. 

While pools are not as intricate as, say, a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), many of the materials used to make the water retention areas in WWTPs are also used in pools, like concrete and steel rebar. The concrete used in pools is fairly inexpensive compared to other materials like steel and is able to handle the hydrostatic forces from the pool water very well. The rebar is used to help keep the concrete in place; otherwise, the pool water might crack the concrete if the water forces the concrete to bend. Even though polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is primarily used to make the pipes to circulate the pool water and is relatively inexpensive, it’ll still cost you some money to have folks place the PVC correctly in your backyard or elsewhere on your property.

Once you’ve built the pool, you’ll need to make sure the pool is maintained properly. This is where materials from pool supply stores such as Leslie’s come into play along with regular inspections and maintenance of water lines and the pool pump, which can add to the overall cost of having the pool.

Bottom Line: If a pool is something you can use regularly when the weather is right and is something you can afford to not only build with a competent contractor but maintain year round, then a pool might be worth it for you.

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