Make Your Fantasy Pool a Reality
By D.L. Anscombe
Your fantasy pool can become a reality - and it takes only a bit of planning and decision-making.
After discussing pool possibilities with the rest of the family, decide which features to include on a must-have list, and which options, like a slide, can be relegated to the nice-to-have or add-later categories. Long, straight lanes for dedicated swimmers, deep water for diving or dual shallow ends that provide safe resting areas might be your design must-haves.
As with any major investment, make sure you design your pool with the features that will meet your family's needs. Will a portion of the bottom be level enough to perform water aerobics? Will the future Olympian's pool have the flat ends for practicing competitive turns?
Discuss the possibility of including water features, fiber-optic lighting, traditional lighting, an automatic pool cleaner, a heater, remote-control devices, and steps, ladders and swimout areas.
Pool placement depends on the home's lot size and shape, its anticipated appearance from the house and other parts of the yard as well as easements, setbacks and local restrictions. Most municipalities require fencing. Inquire about the specified type of fence and how high it must be.
Even if funds limit construction of complementary amenities, keep your options open for a future built-in barbecue area, a gazebo, landscaping or a screened enclosure.
Research, Then Evaluate
Preferred construction types vary, depending on where you live, your construction budget and the amount of maintenance that you want to do yourself. Visit your neighbors' pools. Ask what they like and dislike about the pool and its upkeep. Were they pleased with the contractor, the construction process and customer service after completion?
After deciding on the type of inground pool that you want, invite at least three pool contractors to bid on your project.
Three Types of Construction
Concrete pools let designers create a water retreat unique to your site. After digging the hole, crews install steel-reinforced rods, spray a concrete mixture called gunite or shotcrete on top, then add plumbing and a surface material. Concrete pools need periodic resurfacing. They are especially popular in the Southeast, where the ground does not freeze and thaw. Colder climates require additional steel and concrete, which can boost the cost. While construction methods and shapes have changed over the years, concrete pools have survived the test of time. Thomas Edison had one of the first private concrete pools built at his Florida winter home in Fort Myers back in 1910, and it still adds to the home's allure.
Vinyl-lined pools will get you into the water faster and less expensively. Crews dig a hole and install a supportive framework. The liner attaches to a track running around the top. Liners last about 10 years and can be replaced easily, updating the pool's appearance. Customized liners, with your initials or a photo, offer the opportunity for a one-of-a-kind personalized pool. Ease of winterization makes vinyl-lined pools popular up north.
Fiberglass pools come in an array of shapes and sizes, including some with spas and diving areas. After excavation, installers lower the prefabricated shell into place and finish the decking and plumbing. New owners can be swimming in a few weeks. The smooth surface of fiberglass discourages algae growth, making maintenance a breeze and decreasing chemical needs. While fiberglass pools tend to cost more upfront, owners who aren't planning to move can save money long-term, because the pool will not need resurfacing or a new liner.
Additional good advice: Remain open to builders' suggestions, but assess how each contractor responds to your ideas. Steer clear of any company representative or builder that you feel uncomfortable dealing with, since a pool contractor may be in your backyard off and on for weeks.
Final Decisions
When gathering bids, make sure that you ask for comparable features and find out if anything, such as the cleanup cost, is extra. Don't sacrifice long-term satisfaction for a few bucks. Cutting costs on unglamorous but critical components, like plumbing, pumps, filters, decking and surface materials, can prove to be expensive in the long haul. Adding an extra return or refinishing a scratchy surface will cost much more down the road. If money is tight, add the heater, screened enclosure, diving board or surrounding landscaping later. The pool builder should have some money-saving recommendations and may be able to refer you to a financial institution for a tax-deductible home-improvement loan.
Ask your chosen company or pool builder for copies of licenses and insurance, names of past customers, and written proposals, specifying when payments are to be made. Don't put more than $1,000 or 10 percent down, whichever is less. Inform the contractor that you'll require waivers of lien, a completion notice and the local building department's signed approval before handing over the final check. Lien waivers protect you from unpaid subcontractors who can try to collect by filing a lien against your house.
Inquire about warranties and guarantees covering pool construction and equipment. Keep in mind that a warranty is only as good as the company that provides it. Industry experts recommend opting for pool builders with at least a three-year track record. Before signing anything, ask the local Better Business Bureau if there are any outstanding complaints against the company you are considering. The contractor's experience and reputation and your ability to work together should weigh as heavily in your decision as the cost does.
Before long, you'll be enjoying those solitary morning swims and planning weekend festivities in and around your pool - instead of just dreaming about them.