If you have installed a pool at your home, how much did the job cost?

Question

I am just curious to find out the range people spend to have a pool installed. Any tips on finding a reputable pool contractor would be appreciated.

Answer 1

My house has a pool and the previous owners left me there receipts. I would plan on a $5000 bill for everything, power to the pool, chemicals, filter pump, and installation. My pool size is 18x33 and the price tag was $2,400. They had another $800 bill just for the electrician.

Answer 2

It all depends on what kind of pool you want, above ground, in ground, vinyl liner, in ground concrete, gunite, fiberglass???

Reputable contractor.  Ask your friends if they could recommend one.  Does your state license contractors?  Check the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) to find a contactor who takes care of his problems.

Contractors should carry workmens compensation insurance and liablilty insurance.  If you employ someone who does not and they get hurt who do you think their attorney is going to look at for resistution?

Are permits required for pools in your town?  If so investigate if a permit is needed and the requirements.

Get three estimates but understand they may not all be equal in matererials and equipment and cost.

All pools are of a known circumference and depth.  Bigger pools are more than smaller pools.  With gunite in ground pools that are typically free formed we use a concept called perimeter feet, that represent the outline of the hole and combined with depth represent how much excavation is needed.

Be careful, some unscrupulous contractors have contract clauses that say "anything required by the building department is the responsibility of the homeowner".  Or something to that effect.  The bid and contract price is short and when they fail the steel part of the pool construction, they come to you and ask for $1,800 more to do the job.  If you don't pay they wait until you do.  I mean you have a hole in your yard how long are you going to wait?

Also understand, the salesman sent to write you up will most likely never be seen again.  Pool sales men typically do not have pools themselves and have never taken care of one and when they recommend equipment, location, and sanitization systems they are speaking from someplace other than their expereince, like their wallet!

One company that is a "national franchise company" and advertises in the sunday paper and periodically includes a slick glossy design brochure with "smart everything"  has been known for years to knowingly employ ex convicts as salespeople, that they move around a lot!

Be careful, ask for and check references, ask when the pool was built, any warranty issues, did they clean up their job when completed, etc.  To reiterate, I worked for a company that in the most recent boom, sold over 500 pools that year.  Guess how many referrals they received, you could count them on one hand.

Many cities that require building permits will maintain searchable databases on line where you can seach the contractor and job address and name and get your own references or NOT.

Good Luck on your project.

You're welcome!!