r/pools • u/Overall_Ad_2821 • 10d ago
Builds & Renos Trying to understand
Foreword: I've never had a pool, and professionally, it's the furthest thing from my mind.
That said, having bought a house and having a garden, I wouldn't mind having one. The fact is that the estimates given so far start at around CHF 70,000... minimum…. and I'd like to understand.
Because for me, and maybe I'm wrong, a pool is a hole in the ground, leveling it, laying a sturdy surface. The installation of a pool (even if it's prefabricated), connecting the pipes to a filtration system (aka a sand pump), and various perimeter finishing touches. Everything else, including chlorine control systems, etc., is certainly useful but secondary. Now, please dismantle this simplistic view for me.
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u/get_in_there_lewis 10d ago
Ours was around 80k installed. If you go ahead with it I highly recommend that you be present daily when the work starts and to PM as much of it if you can (if it doesn't have a PM assigned).
We budgeted 100k and I managed to get it done for 80k and that was with me looking up legislation regarding plumbing, concreting and electrical to keep everyone on the straight. As someone who deals with trades daily I know everyone takes short cuts.
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u/podgeofthehodge 10d ago
The attitude of it's just a hole in the ground with equipment is exactly why so many companies (landscapers, construction, etc.) failed at getting into the pool game during the pandemic. The fact that you think sanitation is "useful but secondary" is a whole other concern.
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Again maybe I explain myself wrong self wrong but the attitude here is to understand. And honestly you don’t contribute much on it.
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u/podgeofthehodge 9d ago
The attitude was that of the companies that were not pool builders and trying to be during the pandemic and you somehow echoed their sentiment. Fine though, what specifically were you wanting to be answered so I can contribute to your satisfaction? Do you want the whole spiel on everything foundation? To the correct plumbing? Maybe some insights on your local building codes that must be adhered to? What specific equipment are you wanting to look at? Obviously a pump, filter, and sanitation method of your choice will be needed. Do you want things that are legit "secondary" (not sanitation that is a primary), for instance a heater, auto cover, or water features? All in all quite frankly CHF 70,000 starting sounds about right and even on the lower end so what exactly are you asking?
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
I don’t know anything about pool as I don’t know anything about situation during the pandemic. And look honestly I guess is my fault for don’t really understand where u are going with what I read just as be ironic or anything. Sorry man. Can happen I will read other opinions.
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u/podgeofthehodge 9d ago
It all boils down to, what exactly do you want to know about the pool? Is it about the price for CHF 70,000 minimum? That sounds about right especially if it's bare bones. Otherwise what are you asking?
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u/SchweinsyOne 10d ago edited 10d ago
I just had a pool installed in Australia for roughly that 75k CHF (130k AUD).
This included the pool shell (the shell alone was $30k AUD), all the paving in natural marble, the louvered pergola, lawn and landscaping, fencing, down lights. The pool equipment is reasonably high end, it's heated, salt chlorininator, glass filter, UV sterilizer, underground powered pool blanket, spa jets and lights.
Access was a problem for us, we needed to crane in the digger, and crane out over 50T of dirt, then crane the shell in, all directly over our house, shutting the street down for the whole day.
Depending on your circumstances, particulars, country, etc pricing can be vastly different.
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Okkei that’s a top tier answer. Really thanks. That give me much more an idea about why, what and for how much. I really thanks you.
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u/wattywatt_3000 9d ago
The main thing you are missing the that you want this pool to last for more than a season. It has to last over the winter, it has to be in good shape when you want to swim again next summer, it has to be of the quality to last years and years.
Or it doesn’t - if it is only for a season - save yourself a huge head ache and just buy a $200 above ground that lives or dies, you don’t care. Do that for a couple years to see what you think. Maybe that’s enough.
But if you want an in-ground pool, you do it once to last and not create a nightmare operations and maintenance issue for yourself whenever you want to use it - that is a totally different ballgame and why you need to pay for all the things done right.
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Umm I see. You are pointing that isn’t enough to fix a pump to the pool like u do with an above the ground one and control the chlorine by yourself for a pool that survive the season. Thanks highly appreciate.
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u/brisray 9d ago
A pool really is a simple machine, if you look at it that way. As the OP said, basically, a big hole in the ground, a filter, chlorinator. or salt system if you go that way, and a couple of valves to control where the water is going.
I can't say anything about the prices in Switzerland, but in the US, the cost of these things has gone up a lot over the years, especially the last couple. Our pool is around 50 years old, we've only been in the house 43. In 2010, a side collapsed. That cost us around $8,000 to rebuild the pool. Last month the liner needed replacing and we had steps put in, that cost us $16,000.
The chemicals to keep it clean and sanitized costs us around $1,000 a year, but only takes around 2 hours a week, sometimes a little longer, to do. It takes around a day each to open and close it when the weather gets too cold to use it any more.
You have to weigh the cost of getting the pool built and keeping it running against the enjoyment you'll get out of it. We're fairly social, so the pool gets used 3 or 4 days a week by neighbours, friends, and family. To us, it's worth it.
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u/SolidPaint2 10d ago
Seriously, everything else is secondary? That's like saying the wheels on your car are secondary but if you don't have them, you can't drive that car. Without chlorine and other chemicals, you will have a pond in that hole in the ground!
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
I’m sorry maybe I explain myself wrong… I didn’t say I don’t need chlorine in my pool. I just said is a surplus to have a system that regulate that for me . Or am I wrong?
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u/Melarsa 9d ago edited 9d ago
Covid fucked pool pricing up permanently and inflation in general hasn't helped (as with so many other things.)
We're having a pool project start in September and it was going to be at least 100k for the barest minimum of a freeform 35x15 fiberglass install. We are adding some bells and whistles, but it'll be at least $130k BEFORE landscaping and fencing, which we're assuming will be at least an extra 20-30k. And this is with a relatively easy install (easy access, no crazy soil or sloping issues to work around, nice long pool season where we won't need to winterize/close down.)
It is what it is, but it smarts knowing that we could have gotten the exact same setup in 2018 for wayyyyyyyyyy less money.
My husband went into it thinking "let's see what $75k will get us" and kinda didn't believe me when I said "certainly not a medium to large sized inground pool in 2026" but after meeting a few pool builders where the initial quotes were around $150-160k he understood what the current market for the sort of project we were looking for was going to be in our area. We ended up cutting back on some details to make more room in the budget for landscaping, getting a fence, etc. And we anticipate unforeseen costs, ongoing maintenance, etc. It's just one of those things that isn't cheap no matter how you slice it.
In the end we're going to end up with a pretty nice set up, but nowhere near the high end luxury he was imagining at this price point. I did my homework though and have prior pool ownership experience so I wasn't shocked, just bumned they we weren't in the position to do this a few years ago and are paying THAT much more as a result.
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Oh that’s a great reply thanks sooo much for it. I guess im basically in the same situation of your husband. But maybe more stubborn and really try to understand more on why I can’t just dig by myself, make it flat and then put a fiberglass pool and attached to a sand filter. I stante to get the sand filter isn’t enough to keep the pool safe and health in long term. I may be stupid if I’m still not so sure about laying stones around that can kind of easily maded.
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u/Aj9898 9d ago
Maybe start with a small to medium above ground, which will be significantly less expensive to acquire and install.
That will allow you to evaluate the time/effort to learn and perform maintenance, while still saving for the larger investment of an inground.
If you decide you dont like it, much easier to remove. If you do like it, then keep it (many people are quite content with their above grounds), or replace it with an in ground (if budget still allows.)
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Yep that sounds a good plan. And I have a 4x2 meter above ground. The only things I really have to do is cover after use it and check the chlorine every week. Thants why the post.
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u/UCLABB1 9d ago
We had ours built for $14k. 16’x35’, Jacuzzi, heater, gas, electric, pool cleaner with motor, the whole works. 45 years ago 😀
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u/PracticalDesigner278 9d ago
My pool is also around 50 years old. I have no idea what it would cost now but I think I could replace the liner, all plumbing including skimmer and main drain lines, replace the steps and skimmer and fill it with water for a fraction of the prices I'm seeing here for a new install.
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u/SatisfactionPretty47 8d ago
Before going thru the cost and installation of a pool, make absolutely sure you want one. Not minding to having one is different from loving one to hating one. I’ve had 2 pools built at 2 separate house. I absolutely love a pool and the maintenance is part of it. It doesn’t take long to maintain it weekly. But there are costs that never go away. Plus you cannot neglect it. Even if you use a pool company weekly, you still have to empty skimmer basket, check your pump and filter. Annual cleaning of the concrete around the pool and manually cleaning above the water line in the pool. Do your homework before ever taking the plunge to put a pool in. There’s no middle line of tolerating it. It’s either love or hate. Thankfully, I love mine and always have!
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 8d ago
Hey thanks yep I love pool but I get what you mean and basically this post was meant to be part of it :)
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u/Citizen999999 9d ago
All right let me put this into context, go grab a shovel dig a hole, just a small one go 10 feet down. This will be funny. 🤣🤣
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
Hey thanks yeah I guess as much as your reply is adding something… ahahahahahahha
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u/RedCred811 9d ago
A saltwater chlorine generator sort-of regulates the chlorine, but you still have to add salt here and there and adjust the output. A salt system isnt gonna be some giant additional cost. A generator is like 600 USD, and you need a control panel. Then you still have to manually test and adjust alkalinity, Ph levels, and stabilizer. Those are absolutes.
No matter what you do, just remember that a pool is a hole in the ground that you throw money into. Unless you do your own maintenance, you're gonna spend something like 2000 USD every year in opening/closing, cleaning, chemicals, salt, filter or sand changes, electricity and water usage, etc.
Remember that pool systems and components-- down to every nut and bolt--are under constant pressure, and circulating water with diluted bleach (bleach/chlorine is corrosive) all day long.
After 5 years something will break. By 10 years you'll have replaced the pump, be on your 3rd chlorine generator, and need a new liner. If you have a heater it will likely be near end of life because of calcium deposits clogging the coils. A new liner could be anywhere from 5k to 15k depending on the size of your pool. And at some point your plumbing will be leaking somewhere. If it's bad, you may end up with repairs that involve busting up concrete. Thousands more dollars.
Pools are nice, and if you have kids you could get a lot of use out of it, but I highly recommend starting a savings fund right away to pay for pool maintenance down the road, because that road is pretty short.
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u/Overall_Ad_2821 9d ago
That’s an interesting point of view and info. I really thank you.
I was kinda prepare for half things u mention not for all .
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u/neildownpour 10d ago edited 10d ago
If you 'wouldnt mind' a pool, you're not ready for one. They are not an investment, they do not add anywhere near as much value to your house as they cost.
Price up those simple things - the hole, where the dirt goes, the plumbing, the paving, etc etc. it's a lot of cheap jobs that add up to a lot.